Being Defensive with God
This morning I traveled to Denver with my “energy team” members for a meeting. We took time to tour the capitol before returning back to Fort Collins.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you ask: “How have You loved?”…where is your fear of Me? says Yahweh of Hosts to you priests, who despise My name.” Yet you ask: “How have we despised Your name?” Malachi 1:2,6 HCSB
Malachi is the last book of the Bible. There is not indication in the text about the author or the time frame of the prophetic words. Much of the book is like a “conversation with God.” Perhaps an “argument with God.” There are a series of questions that Lord puts back to His people; questions they ask when confronted with their behavior. Have you ever been confronted about something and your response is, “what do you mean?!” or “How am I doing that?” Questions in this context reveals a defensive posture, not one of repentance or openness.
The first question puts “God on trial.” The Lord says, “I have loved you” and the people ask, “How?!” The Lord responds by reminding how He choose Jacob and treated him and his offspring with favor.
Next the Lord confronts the priests about their lack of honor and respect. The ask, “How have we despised you?” The Lord responds in pointing out that the sacrifices the offer would not even be acceptable to  human governor, let alone the God of the universe. They offered less than the best, they were going through the motions, but not fulfilling their obligation.
The Lord’s complaint against His people is, “you cover the Lord’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning, because He no longer respects your offerings or receives them gladly from your hands.” The people respond, “For what reason?” (Malachi 2:13,14 HCSB) The Lord points out their unfaithfulness in marriage and practice of divorce and injustice.
The next complaint, “You have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you ask, “How have we wearied Him?” The Lord responds, When you say, “Everyone who does what is evil is good in the Lord’s sight, and He is pleased with them,” or “Where is the God of justice?” (Malachi 2:17 HCSB)
The next exchange is combined, “Since the days of your fathers, you have turned from My statutes; you have not kept them. Return to Me,and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Hosts. But you ask: “How can we return?” “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me!” You ask: “How do we rob You?” “By not making the payments of the tenth and the contributions….” (Malachi 3:7,8 HCSB)
God’s people had become so insensitive to their situation they didn’t realize that the way back to God was to stop their actions which reveal disobedience and rebellion and to begin to do what the Lord had instructed. It is like the resurrected Christ speaking to the Church of Ephesus, “Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.” (Revelation 2:5 HCSB)
The final exchange is this, “Your words against Me are harsh,” says the Lord. Yet you ask: “What have we spoken against You?” You have said: “It is useless to serve God. What have we gained by keeping His requirements and walking mournfully before the Lord of Hosts?  So now we consider the arrogant to be fortunate.” (Malachi 3:13,14 HCSB)
Toward the end of the book we see the proper response results in God’s promise of blessing, privilege and peace,  “At that time those who feared the Lord spoke to one another. The Lord took notice and listened. So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who feared Yahweh and had high regard for His name.  “They will be Mine,” says the Lord of Hosts, “a special possession on the day I am preparing. I will have compassion on them as a man has compassion on his son who serves him. So you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.” (Malachi 3:16-18 HCSB)
In all these exchanges we see that the Lord knows our ways, He knows our doubts and questions and even points of resistance. He reveals where His people have missed the mark and shows that path toward correction. In the end a proper response results in those who are responsive and obedient being a “special possession” and objects of “compassion.”
Prayer for today…. Lord forgive us when we become defensive to Your correction. Enable us to be quick to respond and make corrections, that we may walk in Your light and live in Your blessing.