Malachi 1:1-5
God's Love? - Silver City Church
Sermon Overview
In “God's Love?,” God declares His electing love to a doubting Israel: “I have loved you.” The sermon confronts their cynical response—“How have you loved us?”—revealing entitlement amid post-exile hardships. God proves His love through sovereign election, choosing Jacob over Esau, wasting Edom while preserving Israel. This unconditional grace, not based on merit, fulfills the covenant promise to Abraham. As the last Old Testament voice before 400 years of silence, Malachi calls for awe, repentance from self-sufficiency, and trust in God’s love. Believers are urged to respond with humble gratitude, rejecting complaint or indifference, and live as God’s chosen people.
Key Takeaways
Malachi opens with God’s personal declaration: “I have loved you” (1:2a). This covenant love is unwavering, like a Father’s to His children, despite Israel’s rebellion. The sermon emphasizes that God’s love is not earned but sovereign, calling His people to respond with gratitude rather than cynicism.
Israel retorts, “How have you loved us?” (1:2b), exposing entitlement and self-centered faith. The sermon reveals this as demanding proof on human terms, ignoring God’s faithfulness. This attitude treats God like a vending machine, shaking fists at difficulties instead of embracing relationship.
God replies with election: loving Jacob over Esau (1:2c-3), wasting Edom’s land while preserving Israel. This sovereign choice demonstrates grace, not merit, fulfilling Abraham’s covenant and pointing to Christ’s election of believers.
The sermon categorizes responses as Jacob (demanding), Esau (indifferent), or Israel (wrestling in awe). Believers are called to repent of complaint or apathy, embracing humble gratitude and living as God’s chosen people.
Weekly Devotional
Day 1: God's Declaration of Love
Scripture: Malachi 1:2a
Devotional Idea: Embrace God's personal, unwavering love as a Father to His children.
The sermon opens with God's direct declaration: “I have loved you.” This covenant love is not earned but freely given, despite Israel's history of rebellion. Reflect on a time you questioned God's love amid difficulties. The sermon reminds us that His love is constant, like a Father's to His prodigal. How does knowing God chose you in grace change your view of trials? Let this truth fill you with gratitude, responding with worship rather than demand.
Day 2: Questioning God's Love
Scripture: Malachi 1:2b
Devotional Idea: Examine and repent of a demanding attitude toward God.
Israel responds to God's love with “How have you loved us?” The sermon exposes this cynicism as entitlement, treating God like a vending machine. Reflect on times you’ve questioned His love due to unmet expectations. The sermon calls this a “transactional” faith—demanding blessings without relationship. How can you shift from complaint to trust? Confess any fist-shaking, and thank God for His faithfulness in past trials.
Day 3: Election as Proof
Scripture: Malachi 1:2c-3
Devotional Idea: Marvel at God's electing love, choosing Jacob over Esau.
God proves His love through election: loving Jacob despite his flaws, hating Esau's indifference. The sermon highlights this sovereign grace, not based on merit. Reflect on your unworthiness—why did God choose you? The sermon contrasts Jacob's wrestling with Esau's shrug, calling us to awe. Thank God for choosing you, and let this truth humble you to live for His glory, not demand blessings.
Day 4: Sovereignty in Judgment
Scripture: Malachi 1:4
Devotional Idea: Trust God's sovereign judgment over human rebuilding efforts.
Edom boasts of rebuilding, but God vows to tear down. The sermon shows God's sovereignty in judgment, preserving His people. Reflect on areas where you rely on self-effort. The sermon warns against Edom-like pride. How can you surrender control to God? Seek His will in a situation you're trying to "rebuild," trusting His loving purpose.
Day 5: Greatness of the Lord
Scripture: Malachi 1:5
Devotional Idea: Declare God's greatness beyond Israel's borders.
Israel will see and proclaim, “Great is the Lord!” The sermon calls for awe at God's electing love. Reflect on how God's faithfulness in your life testifies to His greatness. The sermon urges Israel-like wonder over Esau indifference. Share one way God’s love has been evident, proclaiming His greatness to others this week.
Reflection and Application Questions
- Reflection: How does God’s declaration “I have loved you” challenge your tendency to question His goodness in trials?
- Reflection: In what ways does the election of Jacob over Esau demonstrate that God’s love is sovereign, not earned?
- Reflection: Why do we, like Israel, respond to God’s love with cynicism or demand, and how does this reveal our hearts?
- Application: Identify one area where you’ve questioned God’s love; confess it and thank Him for His electing grace this week.
- Application: Choose to respond as “Israel” (wrestling in awe): spend 10 minutes daily meditating on God’s covenant love.
- Application: Share God’s declaration of love with someone doubting it, pointing them to election and grace.
Scripture References and Cross-References
- Main Scripture: Malachi 1:1-5
- Cross-References: Genesis 25:23 (election of Jacob), Romans 9:13 (Jacob loved, Esau hated), Obadiah 1:17 (remnant salvation), Deuteronomy 7:7-8 (God's choice), Ephesians 1:4-5 (chosen before foundation)
Westminster Confession Connection
Malachi 1:1-5’s declaration of God’s electing love—loving Jacob over Esau—aligns with the Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 3, which teaches God’s eternal decree to choose some to everlasting life by His mere good pleasure (Section 5). The sermon’s emphasis on sovereign love despite Israel’s doubt reflects this unconditional election, not based on foreseen merit but God’s purpose. God’s judgment on Edom and preservation of Israel demonstrates His glory in mercy and justice. The call to respond with awe echoes the Confession’s view of election as the foundation of salvation, urging believers to humble themselves before God’s choosing grace.
Westminster Confession Citation
Chapter 3, Section 5: Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, hath chosen, in Christ, unto everlasting glory, out of His mere free grace and love, without any foresight of faith, or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving Him thereunto; and all to the praise of His glorious grace. [Scripture proofs: Ephesians 1:4, 9, 11; Romans 8:30; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9]
Catechism Connections
Shorter Catechism, Q. 20: Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery? God having, out of His mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a Redeemer. [Scripture proofs: Ephesians 1:4; Romans 3:21-22; Acts 13:48]
Larger Catechism, Q. 13: What hath God especially decreed concerning angels and men? God, by an eternal and immutable decree, out of His mere love, for the praise of His glorious grace, to be manifested in due time, hath elected some angels to glory; and in Christ hath chosen some men to eternal life, and the means thereof: and also, according to His sovereign power, and the unsearchable counsel of His own will, (whereby He extendeth or withholdeth favor as He pleaseth,) hath passed by and foreordained the rest to dishonor and wrath, to be for their sin inflicted, to the praise of the glory of His justice. [Scripture proofs: 1 Timothy 5:21; Ephesians 1:4-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; Romans 9:17-18, 22; Matthew 11:25-26; 2 Timothy 2:20; Jude 4; 1 Peter 2:8]
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