Return from Exile: Malachi 4 (3)

Pray Psalm 119.25-27.
My soul clings to the dust;
Revive me according to Your word.
I have declared my ways, and You answered me;
Teach me Your statutes.
Make me understand the way of Your precepts;
So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.

Sing Psalm 119.25-27.
(Festal Song: Rise Up, O Men of God)
My soul clings to the dust; revive me by Your Word!
My ways I have declared to You; teach me Your statutes, LORD!

Make me to understand Your precepts and Your ways,
as on Your works I meditate with wonder and with praise!

Read Malachi 4.1-4; meditate on verse 4.

Preparation
1. What does God call us to remember?

2. What does that mean?

Meditation
Let’s remember what we said about that Hebrew verb, “remember.” It doesn’t just mean, “Oh, yeah, almost forgot.” Zachar is a much more active word. It means to consider carefully, attend to faithfully, be diligent about, remember always.

This is what we are to do, we who have heard the Messenger of the covenant, have gained the benefit of His offering for our sin, and have our tramplin’ shoes on. The Law of God—and all His Word—is given to reveal Jesus to us (Jn. 5.39) so that, as we see Him in the Law (2 Cor. 3.12-18), we may be made more like Him and be more constant in loving God and our neighbors (Matt. 22.34-40).

But if we don’t remember the Law—don’t read it regularly, study it carefully, obey it explicitly, talk about it with other believers, and praise God for every jot and tittle of it—then we will not be able to fulfill our calling to love and good works (Heb. 10.24). It is a measure of our current captivity to self and the times that believers today value the Law of God so little. Pastors tell their people the Law is no longer valid, that only “love” matters. One theologian wrote that the Christian has no obligation to the Law, because the Law is a “dead and a useless thing.”

And yet God says, “Remember the Law of Moses”, all the first five books of Scripture and everything in them, and all the rest of the Word of God which grows, like an oak from an acorn, from that initial revelation to Moses. Do not let it be said of you that you do not remember the Law of God. Everything in your walk with Jesus depends on this (Matt. 5.17-19; Rom. 3.31; 7.12).

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Yes, absolutely everything in our walk with God depends upon our remembering and keeping God’s Law.
“LORD, I hope for Your salvation, and I do Your commandments” (Ps. 119.166).

What is it that the world hates about Christians? OK, yes, I get it, we don’t have space to list all the things. But what is it that you see written about in the news? It is always those people who take the Name of Christ upon themselves and then live it in vain (Ex. 20.7). What “Christian” this week has been caught out in graft, adultery, pornography, trafficking, or any number of heinous sins? Sadly, many. It is this fudging on the Law of God that really grosses the world out about us as believers. No, they don’t keep God’s Laws, but they expect those that are Christians to practice what they preach. And they expect it of us, as well.

Don’t you find it galling when climate activists jet around the world in planes that blow out more gunk than any home or car will spew in a lifetime? Well, that’s exactly how the world views us. We must be careful to follow God’s Laws, so we are not a disappointment to Him, nor a stumbling stone to those watching. We need to follow God’s Laws. Every one. Every day. No exceptions. God said, “The commandments, statutes, and judgments” (Mal. 4.4). And He’s not kidding.

“Thus says the LORD: ‘For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment,

because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept His commandments. Their lies lead them astray…’” (Amos 2.4).

The Law of God is as relevant today as it was when He gave it.
And He is as serious about His people keeping it now as He was then.

Loving the LORD with all our heart, soul, and mind, and our neighbors as ourselves, is what Jesus said all the Law and the Prophets hung upon (Matt. 22. 37-40). In other words, Jesus said that the Law and the Prophets are valid today and worked out through our obvious actions of obedience to and love for God and neighbor. And love toward God and neighbor cannot be done in any other way than through keeping the Law. Think about each of the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:1-17): which one, if broken, would convey heartfelt love toward anyone?

God said, “Remember the Law…with the statues and judgments” (Mal. 4.4).
Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn. 14.15).
We say, “I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever,
to the very end” (Ps. 119.112).

Remember the Law.

For reflection
1. The Law of God is the acorn to the oak of all Biblical revelation. Why does this make it so important?

2. Is it possible to know how to love God or our neighbors apart from the Law of God and all His Word? Explain.

3. What can you do to let the Law of God become more a part of your work in your Personal Mission Field?

Conscience bids us remember the law. Though we have not prophets, yet, as long as we have Bibles, we may keep up our communion with God. Let others boast in their proud reasoning, and call it enlightening, but let us keep near to that sacred word, through which this Sun of Righteousness shines upon the souls of his people. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Malachi 4.4

Pray Psalm 119.28-32.
Call on the Lord to renew your commitment to Him, His Law, and all His Word. Ask Him to show you how you can be more consistent at remembering His Law.

Sing Psalm 119.28-32.
(Festal Song: Rise Up, O Men of God)
My soul weighs down with woe, I need Your strength, O LORD!
Remove from me all lying ways; grant me Your holy Word!

I choose the way of truth; Your judgments I proclaim.
Your testimonies I embrace, LORD, put me not to shame!

Command my course, O LORD; Your gracious truth impart.
I cling to You and know You will enlarge my seeking heart.

T. M. and Susie Moore

Two books can help us understand our own captivity and lead us to seek revival and renewal in the Lord. The Church Captive asks us to consider the ways the Church today has become captive to the world. And Revived! can help us find the way to renewal. Learn more and order your free copies by clicking here and here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available free by clicking here.