Project 119: Malachi 1:1-5
| Project 119 | Tim Sanderlin
“How Have You Loved Us?”
When we look into the book of 1 John we see the statement that God is love. Without Him, His love for us, and this love of His being poured out on the cross for us, we would not begin to understand this notion of love and what it calls us to do. Furthermore, love, being a key element to the human condition and to our purpose here on earth, is not just something that is known by us as Christ-followers! Look around and it is plain to see that the world has adopted the idea of “love being the answer.” We do not need to be convinced of love’s influence and power in our lives, but at times we need to be reminded of the love the Lord offers to us.
Malachi was a prophet who spoke to Israel after their return from exile in Babylon. His book is the last of the minor prophets, composed sometime in the fifth century B.C. The grand prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah have faded in the eyes of the people; sure, they’ve returned home and rebuilt the temple, but all of the visions the former prophets spoke of have faded into view. Physical poverty and drought plague the nation, but there’s a spiritual drought as well. The people are spiritually impoverished and far from God. Malachi writes to remind God’s people of His love for them, and to challenge them to allow that love to transform their behavior.
In this short dialogue we see in Malachi 1:1-2, we are reminded that God “has loved us.” As believers, that is something very hard to refute when we look at the cross. But Malachi reminds Israel, and us, that we still question the love of God! That sounds preposterous, I know, but we do this more often than we ought.
The Lord has shown us His love by the ones who surround us every day. He has shown us His love by allowing us to suffer at times, but also leading us through the “valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4, ESV). He has shown us love through His Son standing in our place, promising us the same resurrection that Christ had, and even by giving us this day to awake and read of this goodness! The reason we look into the book of Malachi, or any book for that matter, is to be reminded of His love for us.
When we come to Him and ask, “But how have you loved me?” I pray that we would be quick to count our blessings and respond with a song of thanksgiving. May we be reminded that He is good by nature and cannot deviate from that which defines Him—love.
Malachi 1:1-5 (ESV):
1 The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
The LORD’s Love for Israel
2 “I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet I have loved Jacob 3 but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” 4 If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the LORD of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the LORD is angry forever.’” 5 Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the LORD beyond the border of Israel!”