Malachi 3:11-12

Not only would God provide adequate harvests (Malachi 3:10), but He would also preserve the harvested crops from animals and diseases that might otherwise destroy them. The Israelites’ grapes would also develop fully on their vines rather than dropping off prematurely. All other nations would acknowledge divine blessing on the Israelites because their land would be such a delightful place.

The Mosaic Covenant with its promises of material blessing for obedience is no longer in force (Romans 10:4; Hebrews 8:13). Obedience to God’s will does not necessarily result in material prosperity now (Philippians 1:29; Philippians 4:11-13). However, we do have promises that God will reward those who trust and obey Him in the next stage of our lives, after death, if not before (Acts 4:31-35; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Corinthians 9:6-12; Galatians 6:6-9; Philippians 4:14-19). And we enjoy many spiritual blessings now (cf. Romans 5:1-11; Ephesians 1:3-14).

"The issue in Malachi 3:7-12 is not tithing but apostasy. Judah is charged here with abandoning the God who had chosen and blessed them and turning away from the statutes he had given them to test their loyalty and to mark the path of life he would bless. By retaining for themselves the tithes and other offerings they owed to God, the people showed their idolatrous hearts in placing themselves before God, and they showed their callous hearts in leaving the Levites and landless poor to fend for themselves." [Note: Ibid., p. 429. See also his excursus on tithing in the church, pp. 429-33.]