WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.080 Friends, today we begin our commitment, our annual commitment series since 2009. 00:00:07.879 --> 00:00:16.100 We have set aside time to reflect on our individual and corporate commitment to our purpose here at St. Paul's. 00:00:16.940 --> 00:00:27.060 Our corporate purpose is there in our mission statement to know Jesus, treasure Jesus, and represent Jesus for God's glory and the joy of all people. 00:00:27.059 --> 00:00:35.359 At the heart of that purpose is to make Jesus look great in our world. 00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:40.100 And we do that when Jesus is our greatest treasure. 00:00:40.780 --> 00:00:44.859 He is our joy, our love, our satisfaction, our hope, our life. 00:00:45.719 --> 00:00:54.640 And what Malachi will do for us in the next five weeks, it will push us to treasure Jesus in every area of our life. 00:00:54.640 --> 00:01:00.060 And so let me pray that that might indeed be our end as we look through this book. 00:01:00.859 --> 00:01:10.700 Our Father God, we commit this commitment series to you and ask that by your spirit you would speak through your words so clearly and powerfully to us. 00:01:10.700 --> 00:01:25.640 Father, we pray that you would take us from a shallow level of understanding your love of who you are and take us to higher heights of adoration of you. 00:01:26.480 --> 00:01:33.480 That we might adore you for who you truly are and treasure you as you have called us to be your treasured possession. 00:01:33.480 --> 00:01:39.380 And so Father, we'll do that work in us individually and corporately we pray in the next number of weeks. 00:01:39.460 --> 00:01:41.060 We ask it for your sake. Amen. 00:01:43.640 --> 00:01:50.439 God's relationship with his people Israel began when God set his affection on them. 00:01:51.800 --> 00:01:55.219 Here is how Deuteronomy 7 describes it. 00:01:55.219 --> 00:02:25.199 It says, 00:02:25.219 --> 00:02:43.219 And so there in Deuteronomy 7, we are told that Israel is God's treasured possession. 00:02:43.219 --> 00:02:51.659 But history tells us that Israel did not make God or relationship with God their treasured possession. 00:02:53.500 --> 00:02:55.840 Israel was God's treasured possession. 00:02:56.479 --> 00:03:00.560 He loved them and yet they did not love him back. 00:03:01.960 --> 00:03:04.960 How did you answer that question just a moment ago? 00:03:05.960 --> 00:03:09.060 Speak about a time when you were loved or felt loved. 00:03:09.259 --> 00:03:10.379 I felt loved yesterday. 00:03:10.379 --> 00:03:18.620 Natalie sent me this just wonderful text message just affirming me who I was and beautiful, beautiful text message. 00:03:18.699 --> 00:03:19.560 It was fantastic. 00:03:20.180 --> 00:03:22.259 And I read it and I just jumped with joy. 00:03:22.479 --> 00:03:25.960 And then last night as we went to bed, she said, 00:03:26.359 --> 00:03:28.359 Did you get my text message? 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:32.680 Oh, yes. 00:03:32.680 --> 00:03:33.680 It was wonderful. 00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:34.180 It was wonderful. 00:03:34.180 --> 00:03:34.260 It was wonderful. 00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:35.980 Sorry. 00:03:36.560 --> 00:03:39.300 I forgot to say thanks. 00:03:40.340 --> 00:03:43.120 And so she didn't feel so loved. 00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:48.680 The people of Israel disobeyed God. 00:03:48.879 --> 00:03:50.539 They ignored God. 00:03:50.920 --> 00:03:52.219 They did not love him back. 00:03:52.360 --> 00:03:58.039 They eventually ended up in exile in a foreign land as God had warned them. 00:03:58.039 --> 00:04:03.019 But God did not forget his covenant of love with them. 00:04:03.419 --> 00:04:07.479 He restored his people to their place after 70 years in Babylon. 00:04:08.199 --> 00:04:15.939 And Malachi wrote in the 5th century BC to the Jewish people who had been restored to their land after exile in Babylon. 00:04:16.500 --> 00:04:20.779 And on one level, you could say the exiled people are back in their land. 00:04:20.899 --> 00:04:23.899 The temple's being rebuilt and everything's looking good. 00:04:23.899 --> 00:04:28.519 Malachi, however, speaks to an inglorious Israel. 00:04:29.399 --> 00:04:31.919 They are a long way from their former glory. 00:04:33.019 --> 00:04:38.519 And being an outsider looking in on the returned people of God, 00:04:38.739 --> 00:04:44.439 you could easily conclude that the God of Israel was not so impressive. 00:04:47.079 --> 00:04:51.279 It appears that the lessons of the exile had not been learned. 00:04:51.279 --> 00:04:56.919 The people of God had grown sceptical of God's love for them in chapter 1 verse 2. 00:04:59.319 --> 00:05:02.859 They had become careless in worship in verse 7 of chapter 1. 00:05:03.299 --> 00:05:06.559 Indifferent to the truth in chapter 2 verses 6 and 7. 00:05:07.099 --> 00:05:09.579 Disobedient to the covenant in chapter 2 verse 10. 00:05:10.059 --> 00:05:14.079 Faithless in their marriages in chapter 2 verse 15 through to 3 verse 5. 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:17.639 And stingy in their offerings in chapter 3 verse 8. 00:05:17.639 --> 00:05:30.919 And so Malachi is a passionate prophecy where God confronts his people for their half-hearted devotion and love of him. 00:05:32.360 --> 00:05:37.699 God desires for his treasured possessions to treasure him. 00:05:37.699 --> 00:05:48.920 And so right at the beginning of Malachi, God takes his people right back to the very foundation of their relationship. 00:05:49.759 --> 00:05:52.420 And in doing this, he reminds them of his character. 00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:56.980 And there are two things here in these first five verses that God says about himself. 00:05:56.980 --> 00:06:07.460 The first is a tender reminder that they are God's people because of God's attitude towards them. 00:06:08.540 --> 00:06:13.920 I have loved you, says the Lord in verse 2. 00:06:14.840 --> 00:06:22.780 And the second is a reminder that this is not just some kind of weak, soft love. 00:06:22.779 --> 00:06:29.219 It's a reminder in verse 5 of his universal greatness. 00:06:30.699 --> 00:06:34.739 Great is the Lord, even beyond the borders of Israel. 00:06:35.879 --> 00:06:40.719 At the very start, we are taken back to two very essential truths. 00:06:41.119 --> 00:06:44.259 God is a God of mercy and love and grace. 00:06:44.619 --> 00:06:48.099 And he is a God of absolute universal control. 00:06:48.100 --> 00:06:52.140 And both of those things need to be held together in balance. 00:06:54.220 --> 00:06:57.720 The very foundation of their relationship with God is that statement, 00:06:57.939 --> 00:06:59.860 I have loved you. 00:07:00.220 --> 00:07:02.520 Those four beautiful words. 00:07:03.439 --> 00:07:08.160 And this statement actually means that he has loved them in the past with clear action 00:07:08.160 --> 00:07:12.140 and that he is still loving them now with clear action. 00:07:12.139 --> 00:07:19.079 God's blessing and faithfulness to his people were not the result of their faithfulness to him. 00:07:21.300 --> 00:07:23.500 They are the product of his love. 00:07:24.500 --> 00:07:27.339 It was his initiative to love. 00:07:28.159 --> 00:07:30.339 We heard it a moment ago in Deuteronomy 7. 00:07:30.699 --> 00:07:35.719 The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples of the face of the earth to be his people, 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:38.139 his treasured possession. 00:07:38.139 --> 00:07:46.360 The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were numerous than other peoples. 00:07:47.240 --> 00:07:49.019 For you were the fewest of all. 00:07:49.979 --> 00:07:52.019 But it was because the Lord loved you. 00:07:53.159 --> 00:07:58.039 You weren't chosen because you were the most impressive of all the nations. 00:07:58.539 --> 00:08:01.360 And God went, well, if I've got to pick someone, I'll go for the good guys. 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:09.720 But the skeptical response of these people reveals a lot about their condition, does it not, in verse 2? 00:08:10.520 --> 00:08:13.240 But you ask, well, how have you loved us? 00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:15.660 We don't feel loved by you. 00:08:19.340 --> 00:08:20.980 How would you answer that question? 00:08:20.980 --> 00:08:31.160 Is your life in such a shambles right now that you feel skeptical about God's love as Israel did here? 00:08:33.180 --> 00:08:36.779 No doubt I would say that there is a little bit of that in all of us. 00:08:38.220 --> 00:08:44.420 And so it would do us really good to listen to God's answer to their question. 00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:48.200 It's not the sort of answer I think that we'd give. 00:08:48.200 --> 00:08:49.960 Verse 2 again. 00:08:50.780 --> 00:08:53.240 Was not Esau Jacob's brother? 00:08:53.740 --> 00:08:54.800 The Lord says. 00:08:55.700 --> 00:09:00.180 Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated. 00:09:01.520 --> 00:09:08.720 We need to unpack that because in that short answer we get to the very essence of God's love. 00:09:09.620 --> 00:09:14.080 Malachi is written to Israel, the descendants of Jacob, 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:18.680 and their next door neighbours Edom are the descendants of Esau. 00:09:19.960 --> 00:09:23.520 And Edom have been fairly nasty to Israel. 00:09:24.700 --> 00:09:29.920 In the exile, Edom joined brothers instead of with their half-brothers. 00:09:30.160 --> 00:09:38.780 They joined forces with the enemies of Israel to cut down anyone who was escaping from the invaders. 00:09:38.779 --> 00:09:41.579 They plotted against their brothers. 00:09:43.720 --> 00:09:47.100 And so the question is, was not Esau Jacob's brother? 00:09:47.240 --> 00:09:48.419 And the answer is yes. 00:09:48.659 --> 00:09:49.480 Of course he was his brother. 00:09:49.839 --> 00:09:52.079 In fact, let me say, he wasn't just his brother. 00:09:53.519 --> 00:09:55.059 He was his twin brother. 00:09:55.059 --> 00:10:00.699 And not only were they twins, but Esau was the older brother. 00:10:01.119 --> 00:10:07.519 And by customary rights and privileges, Esau would be the main heir of the father's blessing. 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:16.759 That is, Edom ought to be the ones with the promised land and all the blessings. 00:10:17.819 --> 00:10:18.879 Not Israel. 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:22.960 And so why mention this here? 00:10:24.720 --> 00:10:33.740 The point is, that based on what Jacob and Esau were in themselves, 00:10:35.100 --> 00:10:38.259 God could have just as easily have chosen Esau. 00:10:41.159 --> 00:10:42.259 Aren't you brothers? 00:10:43.740 --> 00:10:44.539 Weren't you twins? 00:10:44.659 --> 00:10:47.679 Weren't you both formed in your mother's womb at the same time? 00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:51.139 Isn't Esau, in fact, your older brother? 00:10:52.860 --> 00:10:59.279 But I passed him by and I chose to set my love and affection on you. 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:06.620 And so when these loved people skeptically say, well, how have you loved us? 00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:14.100 The answer is, I have loved you with free, sovereign, unconditional, electing love. 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:16.500 That is how I've loved you. 00:11:16.500 --> 00:11:22.039 Straight up, God sets the very foundation, the basis of his relationship with these people. 00:11:22.820 --> 00:11:30.919 He says, my love for you is electing love because I chose you for myself above your older brother Esau. 00:11:31.139 --> 00:11:37.179 My love for you is unconditional because I chose you before you had done anything good or evil, 00:11:37.899 --> 00:11:39.500 before you had met any conditions, 00:11:39.500 --> 00:11:44.720 or had any applause for doing anything impressive and good. 00:11:45.720 --> 00:11:48.559 In fact, I chose you before you were even born. 00:11:49.320 --> 00:11:55.340 My love for you is a sovereign love because I was under no constraint whatsoever to love you. 00:11:56.399 --> 00:11:58.220 I wasn't forced to love you. 00:11:58.399 --> 00:11:59.879 I was not tricked into loving you. 00:12:00.100 --> 00:12:01.919 I wasn't manipulated to love you. 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:07.779 I was totally in charge, totally clear-headed, and I chose to love you. 00:12:08.039 --> 00:12:15.439 And my love for you is free because it is the abundant overflow of my immeasurable grace 00:12:15.439 --> 00:12:20.879 that can never be bought, it can never be repaid, it can never be earned in any way. 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:29.799 Is that not the glorious center of the Christian faith? 00:12:32.860 --> 00:12:39.539 No other religion in this world dares to speak of God's relationship with his people in that way. 00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:43.179 Free, unconditional, sovereign, electing love. 00:12:44.700 --> 00:12:48.059 It is the grace of God which sets it apart. 00:12:48.059 --> 00:12:52.299 Is that not the glorious center of the Christian faith? 00:12:52.979 --> 00:12:53.759 Romans 3, 00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:56.439 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God 00:12:56.439 --> 00:13:01.459 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 00:13:01.879 --> 00:13:02.899 Romans 5, 6, 00:13:03.179 --> 00:13:06.779 At just the right time, when we were still powerless, 00:13:07.559 --> 00:13:09.739 Christ died for the ungodly. 00:13:10.059 --> 00:13:11.059 Romans 5, 8, 00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:13.339 God demonstrates his own love for us in this. 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:17.259 That while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:18.500 Ephesians 1, 00:13:18.500 --> 00:13:21.860 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:27.860 He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. 00:13:28.220 --> 00:13:32.799 In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ. 00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:36.039 In accordance with his pleasure and will, 00:13:36.340 --> 00:13:38.539 to the praise of his glorious grace, 00:13:38.939 --> 00:13:42.319 which he has freely given us in the one he loves. 00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:43.560 2 Timothy 1, 00:13:43.560 --> 00:13:48.000 God who has saved us and called us to a holy life, 00:13:48.260 --> 00:13:50.700 not because of anything that we have done, 00:13:50.920 --> 00:13:53.820 but because of his own purpose and grace. 00:13:54.200 --> 00:13:59.379 And this grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. 00:13:59.379 --> 00:14:05.700 We don't earn acceptance with God. 00:14:06.700 --> 00:14:10.559 We don't make ourselves lovable to God. 00:14:11.100 --> 00:14:12.820 He loves the unlovable. 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:16.159 It is his free choice. 00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:21.000 A moment ago, 00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:23.100 we were asked the question, 00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:25.939 when have you ever felt loved? 00:14:26.939 --> 00:14:28.519 Let me tell you 00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:31.799 that when I understood that 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:34.419 for the very first time 00:14:34.419 --> 00:14:38.159 was the first time when I felt loved. 00:14:38.159 --> 00:14:44.199 As a man 23 years of age, 00:14:45.079 --> 00:14:45.980 questionable you man, 00:14:46.839 --> 00:14:49.179 I felt loved. 00:14:53.439 --> 00:14:56.899 And for weeks I cried like a baby. 00:14:59.559 --> 00:15:01.439 I still remember it. 00:15:02.819 --> 00:15:06.579 The electing, unconditional, sovereign, free love of God 00:15:06.580 --> 00:15:09.400 just come, bam, into my heart 00:15:09.400 --> 00:15:12.740 and turned my life upside down and inside out. 00:15:12.780 --> 00:15:16.160 I remember trembling with fearful joy 00:15:16.160 --> 00:15:18.940 that of all the people 00:15:18.940 --> 00:15:21.280 that on the face of this earth 00:15:21.280 --> 00:15:24.139 I was not passed by. 00:15:29.139 --> 00:15:31.259 That the sovereign creator God 00:15:31.259 --> 00:15:33.280 would set his affection 00:15:33.280 --> 00:15:35.820 on a young punk like me. 00:15:36.580 --> 00:15:40.259 before the beginning of time. 00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:45.400 For the first time in my life, 00:15:45.460 --> 00:15:46.780 I saw clearly what it was 00:15:46.780 --> 00:15:48.139 to be totally loved, 00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:52.160 completely, unconditionally loved. 00:15:52.920 --> 00:15:54.360 God in Jesus 00:15:54.360 --> 00:15:56.379 embraced me forever 00:15:56.379 --> 00:15:58.220 and I have never, 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:00.379 ever felt so secure. 00:16:02.180 --> 00:16:03.900 Ever felt so secure 00:16:03.900 --> 00:16:06.200 in any relationship. 00:16:06.580 --> 00:16:07.960 God in Jesus 00:16:07.960 --> 00:16:13.740 and no new piece of information 00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:16.379 somehow making its way to God 00:16:16.379 --> 00:16:17.620 through the great accuser 00:16:17.620 --> 00:16:20.879 is going to ever overturn 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:21.980 his love for me. 00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:27.280 No one loves like that. 00:16:28.280 --> 00:16:28.940 No one. 00:16:30.160 --> 00:16:32.060 Everywhere you turn in this world, 00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:33.800 love is conditional. 00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:35.419 I will love you 00:16:35.419 --> 00:16:36.459 if you change, 00:16:36.659 --> 00:16:37.579 if you do better, 00:16:37.699 --> 00:16:39.519 if you put more effort in. 00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:44.500 Expectations wherever you turn. 00:16:44.500 --> 00:16:51.100 Do you know what it is 00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:52.740 to be loved like this 00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:54.039 unconditionally 00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:56.259 in spite of your failings 00:16:56.259 --> 00:17:00.120 with all the imperfection, 00:17:00.340 --> 00:17:00.919 the sin? 00:17:02.299 --> 00:17:03.120 Do you know what it is 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:04.579 to still feel secure 00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:05.480 in a relationship? 00:17:05.480 --> 00:17:11.559 It would be great 00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:12.700 if I could end it just there. 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:15.079 Of course, 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:16.180 the brilliance and beauty 00:17:16.180 --> 00:17:16.960 of God's love 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:18.319 in these verses 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:19.480 becomes so clear 00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:20.180 because it's set 00:17:20.180 --> 00:17:20.940 against the darkness 00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:21.599 of Esau. 00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:24.720 What about Esau? 00:17:24.860 --> 00:17:25.440 Verse 3, 00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:26.180 God says, 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:26.779 Esau, 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:27.839 I have hated. 00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:29.659 It would have been 00:17:29.659 --> 00:17:30.759 so much nicer 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:31.959 if that wasn't included. 00:17:33.939 --> 00:17:34.799 What does it mean? 00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:36.799 I think it's actually 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:37.579 spelled out for us 00:17:37.579 --> 00:17:38.779 in the rest of verses 3 and 4. 00:17:38.879 --> 00:17:39.399 Follow it with me. 00:17:39.799 --> 00:17:41.279 I have turned his mountains 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:42.480 into a wasteland 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:43.899 and left his inheritance 00:17:43.899 --> 00:17:45.299 to the desert jackals. 00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:46.359 Edom, 00:17:46.599 --> 00:17:47.339 remember they're 00:17:47.339 --> 00:17:48.459 the descendants of Esau. 00:17:49.619 --> 00:17:50.559 Edom may say, 00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:51.980 though we have been crushed, 00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:53.399 we will rebuild the ruins. 00:17:54.659 --> 00:17:55.819 But this is what 00:17:55.819 --> 00:17:56.819 the Lord Almighty says, 00:17:56.819 --> 00:17:58.539 they may rebuild, 00:17:58.919 --> 00:18:00.240 but I will demolish. 00:18:00.779 --> 00:18:01.700 They will be called 00:18:01.700 --> 00:18:02.539 the wicked land 00:18:02.539 --> 00:18:03.000 of people 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:04.159 under the wrath 00:18:04.159 --> 00:18:04.899 of the Lord. 00:18:06.220 --> 00:18:07.639 Notice in those 00:18:07.639 --> 00:18:09.159 four very quick words, 00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:10.399 Esau I have hated, 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:12.179 there are four aspects 00:18:12.179 --> 00:18:14.059 in those next few verses, 00:18:14.639 --> 00:18:16.619 aspects of God's 00:18:16.619 --> 00:18:17.720 rejection of Esau. 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:18.559 Firstly, 00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:19.960 God opposes 00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:20.879 their prosperity 00:18:20.879 --> 00:18:22.159 and brings their land 00:18:22.159 --> 00:18:23.139 under his judgment. 00:18:23.899 --> 00:18:24.500 Secondly, 00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:25.939 it means that God 00:18:25.940 --> 00:18:26.940 will continue 00:18:26.940 --> 00:18:28.120 to oppose them 00:18:28.120 --> 00:18:29.920 when he resists 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:30.700 their judgment 00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:32.860 of his judgment 00:18:32.860 --> 00:18:33.240 of them. 00:18:34.120 --> 00:18:35.019 He will continue 00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:35.900 to demolish. 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:37.559 Third, 00:18:38.180 --> 00:18:39.820 they will by and large 00:18:39.820 --> 00:18:40.759 be given over 00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:41.820 to wickedness. 00:18:42.940 --> 00:18:44.120 And this is possibly 00:18:44.120 --> 00:18:45.480 the most devastating 00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:46.360 of the judgments 00:18:46.360 --> 00:18:48.279 and the one 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:48.779 that makes 00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:50.059 all the other judgments 00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:50.700 just. 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:51.340 You see, 00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:52.039 they are not 00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:53.119 an innocent people. 00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:54.839 God is just 00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:56.259 in all his dealings 00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:56.819 with people. 00:18:57.159 --> 00:18:58.259 And when God decides 00:18:58.259 --> 00:19:00.179 to pass by Esau 00:19:00.179 --> 00:19:01.799 and choose Jacob, 00:19:02.179 --> 00:19:03.399 there is no decree 00:19:03.399 --> 00:19:04.519 here anywhere, 00:19:04.759 --> 00:19:05.699 anywhere in the Bible 00:19:05.699 --> 00:19:06.879 to say that Esau 00:19:06.879 --> 00:19:07.699 was innocent 00:19:07.699 --> 00:19:09.259 and would be judged 00:19:09.259 --> 00:19:10.959 harshly as an innocent man. 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:15.019 That is, 00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:16.279 neither Jacob 00:19:16.279 --> 00:19:17.559 nor Esau 00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:19.180 actually deserve love. 00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:21.299 Neither of them 00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:22.120 deserve love. 00:19:22.660 --> 00:19:23.279 Neither of them 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:24.259 deserve grace. 00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:26.340 Now, of course, 00:19:26.380 --> 00:19:27.140 there's a great mystery 00:19:27.140 --> 00:19:28.059 here and I don't claim 00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:28.660 to solve 00:19:28.660 --> 00:19:30.200 all the problems 00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:30.840 that we have 00:19:30.840 --> 00:19:32.319 in our finite minds 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:33.840 in a text like this, 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:34.920 but this is sure 00:19:34.920 --> 00:19:35.799 from this text. 00:19:35.799 --> 00:19:37.659 God passes by 00:19:37.659 --> 00:19:38.339 the descendants 00:19:38.339 --> 00:19:39.339 of Esau 00:19:39.339 --> 00:19:40.460 and withheld 00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:41.759 his electing love 00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:43.139 and as a result, 00:19:43.379 --> 00:19:44.399 Esau gave way 00:19:44.399 --> 00:19:45.319 to wickedness 00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:46.399 and deserved 00:19:46.399 --> 00:19:47.599 the indignation 00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:48.259 of God. 00:19:48.899 --> 00:19:49.599 And that takes me 00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:50.579 to the fourth point 00:19:50.579 --> 00:19:51.720 from the end 00:19:51.720 --> 00:19:52.559 of verse four 00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:54.059 is that God 00:19:54.059 --> 00:19:54.980 is angry 00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:55.799 with them 00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:56.899 forever. 00:19:59.740 --> 00:20:01.240 In verse two, 00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:03.099 God declares 00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:03.799 his love 00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:04.279 and the people 00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:04.659 of God 00:20:04.659 --> 00:20:05.240 are skeptical. 00:20:05.799 --> 00:20:08.839 And having heard 00:20:08.839 --> 00:20:10.740 God describe 00:20:10.740 --> 00:20:11.659 his love 00:20:11.659 --> 00:20:12.859 in such a stark 00:20:12.859 --> 00:20:13.720 way here, 00:20:14.159 --> 00:20:15.099 we might be 00:20:15.099 --> 00:20:15.599 tempted 00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:17.579 to be skeptical 00:20:17.579 --> 00:20:18.099 too. 00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:22.500 We might be tempted 00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:23.119 just to cut 00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:24.259 the second four 00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:24.960 verses off 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:25.399 and just keep 00:20:25.399 --> 00:20:26.119 the first four. 00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:28.440 And what you do 00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:29.019 at that point 00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:30.440 is you diminish 00:20:30.440 --> 00:20:31.399 and demolish 00:20:31.399 --> 00:20:32.539 the love of God. 00:20:33.659 --> 00:20:34.799 You have a simple 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:35.419 view of the love 00:20:35.420 --> 00:20:35.940 of God. 00:20:38.860 --> 00:20:39.360 You see, 00:20:39.420 --> 00:20:40.240 to our minds, 00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:41.640 we look at 00:20:41.640 --> 00:20:42.400 these verses 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:42.960 and we go, 00:20:43.140 --> 00:20:43.800 it seems 00:20:43.800 --> 00:20:44.400 insufficient, 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:45.420 it seems 00:20:45.420 --> 00:20:46.019 unjust, 00:20:46.120 --> 00:20:46.460 it seems 00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:47.080 callous. 00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:50.279 Our problem 00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:51.080 is most likely 00:20:51.080 --> 00:20:51.580 that, well, 00:20:51.660 --> 00:20:53.460 if one gets 00:20:53.460 --> 00:20:53.960 love, 00:20:54.080 --> 00:20:55.220 then why not 00:20:55.220 --> 00:20:55.920 both? 00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:59.860 I suppose, 00:20:59.860 --> 00:20:59.880 I suppose, 00:20:59.880 --> 00:21:00.340 but if two 00:21:00.340 --> 00:21:01.060 criminals were 00:21:01.060 --> 00:21:01.860 before a judge 00:21:01.860 --> 00:21:02.519 guilty of 00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:03.220 exactly the 00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:04.039 same crime 00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:05.380 and the judge 00:21:05.380 --> 00:21:06.279 chooses to 00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:06.980 let one off 00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:07.500 and punish 00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:07.860 the other 00:21:07.860 --> 00:21:09.600 one justly 00:21:09.600 --> 00:21:10.140 according to 00:21:10.140 --> 00:21:11.039 their crimes, 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:12.279 I don't think 00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:13.140 either criminal 00:21:13.140 --> 00:21:13.860 can say to 00:21:13.860 --> 00:21:14.300 the judge, 00:21:14.299 --> 00:21:14.980 that's unfair. 00:21:19.460 --> 00:21:19.940 Neither 00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:20.960 deserves mercy 00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:21.559 and I think 00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:21.919 that's one 00:21:21.919 --> 00:21:22.419 of the points 00:21:22.419 --> 00:21:22.819 that Paul 00:21:22.819 --> 00:21:23.500 makes in 00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:24.299 Romans 9. 00:21:25.399 --> 00:21:26.159 Who are we 00:21:26.159 --> 00:21:26.899 to question 00:21:26.899 --> 00:21:28.839 the infinitely 00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:30.259 wise God 00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:31.440 with our 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:32.519 small minds? 00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:36.359 there is a 00:21:36.359 --> 00:21:37.099 mystery here. 00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:39.000 There is a 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:39.279 mystery. 00:21:40.639 --> 00:21:41.440 But at the 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:42.099 very least, 00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:42.799 let me 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:43.680 hammer this 00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:44.000 home. 00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:45.420 It is 00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:46.000 meant to 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:47.000 cause those 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:48.019 in Christ 00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:49.480 to reach 00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:50.240 to higher 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:51.099 levels of 00:21:51.099 --> 00:21:51.720 gratitude 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:52.960 and affection 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:54.339 for God 00:21:54.339 --> 00:21:56.440 that he 00:21:56.440 --> 00:21:57.000 should set 00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:57.559 his affection 00:21:57.559 --> 00:21:58.639 on anyone. 00:22:02.519 --> 00:22:02.980 It ought to 00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:03.420 take our 00:22:03.420 --> 00:22:03.839 love of 00:22:03.839 --> 00:22:04.420 God beyond 00:22:04.420 --> 00:22:05.379 a shallow 00:22:05.379 --> 00:22:06.139 confidence 00:22:06.139 --> 00:22:07.639 to a 00:22:07.639 --> 00:22:08.259 deep 00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:09.500 joyful 00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:10.599 trembling. 00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:12.339 And I 00:22:12.339 --> 00:22:12.639 want to 00:22:12.639 --> 00:22:13.180 include the 00:22:13.180 --> 00:22:13.440 word 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:14.019 trembling. 00:22:17.379 --> 00:22:18.259 I think 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:18.700 that's why 00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:19.059 Malachi 00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:19.920 begins his 00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:20.740 message in 00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:22.359 this way 00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:22.960 to these 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:23.859 apathetic 00:22:23.859 --> 00:22:24.420 Israelites. 00:22:25.619 --> 00:22:26.319 I think 00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:26.799 that these 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:27.299 words are 00:22:27.299 --> 00:22:27.639 meant to 00:22:27.639 --> 00:22:28.299 humble them, 00:22:28.680 --> 00:22:29.200 to take 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:29.799 away their 00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:30.500 presumption, 00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:31.400 to remove 00:22:31.400 --> 00:22:32.319 every ground 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:32.659 of their 00:22:32.659 --> 00:22:33.139 boasting, 00:22:33.319 --> 00:22:33.799 to cut 00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:34.579 the nerve 00:22:34.579 --> 00:22:35.279 of pride 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:36.299 that possibly 00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:37.500 rejoiced in 00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:38.279 the downfall 00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:39.159 of Edom, 00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:40.339 as if their 00:22:40.339 --> 00:22:41.019 salvation, 00:22:41.439 --> 00:22:42.279 Israel's salvation, 00:22:42.419 --> 00:22:43.000 were owing to 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:43.559 something that 00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:44.419 they had done. 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:45.359 To grind 00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:46.679 away their 00:22:46.679 --> 00:22:48.039 cavalier sense 00:22:48.039 --> 00:22:49.139 of self-reliance 00:22:49.139 --> 00:22:50.319 that made them 00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:51.000 think that they 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:51.659 were equal 00:22:51.659 --> 00:22:53.200 partners with 00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:54.220 their God 00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:54.939 within this 00:22:54.939 --> 00:22:55.559 relationship. 00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:56.539 To make 00:22:56.539 --> 00:22:57.299 their tremble 00:22:57.299 --> 00:22:58.039 with tears 00:22:58.039 --> 00:22:59.139 of joy that 00:22:59.139 --> 00:22:59.779 they belong 00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:00.500 to God. 00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:02.339 and they 00:23:02.339 --> 00:23:02.640 don't 00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:03.440 deserve it. 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:08.299 And I 00:23:08.299 --> 00:23:08.880 want to keep 00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:09.440 throwing the 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:10.319 word tremble 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:10.740 in there. 00:23:11.220 --> 00:23:11.880 Because as we 00:23:11.880 --> 00:23:12.880 see, this 00:23:12.880 --> 00:23:13.480 God is not 00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:14.319 simply to be 00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:15.140 admired with 00:23:15.140 --> 00:23:15.920 joyful songs 00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:16.680 of praise. 00:23:17.339 --> 00:23:17.960 He is to 00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:18.819 be feared. 00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:20.119 God's love 00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:21.420 is not soft 00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:22.140 and it's not 00:23:22.140 --> 00:23:22.700 simple. 00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:24.380 So the 00:23:24.380 --> 00:23:25.039 second purpose 00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:25.539 of revealing 00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:26.119 his electing 00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:26.779 love of Jacob 00:23:26.779 --> 00:23:27.140 and his 00:23:27.140 --> 00:23:27.599 judgment of 00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:28.619 Esau helps 00:23:28.619 --> 00:23:29.339 us to see 00:23:29.339 --> 00:23:29.699 that he's 00:23:29.699 --> 00:23:29.899 to be 00:23:29.899 --> 00:23:30.179 feared. 00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:31.179 Verse 5, 00:23:31.459 --> 00:23:31.759 you will 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:32.179 see it 00:23:32.179 --> 00:23:32.439 with your 00:23:32.439 --> 00:23:33.439 own eyes 00:23:33.439 --> 00:23:34.779 and say 00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:35.639 great is 00:23:35.639 --> 00:23:36.199 the Lord 00:23:36.199 --> 00:23:37.819 even beyond 00:23:37.819 --> 00:23:38.319 the borders 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:38.899 of Israel. 00:23:39.659 --> 00:23:39.899 You see, 00:23:40.019 --> 00:23:40.799 part of what 00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:41.459 it means to 00:23:41.459 --> 00:23:41.859 be loved 00:23:41.859 --> 00:23:42.459 by God 00:23:42.459 --> 00:23:43.379 is to know 00:23:43.379 --> 00:23:43.799 that this 00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:44.099 God 00:23:44.099 --> 00:23:44.939 sovereignly 00:23:44.939 --> 00:23:45.679 reigns. 00:23:46.939 --> 00:23:47.240 That he 00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:47.839 is awesome 00:23:47.839 --> 00:23:48.659 and mighty 00:23:48.659 --> 00:23:49.839 over everything 00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:50.459 above the 00:23:50.459 --> 00:23:50.759 earth, 00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:51.539 on the 00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:51.779 earth, 00:23:51.859 --> 00:23:52.279 and below 00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:52.939 the earth. 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:54.000 And Malachi 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:54.819 here is not 00:23:54.819 --> 00:23:55.480 speaking of 00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:56.419 some kind 00:23:56.419 --> 00:23:56.859 of village 00:23:56.859 --> 00:23:57.379 God or 00:23:57.379 --> 00:23:58.359 tribal spirit. 00:23:58.359 --> 00:23:59.279 this is the 00:23:59.279 --> 00:23:59.859 universal 00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:00.500 sovereign 00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:01.059 Lord over 00:24:01.059 --> 00:24:01.459 all that 00:24:01.459 --> 00:24:01.859 is. 00:24:04.119 --> 00:24:04.599 He is 00:24:04.599 --> 00:24:05.119 mighty in 00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:05.639 Israel. 00:24:06.459 --> 00:24:06.979 He is 00:24:06.979 --> 00:24:07.779 mighty in 00:24:07.779 --> 00:24:08.319 Edom, 00:24:09.159 --> 00:24:09.939 next door. 00:24:10.719 --> 00:24:11.179 He is 00:24:11.179 --> 00:24:11.919 mighty in 00:24:11.919 --> 00:24:12.819 Sudan and 00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:13.379 the US 00:24:13.379 --> 00:24:14.759 and in 00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:15.359 Chatswood. 00:24:16.439 --> 00:24:16.679 He 00:24:16.679 --> 00:24:17.299 great is 00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:17.779 the Lord 00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:18.679 even beyond 00:24:18.679 --> 00:24:19.579 the walls 00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:20.279 of this 00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:20.859 church. 00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:23.759 And so 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:24.099 friends, 00:24:24.219 --> 00:24:24.579 right at the 00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:25.199 very beginning, 00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:26.519 Malachi 00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:28.019 is calling 00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:29.500 the people 00:24:29.500 --> 00:24:30.039 of God 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:30.680 back into 00:24:30.680 --> 00:24:31.220 covenant 00:24:31.220 --> 00:24:31.720 relationship 00:24:31.720 --> 00:24:32.340 and devotion 00:24:32.340 --> 00:24:32.759 with their 00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:33.640 God who 00:24:33.640 --> 00:24:34.500 has loved 00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:34.680 them, 00:24:34.740 --> 00:24:35.019 who has 00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:35.380 said his 00:24:35.380 --> 00:24:35.920 affection 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:36.400 towards 00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:36.640 them. 00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:37.340 And the 00:24:37.340 --> 00:24:37.840 way he 00:24:37.840 --> 00:24:38.460 does that 00:24:38.460 --> 00:24:38.920 is by 00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:39.700 reminding 00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:40.460 them of 00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:41.080 this great 00:24:41.080 --> 00:24:41.500 God. 00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:43.140 And what 00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:43.640 we discover 00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:44.120 in the first 00:24:44.120 --> 00:24:44.720 few verses 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.400 are deep 00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:45.819 things that 00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:46.120 are very 00:24:46.120 --> 00:24:46.460 hard to 00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:46.740 get our 00:24:46.740 --> 00:24:47.180 minds 00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:47.880 and our 00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:48.299 hearts 00:24:48.299 --> 00:24:48.900 around. 00:24:49.900 --> 00:24:50.259 But they 00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:50.880 are beautiful 00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:51.819 truths that 00:24:51.819 --> 00:24:52.680 ought to cause 00:24:52.680 --> 00:24:53.120 us to 00:24:53.120 --> 00:24:53.980 tremble. 00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:55.539 tears of 00:24:55.539 --> 00:24:55.860 joy. 00:24:58.380 --> 00:24:58.740 Let me 00:24:58.740 --> 00:24:59.240 say that 00:24:59.240 --> 00:24:59.779 normally 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:00.519 these things 00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:00.740 that I've 00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:01.200 only touched 00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:01.620 them very 00:25:01.620 --> 00:25:02.000 lightly, 00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:03.259 they are so 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:03.759 much deeper 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.160 than what I 00:25:04.160 --> 00:25:04.480 can give 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:04.880 them justice 00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:05.339 to here. 00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:06.720 We normally 00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:07.400 only touch 00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:07.940 these sort 00:25:07.940 --> 00:25:08.339 of deep 00:25:08.339 --> 00:25:08.980 truths, 00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:09.940 sort of 00:25:09.940 --> 00:25:10.120 think, 00:25:10.200 --> 00:25:10.400 well these 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:10.579 are for 00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:11.059 the mature 00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:11.660 Christians, 00:25:11.860 --> 00:25:13.279 for Bible 00:25:13.279 --> 00:25:14.259 study classes, 00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:15.019 for the keen 00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:15.539 ones to dig 00:25:15.539 --> 00:25:15.960 a little bit 00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:16.400 deeper and 00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:17.420 understand some 00:25:17.420 --> 00:25:18.299 big concepts. 00:25:20.420 --> 00:25:21.140 But that's 00:25:21.140 --> 00:25:21.920 not Malachi's 00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:22.620 purpose here. 00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:25.799 Malachi is 00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:26.539 not speaking 00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:27.220 to a bunch 00:25:27.220 --> 00:25:27.720 of mature 00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:29.259 Christians locked 00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:29.779 up in some 00:25:29.779 --> 00:25:30.319 theological 00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:32.079 college, he 00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:32.920 is speaking 00:25:32.920 --> 00:25:33.380 to a 00:25:33.380 --> 00:25:34.240 bunch, a 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:34.759 worldly 00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:35.380 bunch of 00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:35.900 half-hearted 00:25:35.900 --> 00:25:36.720 followers of 00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:37.360 their God. 00:25:38.660 --> 00:25:39.400 They are 00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:40.259 sceptical, they 00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:40.779 are careless, 00:25:40.900 --> 00:25:41.099 they are 00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:41.700 indifferent, they 00:25:41.700 --> 00:25:42.440 are disobedient, 00:25:42.700 --> 00:25:42.940 they are 00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:43.720 adulterous, they 00:25:43.720 --> 00:25:44.579 are stingy. 00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:49.759 And these 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:50.619 deep and 00:25:50.619 --> 00:25:52.199 difficult truths 00:25:52.199 --> 00:25:53.579 are here 00:25:53.579 --> 00:25:55.740 designed to 00:25:55.740 --> 00:25:56.619 shock the 00:25:56.619 --> 00:25:58.619 presumption and 00:25:58.619 --> 00:26:00.759 the flippancy of 00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:01.339 the careless 00:26:01.339 --> 00:26:02.039 children of 00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:02.339 God. 00:26:04.099 --> 00:26:05.259 You could say 00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:06.339 these words are 00:26:06.339 --> 00:26:06.839 good for 00:26:06.839 --> 00:26:07.919 Christians whose 00:26:07.919 --> 00:26:08.699 grasp of the 00:26:08.699 --> 00:26:09.519 love of God is 00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:11.460 so shallow that 00:26:11.460 --> 00:26:12.319 it never makes 00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:14.159 them tremble but 00:26:14.159 --> 00:26:15.539 instead it makes 00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:17.259 them careless and 00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:18.740 casual and 00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:20.579 presumptuous in 00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:21.319 their relationship 00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:23.019 with God where 00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:24.039 they take him for 00:26:24.039 --> 00:26:24.419 granted. 00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:27.399 Where these 00:26:27.399 --> 00:26:28.919 truths of the 00:26:28.919 --> 00:26:30.960 sovereign, electing, 00:26:31.179 --> 00:26:31.980 unconditional 00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:33.439 purposes of God, 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:34.220 love of God, 00:26:34.439 --> 00:26:35.319 where it should 00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:36.819 take us is 00:26:36.819 --> 00:26:37.839 commitment and 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:38.799 zeal and 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:39.799 earnestness for the 00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:40.599 things of God 00:26:40.599 --> 00:26:42.399 whereas often we 00:26:42.399 --> 00:26:43.319 take the grace of 00:26:43.319 --> 00:26:43.839 God and 00:26:43.839 --> 00:26:45.200 interpret it as 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:47.539 I've got a 00:26:47.539 --> 00:26:48.000 license. 00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:50.500 I'm not under 00:26:50.500 --> 00:26:51.539 law anymore, I'm 00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:52.460 free in grace, I 00:26:52.460 --> 00:26:52.940 can do what I 00:26:52.940 --> 00:26:53.279 like. 00:26:53.680 --> 00:26:54.359 Hoop-dee-doo-dah. 00:26:57.799 --> 00:26:58.419 And the 00:26:58.419 --> 00:26:59.259 apostle Paul says 00:26:59.259 --> 00:27:00.259 in chapter 9 of 00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:01.419 Romans, how dare 00:27:01.419 --> 00:27:02.200 you take the love 00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:03.039 of God that way? 00:27:04.639 --> 00:27:05.339 Do you think 00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:06.099 God's an idiot? 00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:09.179 That's kind of how 00:27:09.179 --> 00:27:10.339 I interpret Romans 00:27:10.339 --> 00:27:10.599 9. 00:27:13.219 --> 00:27:14.179 Unfortunately, when 00:27:14.179 --> 00:27:15.159 we reduce the love 00:27:15.159 --> 00:27:15.959 and grace of God 00:27:15.959 --> 00:27:16.799 down so that it 00:27:16.799 --> 00:27:18.279 sits so easy with 00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:20.159 our finite minds, 00:27:20.639 --> 00:27:21.819 then we, as a 00:27:21.819 --> 00:27:22.379 result, become 00:27:22.379 --> 00:27:24.879 careless, apathetic, 00:27:26.059 --> 00:27:28.259 flippant, followers 00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:29.319 of the Lord Jesus 00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:30.379 and God's grace in 00:27:30.379 --> 00:27:31.319 the Bible never, 00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:32.699 ever excuses 00:27:32.699 --> 00:27:35.099 disobedience and 00:27:35.099 --> 00:27:36.599 apathy and 00:27:36.599 --> 00:27:37.259 carelessness. 00:27:38.819 --> 00:27:39.959 It motivates 00:27:39.959 --> 00:27:41.079 obedience and 00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:41.539 zeal. 00:27:43.699 --> 00:27:44.599 And that's what 00:27:44.599 --> 00:27:45.019 we're going to 00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:45.779 see as we go 00:27:45.779 --> 00:27:46.419 through Malachi. 00:27:48.339 --> 00:27:49.500 We'll see that as 00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:50.079 we go through 00:27:50.079 --> 00:27:52.679 Malachi, that the 00:27:52.679 --> 00:27:53.459 love of God is the 00:27:53.459 --> 00:27:55.339 very foundation of 00:27:55.339 --> 00:27:56.439 calling his people 00:27:56.439 --> 00:27:57.559 back to faithfulness 00:27:57.559 --> 00:27:58.279 in their marriage, 00:27:58.899 --> 00:27:59.639 faithfulness in 00:27:59.639 --> 00:28:00.199 their worship, 00:28:00.939 --> 00:28:01.719 faithfulness in 00:28:01.719 --> 00:28:02.359 their giving, 00:28:02.919 --> 00:28:03.819 and faithfulness in 00:28:03.819 --> 00:28:04.699 their treatment of 00:28:04.700 --> 00:28:05.220 one another. 00:28:06.860 --> 00:28:07.580 And so as we 00:28:07.580 --> 00:28:08.240 commence our 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:09.059 commitment series, 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:10.200 I want to call you 00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:10.779 to make a 00:28:10.779 --> 00:28:11.980 commitment to go 00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:12.759 deeper in knowing 00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:13.319 this God. 00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:17.440 We cannot worship 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:18.559 and treasure and 00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:19.620 adore what we do 00:28:19.620 --> 00:28:20.519 not understand. 00:28:21.840 --> 00:28:22.880 Don't be consent 00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:24.039 with just a simple 00:28:24.039 --> 00:28:25.759 view of God. 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:25.799 God. 00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:28.920 I recall a true story of 00:28:28.920 --> 00:28:29.700 a minister sitting 00:28:29.700 --> 00:28:30.359 on a plane. 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:31.799 Many, many years 00:28:31.799 --> 00:28:32.220 ago, he was 00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:32.859 working on his 00:28:32.859 --> 00:28:35.559 sermon for the 00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:36.259 next Sunday when 00:28:36.259 --> 00:28:37.059 the person sitting 00:28:37.059 --> 00:28:37.700 beside him was 00:28:37.700 --> 00:28:38.519 quite interested in 00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:39.180 what he was doing. 00:28:39.700 --> 00:28:40.640 And so he says to 00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:41.039 him, you know, 00:28:41.059 --> 00:28:41.539 what are you doing? 00:28:41.960 --> 00:28:43.319 And the answer he 00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:43.960 gets was, I'm 00:28:43.960 --> 00:28:44.559 working on my 00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:44.920 sermon. 00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:46.759 And the guy said 00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:47.240 to the minister, 00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:48.359 oh, religion. 00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:49.420 He said, I don't 00:28:49.420 --> 00:28:50.180 get caught up in 00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:50.859 all the ins and 00:28:50.859 --> 00:28:51.240 outs, the 00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:51.960 complexities of 00:28:51.960 --> 00:28:52.299 religion. 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:53.440 He said, I like to 00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:54.279 keep it real simple. 00:28:54.279 --> 00:28:55.220 Do unto others as 00:28:55.220 --> 00:28:55.539 you would have 00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:56.299 them do unto you. 00:28:56.619 --> 00:28:57.420 That's my golden 00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:58.240 rule and that's my 00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:58.579 religion. 00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:00.299 And the minister 00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:00.980 working on his 00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:02.039 sermon said, I 00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:03.559 see, what do you 00:29:03.559 --> 00:29:03.859 do? 00:29:04.359 --> 00:29:05.480 And he says, I'm 00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:06.099 an astronomer. 00:29:06.220 --> 00:29:06.700 I teach at 00:29:06.700 --> 00:29:07.279 university. 00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:07.960 And the minister 00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:08.619 replied, oh, 00:29:08.700 --> 00:29:09.059 astronomy. 00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:10.200 I don't like to 00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:10.799 get caught up in 00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:11.319 all the ins and 00:29:11.319 --> 00:29:11.599 outs and 00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:12.299 complexities of 00:29:12.299 --> 00:29:12.700 astronomy. 00:29:13.299 --> 00:29:14.099 Twinkle, twinkle, 00:29:14.279 --> 00:29:14.960 little star. 00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:16.139 That's my 00:29:16.139 --> 00:29:16.599 astronomy. 00:29:20.899 --> 00:29:21.839 My friends, go 00:29:21.839 --> 00:29:22.279 deeper. 00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:24.839 Go deeper. 00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:29.440 The opening 00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:30.000 verses of 00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:31.119 Malachi reveal to 00:29:31.119 --> 00:29:32.740 us a God much 00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:33.500 bigger than we can 00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:34.240 fully grasp. 00:29:34.879 --> 00:29:35.460 And the burden of 00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:36.480 this text is that 00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:37.440 the glorious truth 00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:38.440 about this God 00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:41.099 will for some be 00:29:41.099 --> 00:29:43.379 dark and foreboding 00:29:43.379 --> 00:29:45.359 and unapproachable. 00:29:46.119 --> 00:29:47.180 And so this God 00:29:47.180 --> 00:29:48.920 will be ignored and 00:29:48.920 --> 00:29:50.279 he'll be ridiculed and 00:29:50.279 --> 00:29:51.279 he will be scorned. 00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:53.180 But for others 00:29:53.180 --> 00:29:55.839 here, the mere 00:29:55.839 --> 00:29:56.940 glimpse that we've 00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:57.819 received this morning 00:29:57.819 --> 00:29:59.299 of an awesome God 00:29:59.299 --> 00:30:01.000 will bring a real 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:02.599 sense of joyful 00:30:02.599 --> 00:30:05.899 trembling and 00:30:05.899 --> 00:30:08.519 security in this 00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:09.099 relationship. 00:30:10.720 --> 00:30:11.460 And so may God 00:30:11.460 --> 00:30:12.500 give us the grace to 00:30:12.500 --> 00:30:14.259 see the glory and 00:30:14.259 --> 00:30:15.379 move us to greater 00:30:15.379 --> 00:30:17.039 levels in adoration and 00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:18.599 love and awe and 00:30:18.599 --> 00:30:21.959 joyfully trembling as 00:30:21.959 --> 00:30:23.119 we seek to commit to 00:30:23.119 --> 00:30:23.819 this great God. 00:30:24.339 --> 00:30:24.779 Amen.