Malachi 1:1-5--The LORD's Love for Israel

Malachi 1:1-5
English Standard Version

1 The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.

The LORD's Love for Israel
2 “I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob's brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet I have loved Jacob 3 but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” 4 If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the LORD of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the LORD is angry forever.’” 5 Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the LORD beyond the border of Israel!”

---

The LORD loves His people with an everlasting covenant love, even during the times when He disciplines them harshly, it was because He loved them.  The first way that the LORD says that He has loves His people Israel is by His Election.  There was no reason for the LORD to choose Jacob over Esau.  This exact verse, "Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated" is cited in the book of Romans as Paul makes the argument there for our Election.  God chose both the people and the Land of Israel to be a people and a place of blessing.  He seemingly chose Esau and his land of Edom to be a people and place that His condemnation and wrath would be poured out on and it is a picture in the end times of the eternal punishment and wrath that the wicked will live it--a place full of darkness and unclean animals, always separated from the light of God's presence and His blessings.

The LORD has declared that even if Edom desires to rebuild their kingdom, the LORD will cause it to be torn down over and over again and they will be called "the wicked country."  They will never accept the LORD's decision to use their brother Jacob/Israel and not use them and they will curse God instead of turning to Him in repentance.  They will be known as "The people with whom the LORD is angry forever."

This is the first great evidence that the LORD loves the people of of Israel and once they see this, they will worship Him.  They will proclaim, "Great is the LORD beyond the border of Israel!" (He is greatly to be praised in all the earth.)