Hope…& Warning
The Old Testament sure ends with a bang! The last two chapters cover quite a bit of ground, giving hope and promise, while delivering stinging rebuke.
One of those rebukes charges God’s people with robbing Him by withholding their tithes (3:8-10). Pretty strong language, but perfectly reasonable and accurate. From the inception of the nation as a civil entity, the Lord established the tithe as His. That makes things pretty much non-negotiable. So if I don’t give what’s His, and instead keep it for myself, that’s a form of robbery!
“Ah,” the New Testament believer argues, “I am so glad I’m not under that Old Testament Law! I don’t have to worry about that tithe stuff!”
Hmmm, I wonder if behind those comments is a heart that really doesn’t appreciate all that God has done and given—it’s essentially selfish.
While there are no New Testament commands to tithe one’s income to his local church, there are exhortations to give, and the assumption that the Christian will do so. How much? Not stipulated…but the Old Testament provides a good pattern. I should think we would want to give what we can, not as little as we can get by with.
In addition to the rebukes, the Lord holds out hope for His people, first by promising the coming of Messiah’s forerunner, as well as the Messiah Himself (3:1ff). And even though He will come as a refiner, God’s people will not be totally consumed in judgment (3:6). He further promises that, with the restoration of the tithe, the land and its inhabitants will experience the blessing of rich prosperity (3:11-12). For those who truly fear the Lord and endeavor to live for and honor Him with their lives, there is particular reason to hope. He takes notice of such individuals and promises to remember them, possess them, and deliver them (3:16-18).
The Old Testament ends with a return to prophecy of the forerunner, prophetically called “Elijah.” Recall that the Lord Jesus applied this passage to John the Baptist, declaring that he was its fulfillment. So, the concluding few verses hold out promise while maintaining the fact that a great, dreadful day of judgment lies ahead.
The forerunner has come and gone.
The Messiah came, died, rose again, and ascended to heaven.
Jesus Messiah stands today as the only possible Savior for sinful man.
The New Testament message, then, is still one offering hope while warning of impending judgment. Only those who trust in the Savior (“fear the Lord” in Old Testament language) can confidently face the future—can you?
Photo by Ronak Valobobhai on Unsplash
One of those rebukes charges God’s people with robbing Him by withholding their tithes (3:8-10). Pretty strong language, but perfectly reasonable and accurate. From the inception of the nation as a civil entity, the Lord established the tithe as His. That makes things pretty much non-negotiable. So if I don’t give what’s His, and instead keep it for myself, that’s a form of robbery!
“Ah,” the New Testament believer argues, “I am so glad I’m not under that Old Testament Law! I don’t have to worry about that tithe stuff!”
Hmmm, I wonder if behind those comments is a heart that really doesn’t appreciate all that God has done and given—it’s essentially selfish.
While there are no New Testament commands to tithe one’s income to his local church, there are exhortations to give, and the assumption that the Christian will do so. How much? Not stipulated…but the Old Testament provides a good pattern. I should think we would want to give what we can, not as little as we can get by with.
In addition to the rebukes, the Lord holds out hope for His people, first by promising the coming of Messiah’s forerunner, as well as the Messiah Himself (3:1ff). And even though He will come as a refiner, God’s people will not be totally consumed in judgment (3:6). He further promises that, with the restoration of the tithe, the land and its inhabitants will experience the blessing of rich prosperity (3:11-12). For those who truly fear the Lord and endeavor to live for and honor Him with their lives, there is particular reason to hope. He takes notice of such individuals and promises to remember them, possess them, and deliver them (3:16-18).
The Old Testament ends with a return to prophecy of the forerunner, prophetically called “Elijah.” Recall that the Lord Jesus applied this passage to John the Baptist, declaring that he was its fulfillment. So, the concluding few verses hold out promise while maintaining the fact that a great, dreadful day of judgment lies ahead.
The forerunner has come and gone.
The Messiah came, died, rose again, and ascended to heaven.
Jesus Messiah stands today as the only possible Savior for sinful man.
The New Testament message, then, is still one offering hope while warning of impending judgment. Only those who trust in the Savior (“fear the Lord” in Old Testament language) can confidently face the future—can you?
Photo by Ronak Valobobhai on Unsplash
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