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"Your words have been harsh against Me"

Text: Malachi 3:13

AN ON-GOING WORD BATTLE

Israel seemed to have been very stubborn in its sinful ways. Whatever God said to the nation, they had always had some kind of retort!

“‘Your words have been harsh against Me,’
Says the LORD,
‘Yet you say,
“What have we spoken against You?”
You have said,
“It is useless to serve God;
What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance,
And that we have walked as mourners
Before the LORD of hosts?
So now we call the proud blessed,
For those who do wickedness are raised up;
They even tempt God and go free.”‘”
Malachi 3:13-15

1. “‘Your words have been harsh against Me,’ says the LORD”

a) God noted that the people had spoken “harsh” words against Him.

b) This was quite obvious. The words reflected their sinful and stubborn spirit.

2. “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?'”

a) Their reply was typical.

b) They denied and defied God to substantiate the allegation.

3. The substantiation

a) In word

“It is useless to serve God.”

b) In defiance

i) No profit

There seemed to be no profit in keeping God’s ordinances.

ii) Not noticed

They had walked about as if they were mourners over their sins.

But God did not seem to have noticed for He had not blessed!

iii) New but foolish approach adopted:

The proud are called “blessed” if they have attained success.

iv) Further hardened declaration:

Those who are wicked are still raised up though they tempt God.

For the LORD had not punished them even if they do wrong!