Malachi, the last book in the Old Testament, is written as a conversation between the LORD God and His people. God chastises His people for not keeping their vow to follow the commands of the covenant/treaty they entered into with Him. Their response is “Who, me? What did I do?” 

God invites the people to choose a perspective that is true and urges them to listen. God’s exhortation is “Return to Me.” He promises that if they return to Him, He will return to them. The people’s response is “In what way shall we return?” The sense seems to be “How is that possible since we are already doing everything perfectly?” 

God gives several answers. First, that they should be generous in giving their tithes. “Tithe” means “a tenth”. The covenant/treaty required the people to give at least two tithes – one was to support the Levites, so they could perform the temple services and the other was like a vacation savings account. The people were to set aside a tenth so they could take pilgrimages to Jerusalem to participate in worship and celebrate with friends and family. 

In Malachi 2:8 we see that the priests had become corrupt; God tells these Levites, “But you have departed from the way; You have caused many to stumble at the law.” Perhaps the people justified themselves by thinking “I should not give money to support those who are corrupt.” 

But God says to the people “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me!?” It is for God, not for the people, to judge the Levites. It is for the people to walk in His ways, and trust Him to deal with others. 

We as humans are naturally gifted at rationalizing for ourselves while judging others. It takes a good deal of trust to hear and obey God when He is trying to help us gain a true perspective. God challenges His people to “try Me now” and He will demonstrate that He keeps His promises. God promises that listening to Him and adopting His perspective is the way to life and peace. 

“Yet from the days of your fathers, You have gone away from My ordinances, And have not kept them., Return to Me, and I will return to you,” Says the LORD of hosts. But you said, ‘In what way shall we return?’”
Malachi 3:7