God’s Covenant Love
“I have loved you,” says the Lord. (Malachi 1:2)
The Introduction to the Series
The Book of Malachi is the final book of the Old Testament and serves as a powerful reminder of God’s covenant faithfulness and humanity’s responsibility to respond faithfully in return.
Throughout our previous covenant studies we covered last month, we explored God’s covenant with individuals and nations and individuals and nations’ covenant response to God. In Malachi, we discover a book that brings many of these themes together.
Malachi addresses a people who had experienced God’s faithfulness over many generations. Yet despite God’s continued love and commitment, their hearts had gradually drifted. Their worship had become routine, their devotion had weakened and their appreciation of God’s goodness had faded.
In this seven-part series, we will explore:
- God’s Covenant Love
- Dishonouring God
- Covenant Unfaithfulness
- Justice and Obedience
- Returning to God
- The Faithful Remnant
- Looking Ahead
If Genesis shows the making of covenant, Malachi shows the challenge of remaining faithful to that covenant over time.
God’s Covenant Love
“I have loved you,” says the Lord. (Malachi 1:2)
The Book of Malachi is often remembered for its strong rebukes and calls to repentance. Yet before addressing the failures of his people, God begins with a simple but profound declaration:
“I have loved you.”
This opening statement reveals an important truth about covenant. Before God speaks about obedience, worship, faithfulness or repentance, he reminds his people of his love.
Throughout Scripture, covenant begins with God’s initiative. God chose Abraham before Abraham became the father of many nations. God delivered Israel from Egypt before giving them the Law. God demonstrated his love for us through Christ before we could ever earn or deserve it.
Covenant is not founded upon human performance. It is founded upon God’s faithfulness and love.
A Surprising Response
What makes this passage particularly striking is the response of the people.
Instead of expressing gratitude, they ask:
“How have you loved us?” (Malachi 1:2)
At first glance, this response may seem surprising and strange. God had preserved them through exile. He had brought them back to their land. The temple had been rebuilt. Yet somewhere along the way, they had lost sight of God’s faithfulness.
Their circumstances had become louder than their memories.
Their disappointments had overshadowed God’s goodness.
Their familiarity with God’s blessings had dulled their appreciation of them.
As we reflect on this, we may recognise a similar tendency in our own lives. Sometimes the blessings we once prayed for become the blessings we take for granted. What once filled us with awe and gratitude gradually becomes ordinary.
Covenant Is Relational
One of the key lessons from Malachi is that covenant is relational.
The people were still participating in religious activities. They were still offering sacrifices and observing religious practices. Outwardly, they appeared committed. But God wanted more from them. Their relationship with him had become routine rather than vibrant. Their hearts had drifted.
This reminds us that covenant is not merely about keeping rules or fulfilling obligations. God desires a relationship with us, not simply activity. He seeks hearts that remain responsive to his love and faithful to his ways.
Remaining Faithful
One of the greatest challenges in our walk with God is not starting well but continuing and finishing well.
Many believers can point to moments when their faith was vibrant, their prayers were passionate and their gratitude overflowed. However, as time passes, routine, disappointment, familiarity and life’s challenges can slowly erode that sense of wonder.
Malachi addresses people who had not completely abandoned God. Rather, they had become complacent in their relationship with him.
The book invites us to examine whether we have allowed familiarity to replace gratitude and routine to replace devotion.
A healthy covenant relationship is sustained when we continually remember who God is, what he has done and how faithfully he has walked with us throughout our lives.
As we journey through the Book of Malachi, may we never lose sight of this foundational truth:
Before God calls us to faithfulness, he reminds us of his faithfulness.
Reflection
• Have I become so familiar with God’s blessings that I no longer recognise them as blessings?
Other topics in the series: