Episode 880: Vain to Serve God? (Malachi 3:13–18)
About this episode
The episode discusses the despair of serving God in light of the prosperity of the wicked and the lack of reward for the righteous, drawing on biblical texts and themes.
Malachi’s final disputation exposes Israel’s despairing complaint: “It is vain to serve God.” Peter Leithart, Jeff Meyers, Alastair Roberts, and James Bejon explore the loss of confidence that comes when the wicked seem to prosper and the righteous appear unrewarded. Along the way the conversation moves through Psalm 73, Job, the biblical shape of the problem of evil, the difference between short-term reward and eschatological vindication, and the priestly language of serving and guarding that echoes Adam’s task in Eden. The episode closes with Malachi’s surprising portrait of the faithful remnant: those who fear the Lord, speak with one another, and are written in His book of remembrance as His treasured possession — a remnant finally distilled in Jesus, the faithful Israelite. GIVE TO THEOPOLIS! theopolisinstitute.com/give/ Get the Theopolis App! app.theopolisinstitute.com/menu Use Code "theopolitan" to get your first month free! Sign up for In Medias Res mailchi.mp/0b01d726f2fe/inmediasres
People in this episode
Guests: Peter Leithart, Jeff Meyers, Alastair Roberts, James Bejon
Topics covered
- serving God
- Israel's despair
- problem of evil
- short-term reward vs eschatological vindication
- faithful remnant
- biblical interpretation
Keywords
- Malachi
- despair
- prosperity of the wicked
- righteous
- faithful remnant
- Eden
- theological discussion
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Theopolis Institute
Books & works: Malachi, Psalm 73, Job
More episodes of The Theopolis Podcast
- Episode 881: The Seventh Trumpet (Revelation 11:14-19), with James Jordan
- Episode 879: Robbing the Storehouse (Malachi 3:6–12)
- Episode 878: Refiner of the Refiners (Malachi 2:17-3:5)
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