Malachi 3:13-18
13 “Your words have been arrogant against Me,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’
14 You have said, ‘It is pointless to serve God; and what benefit is it for us that we have done what He required, and that we have walked in mourning before the Lord of armies?
15 So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up, but they also put God to the test and escape punishment.’ ”
16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened attentively and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and esteem His name.
17 “And they will be Mine,” says the Lord of armies, “on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will have compassion for them just as a man has compassion for his own son who serves him.”
18 So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.
The Two Responses (1)
The response of the unbelievers
God is calling the people of Israel to faithful service. In response to that invitation, two kinds of responses emerge: the response of unbelievers (v 13-15) and the response of believers (v 16-18). Today, let us look at the response of the unbelievers. Here again, the discussion proceeds in a dialogical format. “‘Your words have been arrogant against Me,’ says the Lord. ‘Yet you say, “What have we spoken against You?”’” (v 13). (1) The Lord says to the people, “Your words have been arrogant against Me.” In other words, the people had been speaking recklessly and defiantly against the Lord. (2) The people’s response was, “What have we spoken against You?” Here we see the attitude of a people who had become insensitive to their own sin. “You have said, ‘It is pointless to serve God; and what benefit is it for us that we have done what He required, and that we have walked in mourning before the Lord of armies? So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up, but they also put God to the test and escape punishment’” (v 14-15). The people’s words can be summarized as follows: (1) There is no benefit in serving God. It is a futile thing. (2) There is no benefit in giving tithes and offerings, nor in fasting and repenting. These things are also futile. (3) Those who live without regard for God have already put Him to the test, yet they are prospering greatly. In other words, it has been proven that no punishment comes from testing God.
Applications to us
The unbelievers boast that God is powerless. They have chosen a way of life that does not fear God. As a result, they conclude that there is no need to give tithes or offerings. The way of life of the fool is described in Proverbs 1:29-32. “Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord. They did not accept my advice, they disdainfully rejected every rebuke from me. So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes. For the faithlessness of the naive will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.” As for us, let us make the fear of the Lord the foundation of our lives. For those who trust in the Lord are the ones who will ultimately receive blessing. “But whoever listens to me will live securely and will be at ease from the dread of evil” (Prov. 1:33).
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, may I walk in the fear of You today as well. Please bless me as one who is wise. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.