|
Malachi Bible Study Guides
|
|
Mal | 1
| 2 | 3a | 3b
| 4
|
Malachi 3:7-12 (kjv)
Will a Man Rob God?
7 Ever since the time of your forefathers
you have turned away from my decrees and
have not kept them.
Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty.
"But you ask, 'How are we to return?'
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
"But you ask, 'How do we rob you?'
"In tithes and offerings.
9 You are under a curse-- the whole nation of you-- because you are
robbing me.
10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be
food in my house.
Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty,
"and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven
and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for
it.
11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops,
and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD
Almighty.
12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed,
for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.
Discussion Questions
vs 7 Just as Christians, Jews have a proud heritage having
been giving the Word of God to carry down through history. Yet perhaps
our heritage may not be something we should be so proud of. The Jews associated
themselves with the God of Israel and despised outsiders, but did they
actually define God according to His Word as demonstrated by their performance?
What about Christians? Why do we often call Jesus "Lord" and not do the
things he says?
Note: An attitute of repentance, also known as contriteness of heart,
is an essential characteristic of a Christian which will always draw him
back into fellowship with God after having fallen into sin.
vs 8 Under the Mosaic Law, one agreement that God made with
Israel is they are to give a tenth of their produce to God, or more specifically
to the Levites who would then carry out the religious functions. In addition
there often were offerings associated with individual sacrifices.
As Christians do we have similar obligations to God?
vs 10 In what ways may our service to God be deficient
in quantity?
That is, do you feel you are doing enough for God?
Does the conditional promise in vs 10-12 apply to Christians directly?
Or if not, is there some principle we might learn here that would apply
to us?
Cross References
Rev 3:3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard;
obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief,
and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
Rev 3:19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So
be earnest, and repent.
Lu 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure,
pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your
lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
2Cor 9:6-7 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will
also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly
or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
The Berean Christian Bible
Study Resources
Jan 29,2022