MALACHI
A DIALOGUE WITH GOD
Malachi’s third dispute: BREAKING FAITH WITH ONE ANOTHER
Malachi 2:10 - In verse 10, it's the general area of personal relationships: "Why then are we faithless to one another?" There was widespread dishonesty. People were not keeping their word. Trusts were being broken. "Why are we faithless [or treacherous] with each other?" That is, why can we not trust each other? Why all this breaking of faith?
The Covenant of Levi was to be “life and peace”. Malachi's message to us this morning could hardly be more relevant or more needed. Malachi uses the term ‘treachery’ [bagad] five times. He warns us not "to act faithlessly"—or to put it positively, he urges us to make covenant-making and covenant-keeping the fabric of our life together.
THREE REASONS NOT TO BE FAITHLESS TO ONE ANOTHER -The three reasons given in verse 10 are: We have one Father; one God created us; and we have a covenant. Therefore, let's be a people of radical integrity and faithfulness in all our dealings - whatever it costs!
1. We have one Father. "Have we not all one father?" (v. 10).
2. We have one Creator. "Has not one God created us?" (v. 10).
3. We have a Covenant. "Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?" (v.10).
WHAT WAS THIS COVENANT? It was God's commitment to be Abraham's God, to work for him and bless him and give him life and hope—and not only him but all of his true offspring, including you and me, in Jesus Christ the seed of Abraham.
WHEN THE COVENANT COMMUNITY FAILS- Consider how much of the New Testament is directed to this whole subject of treating other saints in trickery and treachery in order to gain prominence or leverage ( 1 Peter 3:8; Phil. 4:2; Gal. 3:11-13, 5:14-15; 3 John3; 2 Cor.8:11; Romans 14:15 ).
According to 1 Peter 3:8 “Finally, all of you…” reminds us that living together in covenant can have serious challenges. REVILED-[loidoria] – to be speared, to be stabbed in the back, or in the front.
5 WAYS TO ENRICH YOUR COVENANT EXPERIENCE- 1 Peter 3:8
1. Be of one mind [homophron]- We may be singing different notes, but humility makes the harmony. We are all standing under the shadow of the same cross.
2. Have compassion for one another. [sumpathes-with feelings] This happens only when our actions are translated as “I care about you”. Does our church have a message that says, “We care about our covenant community”? If not, we have nothing else to say.
3. Love as brothers. [philadelphos] (seeing each covenant member as one for whom Christ died) John 13:35
4. Be tender hearted. [eusplagchnos- good spleen] Sympathetic- A heart which has been made tender in the fear of God is one which moves as the Holy Spirit works upon it.
5. Be courteous [philophron- friendly minded].