Malachi: Renewed faithfulness while waiting

Before 400 years of prophetic silence, God sent one final messenger with a challenging message. In this episode of the DoorWays® Ministry Podcast, Ric Shields sits down with Pastor Michael Goldsmith to explore the book of Malachi—a prophetic call to examine the heart beneath our religious habits.

Together, they discuss spiritual drift, half-hearted worship, leadership accountability, faithfulness in marriage, trusting God with our resources, and the danger of forgetting God's goodness. They also explore Malachi’s powerful connection to John the Baptist and the coming of Jesus Christ.

Whether you're serving faithfully or sensing a need for spiritual renewal, this conversation offers a timely reminder to stay focused, stay intentional, and remain fully devoted to God.

Transcript

TITLE: Malachi: Renewed Faithfulness While Waiting

GUEST: Goldsmith, Michael

SEASON: S5, E25

SERIES: Ancient Voices

DATE: June 23, 2016

 Michael Goldsmith (00:00):

I think what God is saying, you have robbed me of the privilege of blessing you because of the way that you're choosing to live. You're choosing to live a life that is not in alignment with a life that I can bless. And so, you're not only robbing me, but you’re also robbing yourself. But it's really about trust. Do I trust God?

Ric Shields (00:27):

For nearly 400 years, heaven would go quiet. No prophets, no revelation, just silence. But before that silence came one final voice, sharp, confrontational, and impossible to ignore. Thank you for joining us on the DoorWays® Ministry Podcast. My name is Ric Shields and I'm your host.

(00:48):

The prophet Malachi didn't whisper polite encouragement to God's people. He confronted corruption in the priesthood, broken marriages, half-hearted worship, and called out spiritual apathy that had settled deep into the nation's bones. They were people who were still religious but whose hearts had drifted.

(01:06):

Malachi reads a bit like a cross-examination. God asks questions, the people push back and the prophet exposes the distance between what they say they believe and how they actually live. And then like a spark in the darkness, Malachi points forward to a coming messenger, someone who will prepare the way for the Lord himself. Today we're exploring the prophetic voice before the long silence.

(01:30):

I'm pleased to have Pastor Michael Goldsmith join me in this episode. He currently serves as a hospice chaplain in the Tulsa area and posts a moment with Pastor Mike on his Facebook page. Pastor Goldsmith leads weekly Sunday morning and Wednesday evening Bible studies at a new church called The Gathering in Broken Arrow. His beautiful wife, Kim, helps DoorWays® and Simply Sisters® with special projects and the two of them have become dear friends of Sheila and me.

(01:56):

Pastor Goldsmith holds a Master of Arts degree from Oral Roberts University and has a passion for teaching. Let's just say I didn't have to twist this arm to get him to agree to speak with me on this episode about Malachi, which we teasingly have said, because we've heard people say this before, the book of Malachi. <Laugh> But it's- Malachi. ... It's really Malachi.

Michael Goldsmith (02:17):

The Italian Prophet.

Ric Shields (02:19):

That's what it is, the Italian prophet. Pastor Goldsmith, thank you for carving time from your schedule to chat with me about Malachi.

Michael Goldsmith (02:29):

Thank you for having me, Ric. I'm very honored your friendship that Kim and I share with you and Sheila is a treasured thing in our life. We're very grateful and I'm very honored that you would ask me to be a part of your podcast and talk about Malachi a little bit. He's an interesting character.

Ric Shields (02:46):

Yeah, he is. And while it isn't the final book in our series, Malachi appears in the final book of the Old Testament. So maybe give us a little historical idea. What was happening historically and spiritually in Israel when this prophecy was delivered?

Michael Goldsmith (03:01):

The Babylonians invaded Israel, destroyed Jerusalem, destroyed the temple, took the people into captivity, and held them there until the Persians over threw the Babylonians and the Persians under King Cyrus allowed them to go home in three different waves. And so, they went home and they began to rebuild their economy, rebuild their nation, rebuild the temple, rebuild life pretty much in every dimension.

(03:26):

So, by the time we get to Malachi, the first wave had gone back about 100 years earlier. It's been about 70 to 90 years since the temple's been rebuilt. So, people that have been held in exile, you would think they would be head over hills excited. But 100 years into that, they're disillusioned. They have some frustrations. Things aren't going as well as they thought they ought to be going by that time and they've kind of lost their fascination. This God who delivered them and allowed them to go home, they've forgotten.

(03:57):

And isn't that true about us? God does something. We pray, we beg, we ask God to do something, he does something we're grateful for the attention of a mosquito, and then we're disgruntled again because we want the next thing.

Ric Shields (04:10):

Yeah, I like what you just said. They kind of lost their fascination. Malachi repeatedly exposes a kind of religious boredom, this loss of fascination among God's people. How had their worship become routine in hollow?

Michael Goldsmith (04:26):

They were going through the motions and it's all from the heart. You read Malachi and you read these indictments that God seems to have, but it's not about specifics, it's really about their heart.

(04:36):

So, for example, they'd always known that when they offered a sacrifice on the altar, that animal had to be pristine. It had to be without spot blemish. It couldn't have a flaw or defect. But they've compromised and now they're offering the sick ones, the lame ones. It's like somebody's going down the sheepfold and saying, "Pick out the one that's on its last leg and that's the one we're going to give to God."

Ric Shields (04:59):

I can't sell this one, so let's give it to God.

Michael Goldsmith (05:01):

Exactly. I can't do anything with this, but it's going to die anyway, so let's give it to God that ought to be good enough. And one of the funniest episodes in this is when God says, "Why don't you give that to the governor?" See how that works out for you. Invite your governor to your house and say, "Governor, we honor and esteem you so very much we're giving you a sick, diseased, half-blind, lame lamb. Welcome to our home."

Ric Shields (05:24):

Bon Appétit.

Michael Goldsmith (05:25):

Bon Appétit. Yes, exactly.

Ric Shields (05:28):

The prophet is especially hard on the priests. So, what were they doing wrong? And why did their leadership failures matter so much?

Michael Goldsmith (05:35):

Well, the same thing. One of the indictments that the people have is a sense of injustice that it seems to be going well for wicked people, that evil people seem to be doing well and that doesn't line up with their belief system about how God should work.

Ric Shields (05:52):

Wait, this was then, not now? That isn't just-

Michael Goldsmith (05:56):

Yeah. There's a lot of contemporariness in Malachi. Interestingly enough, it was written 500 years before Jesus, and yet how well does it apply? Four hundred years before Jesus. They are just disgruntled by that and so they're letting everything down. They're letting everything just fall apart. They're just not putting their best foot forward.

(06:16):

So, the priest are doing the same thing. They're going through the motions. They're not holding the people accountable to offering the best sacrifices. They're not holding them accountable to prevailing marriages that God wants and family life and even their offerings. They're letting people slip on their tithes and offerings and it's a whole widespread apathy. And so, the priests are responsible because they're the standard bearers. They're the ones who are supposed to motivate and inspire and keep people lined up. Their leadership failure matters because as we know, leadership always matters.

(06:49):

That's why the New Testament holds leaders to such a high standard because their life matters. It's a model, it's a message. It is an example for others to follow. If your leaders don't give a rip, then why are the people going to?

Ric Shields (07:02):

Yeah, that's just, that could be reflected in them.

Michael Goldsmith (07:05):

Yeah.

Ric Shields (07:05):

The people reflect the leadership.

Michael Goldsmith (07:07):

Exactly.

Ric Shields (07:07):

So, God condemns the people for bringing defective sacrifices. We just spoke about that. What does this reveal about their hearts? And how might believers today be making similar compromises?

Michael Goldsmith (07:21):

I think we're seeing it widespread today. I think, again, if you're not passionate about something and you're not fired up and you're not enthusiastic, then you tend to cut corners, you tend to find ways to get by, compromise, those kind of things. I think we're seeing that in a very broad way today. And I think one of them is just commitment to church.

(07:43):

Once upon a time, church held a high level of commitment. We're going to church. And today, church has become very much about convenience. It has become very much about shopping around to find the one that pleases you. Which worship service do you like? Which speaker do you like? Which kids' ministry do you like? And I think those are ways in modern society that we're cutting corners and it's not reflecting what our heart should be.

Ric Shields (08:10):

I certainly appreciate virtual worship services, especially for those who are homebound or can't be there for some reason. But when it's like, "I'd just rather sit home and go to church in my pajamas."

Michael Goldsmith (08:23):

Yeah.

Ric Shields (08:24):

I don't get that. I don't understand it. I'm not certain that's healthy, but what do I know?

Michael Goldsmith (08:28):

I don't think it is either. Well, you know a lot. But God created us for community. That was the intent of Adam and Eve to multiply, bring forth children and have community. And I'm grateful too that we have online. And as you mentioned, I write a column a moment with Pastor Mike and we broadcast when we can and we're working on that. And I thank God because there are people who physically cannot be out anymore. But I think if we use that for an excuse, "This is my church. I'm going to go online. We're missing something important." You can't have community online very well.

Ric Shields (09:00):

Yeah, that's all that gathering together that we need to make certain that we are giving real credence to that and we're coming together for a reason. Because otherwise, we tend to get it all figured out in our head. And as a Paul who says, when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves to themselves, they are not wise.

(09:20):

And that's what happens when we stay home on a regular basis. When we try to figure out all of our theology all by ourselves and it puts us in a bad spot. That's why we need iron sharpening iron.

Michael Goldsmith (09:32):

Yeah, exactly. Otherwise, we just reinforce what we think.

Ric Shields (09:35):

Yeah, absolutely.

Michael Goldsmith (09:36):

You know, no, nobody ever challenges us. We're not in a situation where somebody makes us think. I think we need to think a lot. Christianity is suffering from people who are trying to serve God out of their back pocket instead of finding those times to really reflect and think and pray and meditate. What does all this really mean? What does it look like?

(09:57):

So, two things that have become really important to me, Ric, are when Jesus opens in Mark and he says, "Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand, those two concepts, repent and the kingdom of God have become very primary to me. In fact, I'm doing a whole series that I've called God on the move. What does that mean?"

(10:13):

And for years, most people think repent means feel sorry, feel bad, feel guilty, feel ashamed, which it doesn't have any emotion attached at all. And then I've even heard people say, "It means do a 180, stop doing this, start doing that.” But I think there's a more fundamental level. It literally means think about how you think and think differently. Then God thinks differently than we do, that the kingdom of God operates differently.

(10:39):

We've all tried fad diets, we've tried fad exercises and all that, but if it doesn't get to the level of changing your thinking, it doesn't last. Jesus says, "Repent. Think about the implications of how you got to where you are. Think about the implications of why your life is going the way it is.” And then he gives this wonderful, good news, the kingdom of God is at hand. It is here right now.

(11:04):

And I've come up with my own definition, because again, I think a lot of people think the kingdom of God, that's heaven. That's out there, that's after I die. But Jesus intended the kingdom to be right here right now. So, to me, the kingdom of God is what life looks like when God is really in charge right here, right now. And those two concepts of thinking about that, what does that mean and what does it mean to experience God's presence in my life every moment as much as possible to shape and influence the totality of who I am?

Ric Shields (11:41):

You're listening to the DoorWays® Ministry Podcast. My name is Ric Shields, and I'm joined on this episode by Michael Goldsmith, the pastor of The Gathering and Broken Arrow. It's a new church meant just to be simple, centered on the word of God in relationships. They meet each Sunday morning at the Veterans Center on Main Street and Broken Arrow at 10:00 AM and on Wednesdays at 6:00 PM.

(12:03):

Pastor Goldsmith and I are talking about the Old Testament book of Malachi. This prophet speaks strongly about faithfulness and marriage. Why was marital unfaithfulness such a serious spiritual issue for the nation?

Michael Goldsmith (12:17):

Well, because it's the foundation of family life, , husband and wife are the foundation of family, which bring forth children. God held that to a very high standard. It's a little bit like understanding that Trinity lives in absolute perfect conformity. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit who are very hard for us to really get our mind around lives in community, breathes in community and so God intended that for human beings and the most essential level of that is husband and wife. So that the family unit, I've heard all my life, the family unit is the foundation of society and that's not a modern concept and it's not a political concept, it's a God concept. That is the foundation. Well, if that foundation isn't holding, then how is the broader community going to hold together?

Ric Shields (13:09):

I think it's a good thing you got that Master of Divinity degree.

Michael Goldsmith (13:14):

Well, I hope it's been helping. I'm not sure. They may want it back.

Ric Shields (13:19):

I don't think they want it back.

Michael Goldsmith (13:21):

I wonder if they've ever taken anybody's back.

Ric Shields (13:26):

Throughout the book of Malachi, the people push back with skeptical questions like, how have you loved us or where is the God of injustice? So, what do these questions reveal about their spiritual condition?

Michael Goldsmith (13:39):

It reveals that they have a thin veneer spiritually because how have you loved us? He brought them out of exile. He opened up the heart of Cyrus to allow them to go home. He provided the resources to help them rebuild the temple. He is right there with them moment by moment. That question says they have lost sight of the goodness of God. It'd be like you walking into Sheila later tonight and saying, "Well, how have you loved me?" Probably going to be sleeping outside because...

Ric Shields (14:08):

Probably.

Michael Goldsmith (14:09):

... It's all the meals, it's the care, it's the love, it's the affection, it's the attention, it's a thousand things. Somehow, again, they were begging God. They're a little reminiscent of getting out of Egypt. They begged and pleaded for God to get him out of Egypt and God got him out of Egypt, and then they want to go back when it gets hard. They want to go back, they forget the goodness of God.

(14:30):

And so that's what's happening now. They're just forgetting ... And we do that. We do that very contemporarily, forget the goodness of God, and we start saying, "God, it's almost, what have you done for me lately?"

Ric Shields (14:40):

Malachi's statement about robbing God, you've heard that. We've used that.

Michael Goldsmith (14:45):

Yes, we have.

Ric Shields (14:46):

How do we rob God? Well, God, through our tithes and offerings is one of the most quoted passages in the book. But there's a deeper spiritual principle behind that rebuke. What is that?

Michael Goldsmith (14:57):

I think it's about trust. Do I trust God? And so I think God is not only indicting that, that you are robbing me of the tithe and offering and a lot of preachers do use that to try to build the offering, but I think there's another implication and I think what God is saying, you have robbed me of the privilege of blessing you because of the way that you're choosing to live. You're choosing to live a life that is not in alignment with a life that I can bless. And so, you're not only robbing me, but you’re also robbing yourself.

(15:26):

But it's really about trust. Do I trust God? Because again, they came back, they have nothing and God provides the resources that they're going to need. God provided the resources that they were going to need leaving Egypt. They plundered the Egyptians. And so, where do you think all that came from to build the tabernacle and to clothe the priest and all of that and they, God provided all that.

Ric Shields (15:48):

I don't think they just found that when they were out, walking around the desert and all said, "Hey, look at this."

Michael Goldsmith (15:52):

Yeah, I don't think there was a Target anywhere to be found out there, so-

Ric Shields (15:55):

I don't think there was.

Michael Goldsmith (15:56):

So, they do that. So, people can get really petty about this thing about tithes and offerings, but it's really the condition of the heart. There's a real moment right now that you're probably aware of that modern Christian had decided that you can't prove tithing in the New Testament. You're splitting hairs, in my opinion. Jesus, first of all, told the Parises they were tithing down to mint and cumin out of their gardens and Jesus commended them and said, "You should do that, but add this to it.” And really, grace always goes farther than law. So, if the law was 10%, grace says, "We ought to go farther than that."

(16:32):

So again, I really haven't totally given my heart to God. Therefore, I don't really trust God and therefore, again, it's really about who's in control. And all of us have this little thing in us that we want to stay in the driver's seat. We want to add God to our life rather than submit our life to God.

Ric Shields (16:52):

Malachi warns about a coming day of the Lord. What does this future judgment mean within the message of this book of Malachi?

Michael Goldsmith (17:01):

He does warn us of the day of the Lord, which is the second coming. Eventually, God is going to hold the world responsible. And so, this day of the Lord is the ultimate responsibility. But again, Ric, some of my theology has changed as I have grown and matured is that God's not out to get anybody. He's not out to punish anybody. In fact, along with that, talking about the day of the Lord, first of all, he talks about the refiner's fire to purify.

(17:30):

So, the heart of God is to purify us, to cleanse us, to forgive us, to love us- mm-hmm. ... To grace us. But ultimately, there is a day where we're held accountable and really the accountability is what did you decide to do? , Did you decide to align your life to the life that God offers or did you decide to go off in a completely different trajectory?

(17:51):

Which really brings back that initial thing at the beginning of Malachi that a lot of people are uncomfortable with when he says, "Jacob, I love, but Esau hated." We humanize those words as he resented, was angry, vindictive, revengeful, but that's not at all. It's really the result of two people who chose two different pathways. And here's what's amazing is that Jacob had a lot of trouble. Jacob was a conniver - a manipulator, achiever, but somewhere in there, there was a heart that God could work with. Esau, on the other hand, just rejected God, rejected the ways of God, rejected the life that God offered and went down his own pathway.

(18:31):

And so, I think, again, God didn't hate the way we hate. What he hated is, "This is the pathway you've chosen, and I know where that pathway leads, and it's not going to end well, but I'm going to honor your human free will." Eventually, Esau becomes the Edomites who are people who never follow God.

(18:49):

They reject God, they resist, they rebel and Jacob becomes the Israelites and in spite of their multiple failures and faults and running, there was something in them that was soft enough that God worked with it. There was material that God could work with. And as long as God finds even an inkling within us of something he can work with, he is long suffering and patient and will continue to pursue us.

Ric Shields (19:14):

Malachi closes his book by pointing to a coming messenger who will prepare the way for the Lord. So how does this prophecy connect the Old Testament to the arrival of John the Baptist and Jesus?

Michael Goldsmith (19:27):

Malakai said that there's a messenger coming who will prepare the way of the Lord and we know from the New Testament from the early writers that John the Baptist was the one who had come to prepare the way of the Lord. So that prophecy about Elijah coming is fulfilled in John the Baptist, that John the Baptist comes and he preaches a message also of change the way you think and change the way you behave, change the way you act. And that prepares the entrance and the introduction for Jesus to take it from there.

Ric Shields (19:59):

Pastor Mike, thanks for your insight. Would you please take 30 seconds, tell us what one thing we need to take away from Malachi.

Michael Goldsmith (20:10):

Oh, I think we just all need, even myself in this study of getting ready for this podcast, it's made me rethink, where is my heart? Our heart is constantly adrift unless we are intentional and focused and deal with ourselves at times severely, ourself. We tend to drift. Every one of us tends to drift. And so, Malachi just is a great reminder, don't drift. Don't begin to go down a pathway that is going to take you farther and farther away from God.

Ric Shields (20:45):

Malachi is not really a comfortable book. It exposes religious habits that look faithful on the outside but are hollow underneath. It confronts leaders who should know better. It challenges people who claim to love God but offer him what's left over and maybe that's why Malachi still feels uncomfortably relevant because he reminds us that God is not interested in halfhearted devotion or second-best offerings. He calls his people to a wholehearted faithfulness.

(21:16):

But Malachi doesn't end only with confrontation. It ends with anticipation. After this final prophetic voice, the heavens go silent for four centuries until one day a voice would cry out in the wilderness preparing the way for the Lord. And Malachi points forward to that moment when God would once again break the silence as the prophet writes in Malachi chapter four, verse two, "But for you who fear my name, the son of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings." And when that son finally rose, the world would never be the same.

(21:54):

Next week we'll wrap up this ancient voices series when I speak with Deb Kalsbeck about the book of Joel. We will consider this question, what if the very thing we're trying to escape is the thing God is trying to use to get our attention? I hope you'll join us.

(22:10):

And don't forget to like, follow, comment, or subscribe to our podcast and please consider joining those who make it possible for us to provide it on a regular basis. Visit our website at doorways.cc/give for information on how you can be a part of helping to support this ministry.

(22:28):

Until next time, I bless you in the name of Christ Jesus. May grace and peace abound to you and to those whom you hold dear in your heart in the days ahead.