“Yet even now,” declares the Lord , “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;” Joel 2:12, ESV
To this day, we still rebel against God, and He still calls us to lament our sin and to repentance. He loves us and loves to forgive us when we turn to Him.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea Psalm 46:1-2, ESV
Our God is always with us. The very same God who told us the tiniest faith could move those mountains we fear the moving of. (Matthew 17:20; 21:21)
fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10, ESV
Our Lord is greater than anything we face. We need not fear, for our strong and faithful God is with us.
The earth is the Lord ‘s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Psalm 24:1-2, ESV
God created everything, even our home of Earth. He provides all we need, yet we must remember that we are His. God needs nothing, but we need Him.
Over the next couple of months, I will upload short messages based on the book of Malachi. It will probably be eight total and based on the section divisions in the English Standard Version of the Bible.
No special titles. Just taking a quick look at what was said.
So read along with me, and let us study what Malachi said to his people about 2,400 years ago.
A prophecy: The word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi.
2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord.
“But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’
“Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob, 3 but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his hill country into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.”
4 Edom may say, “Though we have been crushed, we will rebuild the ruins.”
But this is what the Lord Almighty says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Wicked Land, a people always under the wrath of the Lord. 5 You will see it with your own eyes and say, ‘Great is the Lord—even beyond the borders of Israel!’
Malachi literally means “my messenger”, so he is God’s messenger, as all the Prophets were.
There is nothing new being said today from over two thousand years ago. People are still asking about the existence a good, loving God. People are still claiming God would never cause a calamity or leave people to suffer, especially for eternity.
But why should God help people who want nothing to do with Him?
Why would God force people into heaven if they want nothing to do with Him?
We must remember that the difference between God’s love and hate for us is that His love is given to those who take it, and those who hate Him remain under His wrath.
It is our own fault if we do not receive God’s love.
Do we truly love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? Maybe I can help with the mind part, at least! This is Daniel M. Klem, apparent poet, reluctant yet passionate Disciple (Peter?), and foolish man attempting to understand theology!