Malachi 3:6–12

3:6–7a Perhaps partially in response to the complaint beginning the last passage, the Lord recontextualizes the covenant relationship. Instead of unfair treatment, the history of God’s people has been one of consistent defection and unfaithfulness, despite consistent goodness on God’s part. The only reason God’s people have not been consumed in judgment is God’s stubborn goodness and mercy, rooted in his very character. In a further extension of grace to his people, God invites them to break with their past by making a suitable response to their God (cf. Zech. 1:3). As the passage proceeds, he will show them how to return. Although the covenant relationship should have been destroyed long ago, the entire history of Israel’s sin and its consequences can be forgiven, replaced by a fresh intimacy with God and his blessings. At the same time, the call to return implies that God will not continue with a people who persist in defection.

3:7b–8 The people’s response at the end of verse 7 could be translated, “In what have we turned from you?” Although many statutes have been broken (v. 7), the Lord specifies the tithe—but not before asking a question to destabilize his audience, disrupting whatever justification they might have had for what they considered a meaningless omission. The question beginning verse 8 implies the impossibility of what is asked; the imperfect verb could be translated, “Could a man rob God?” Failure in tithing actualizes the impossibility—keeping something from God that is legitimately his. Human presumption of total ownership in a world in which God owns everything (Ps. 50:10–11) is deeply resistant to real worship and devotion. Little wonder God calls his people to return!

3:9 Part of biblical prophecy is the explanation of the present decay of the covenant relationship even when its causes should have been obvious. The covenant curses have come into effect—specifically, marauding animals (v. 11; cf. Lev. 26:6, 22; Deut. 28:38–42). The entire nation is implicated in this sin and, continuing in it, they are heedless of its effects.

3:10 While there is a testing of God that comes from hardheartedness (Deut. 6:16), God’s invitation to “test” him here is an insistence on his unchanging faithfulness to his promises and goodness to his people. The command to test asserts the impossibility of God’s failing to respond to his people’s obedience.

Three times verse 10 emphasizes the Lord’s disproportionately generous response to Judah’s obedience in tithing. First, “windows of heaven” recalls the flood that destroyed all creation (Gen. 7:11) and the unbelievable abundance of 2 Kings 7:1–2. Second, the Lord promises to “empty” (AT) the heavens of rain; he will hold nothing back. Third, the final phrase, translated “until there is no more need,” means something stronger: “until there is a wearing out of sufficiency” (a somewhat similar phrase is found in Ps. 72:7). The Lord is promising an overwhelming blessing, more than the people are able to use (cf. Lev. 26:10). When Israel is asked to give back a fraction of what was never truly theirs, God responds with everything he has.

3:11 The happy consequences of Judah’s future obedience accrue as God promises to remove the curse (v. 9) that is destroying the fruit of their soil.

3:12 The promised blessing will be so great that even those outside of Israel will notice. Instead of appalled shock at Israel’s judgment (Lev. 26:21), the nations will call them “blessed.” Although this verse does not speak of the nations’ joining in worship, as in Malachi 1:14, it is difficult to separate the blessing the nations pronounce from that future hope. Malachi’s audience probably had no idea that their failure to tithe was hindering a blessing that would attract the respect of foreign nations. The implications of the obedience of God’s people reach beyond their borders.

Finally, the land of God’s obedient people is not merely blessed, but delightful. God promises not only abundance but also the happiness and delight he gives to those who trust him enough to obey.