INTRODUCTION
The author of this book, is a man that is named, Malachi means "my
messenger." The name is found only here in scripture. Nothing more
is known of this prophet than what we discover from the book.
Malachi was the last of the Old Testament prophets. the Jewish authorities
call this book "the seal and end of the prophets."
This excludes John the baptizer and Jesus.
The background The book was written about 400 years before the
appearance of Jesus.
Malachi, was the last book of the Old Testament. Between Malachi and the Gospel according to Matthew there was a period of silence for more than 400 years. The 400 years between Malachi and the Gospel accounts is called the Inter-Testament period. A study of this period is very informative and important to the Bible student.
We date the book at about 445-425 B.C.
Malachi ends the Old Testament and Matthew begins the New Testament. Because of the inspiration of God these two books go together in a tremendous way.
After the prophecy of Malachi, there was a long time when no voice spoke for God. There were no prophet that came to Israel. The were no longer any scriptures being written.
For 400 years heaven were silent. Still, history was going on, and great things were happening in Israel among the Jews.
New institutions appear in the opening of the New Testament.
Malachi was the last of the Minor Prophets, and the last prophetic voice to speak to Israel before John the Immerser and Jesus come on the scene of human history..
The last three books of the Old Testament, Haggai, Zechariah and
Malachi, were written after the return of the Israelites
from their captivity in Babylon.
The people did not come back from Babylon in one large convoy.
The arrival of the Jews fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah that the captivity would last for 70 years.
After 70 years of captivity the Jewish remnant returned to the desolate city of Jerusalem.
The men that returned started to lay the foundations of the temple. Unfortunately, work stopped until Haggai got the work going again fifteen years later.
The temple was completed during the work of Zechariah.
Ezra the scribe and priest, led another group of Jews back from Babylon.
The people had changed by this time. Before the captivity, they had been sheep keepers, for the most part.
In the captivity of Babylon they learned to be merchants.
So Ezra led this group ox exiles home. Soon the people faced the difficulties which are recorded in the historical book of Ezra.
Nehemiah in 445 B.C. led a group back the last remnant and begin to lay the walls of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah records the rebuilding of the walls once again. After Nehemiah finished rebuilding the walls , Malachi appears.
Nehemiah ends the historical section of the Old Testament that started with the book of Genesis.
The books following Nehemiah are the poetic books, and then prophetic books.
Malachi is contemporary with the period covered by Nehemiah.
Nehemiah led a group of the returning Jews to Jerusalem and restored
the nation to its homeland and rebuilt
the temple and Jerusalem.
Nehemiah as the custom of the day, was called back to Susa, the capitol of Persia, to update King Artaxerxes on his work.
Nehemiah was gone from Jerusalem for 2-3 years. Under the Persian rule the Jews had grown lax and complacent in worshipping Jehovah.
After the return of Nehemiah from his trip to Susa, we have very little information about life among the Jews.
Nehemiah upon his return, found sinful behavior and poor interest
among the people for the law.
Nehemiah started a new reformation and this is when the prophet Malachi
came forward to serve Israel.
GOD'S LOVE FOR UNGRATEFUL ISRAEL
The book of Malachi depicts the great love Jehovah has for Judah.
Mal. 1:1-5 The burden of the word of Jehovah to Israel
by Malachi. I have loved you, saith
Jehovah. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother,
saith Jehovah: yet I loved Jacob; but Esau I hated, and made his
mountains a desolation,
and gave his heritage to the jackals of the wilderness. Whereas Edom
saith, We are beaten
down, but we will return and build the waste places; thus saith Jehovah
of hosts, They shall
build, but I will throw down; and men shall call them The border of wickedness,
and The
people against whom Jehovah hath indignation for ever. And your eyes
shall see, and ye
shall say, Jehovah be magnified beyond the border of Israel.
Jehovah expresses his message of disappointment through his inspired prophet Malachi.
Mal 1:1 The burden of the word of Jehovah to Israel by Malachi.
The message of God's prophets was always, I have loved you, saith Jehovah.
The response of the people is to ask God how he has loved them. God answers the question.
How hast thou loved us?
Seven times you will find them saying, "How?
As we go look at the Jews you can see the state of the people's souls.
The Jews were a callous people, indifferent, and unresponsive to God.
They had the audacity to ask, What do you mean? Why do you say these things to us?
Throughout the book this is the theme runs on every page..
God answers their question, How have you loved us?
He reminds them that he loved them in the days of Jacob and Esau.
I have loved Jacob but I have hated Esau. If you want to know my love, look at how you have enjoyed my love.
Look at Esau and see how different his story is from yours, even though Jacob and Esau were twin brothers
The love for Israel was as old as the struggle between Jacob and Esau, both the son of Isaac.
Mal. 1:2-3 have loved you, saith Jehovah. Yet ye say, Wherein
hast thou loved us?
Was not Esau Jacob's brother, saith Jehovah: yet I loved Jacob;
but Esau
I hated, and made his mountains a desolation, and gave his heritage to
the
jackals of the wilderness.
The love God had for Israel is seen in his preservation and nurture of the Jews. The city of Jerusalem would be rebuilt and Israel would dwell in the homeland once more.
The descendants of Esau or the Edomites would not be allowed to rebuild
and inhabit the cities of rock in Petra.
Mal. 1:4 Whereas Edom saith, We are beaten down, but we
will return and build the
waste places; thus saith Jehovah of hosts, They shall build, but I will
throw
down; and men shall call them The border of wickedness, and The people
against whom Jehovah hath indignation for ever.
Israel the sons of Jacob would inhabit and have their homeland and cities once more.
God was showing his great love for Jacob and his disdain for Edom or Esau.
Mal. 1:5 And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, Jehovah
be magnified beyond
the border of Israel.
The tragedy was that Israel who was spared and loved, showed ingratitude
and was rebellious against Jehovah.
Mal. 1:6-14 A son honoreth his father, and a servant his master:
if then I am a father,
where is mine honor? and if I am a master, where is my fear? saith Jehovah
of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein
have
we despised thy name?
The people showed their sinfulness by the fact that God was not feared and honored. The corrupt practices of the priests showed that they despised his name.
Mal. 1:6 A son honoreth his father, and a servant his master:
if then I am a father,
where is mine honor? and if I am a master, where is my fear? saith Jehovah
of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein
have
we despised thy name?
The greediness and disinterest spiritually of the priest, showed disrespect and loathing for God.
The priest had no problem offering polluted sacrifices to God.
Mal 1:7-11Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar. And ye say,
Wherein have we polluted
thee? In that ye say, The table of Jehovah is contemptible.
And when ye offer the
blind for sacrifice, it is no evil! and when ye offer the lame and sick,
it is no evil!
Present it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee? or will
he accept
thy person? saith Jehovah of hosts. And now, I pray you, entreat
the favor of God,
that he may be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he
accept any of
your persons? saith Jehovah of hosts. Oh that there were one
among you that
would shut the doors, that ye might not kindle fire on mine altar in vain!
I have
no pleasure in you, saith Jehovah of hosts, neither will I accept an offering
at
your hand. For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down
of the
same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense
shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be
great
among the Gentiles, saith Jehovah of hosts.
The priest offerings were disgraceful and showed contempt for God.
They offered the worst sacrifices imaginable.
The sacrifices were blemished and unlawful. The offers consisted of unclean flesh which was blind, lame, weak and sick
The sacrifices they offered were inferior to anything that mortal man would accept. The priest were arrogant enough to offer to God the sacrifices they would be fearful to offer to their governor.
Mal. 1:8 And when ye offer the blind for sacrifice, it is no
evil! and when ye offer the lame
and sick, it is no evil! Present it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased
with thee?
or will he accept thy person? saith Jehovah of hosts.
They wanted the blessings of God and then offered him polluted and unclean gifts.
Mal. 1:9 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and
base before all the people,
according as ye have not kept my ways, but have had respect of persons
in the law.
The tragic fact was that nobody opposed the sinful practices of the
priests. The church sometimes permits flagrant sins to go un denounced
and punished. We remain quite and never rebuke sin.
The sin of the priest and people went unopposed in their disrespectful behavior toward jehovah.
Mal. 1:10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created
us? why do we deal
treacherously every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of
our
fathers?
When Messiah, or Christ arrives, then the Jews would be rejected ,and Jehovah would then be worshipped by Gentiles.
Mal. 1:11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going
down of the same my name
shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be
offered unto
my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the Gentiles,
saith
Jehovah of hosts.
The trouble with the people in Malachi's day is readily revealed by the prophet.
The Jews had forgotten the great and central message of God and, as we go back to the start of the book, we see the book prophet opens on that theme.
Malachi chastened the people as God had directed him to do. The
charge of God was given further concerning the sinful, corrupt worship
of the people. The attitude that the people had toward God was worthy
of death.
Mal. 1:12-14 But ye profane it, in that ye say, The table of
Jehovah is polluted, and the fruit
thereof, even its food, is contemptible. Ye say also, Behold,
what a weariness is it!
and ye have snuffed at it, saith Jehovah of hosts; and ye have brought
that which was
taken by violence, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye bring the offering:
should I accept
this at your hand? saith Jehovah. But cursed be the deceiver, who
hath in his flock a male,
and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a blemished thing; for I am a
great King, saith
Jehovah of hosts, and my name is terrible among the Gentiles.
When the priest offered a unclean or blemished sacrifice, they held worship of Jehovah as meaningless and trivial.
Sometimes Christians worship in a sinful manner when we go through the motions, our heart and soul is not in the service.
We sometimes forsake services, complain about the services, and partake
of the Lord's supper, in a thoughtless manner.
Worship was referred to as weariness to these rebellious people.
We have people today that act as if worshipping God is a bore and terrible chore. The attitudes in the day of Malachi can be seen on any given Lord's Day by his people today.
Mal. 1:13 Ye say also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye
have snuffed at it, saith Jehovah
of hosts; and ye have brought that which was taken by violence, and the
lame, and
the sick; thus ye bring the offering: should I accept this at your hand?
saith Jehovah.
The worship was deceitful and they showed less respect for God than did the Gentiles. Sometimes the misguided denominational world has more respect and dignity for worship than those who are to worship in spirit and in truth
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
Mal. 1:14 But cursed be the deceiver, who hath in his flock
a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth
unto the Lord a blemished thing; for I am a great King, saith Jehovah of
hosts, and my
name is terrible among the Gentiles.
These are people surrounded by God's love, the recipients of his mercy
for centuries, and yet their hearts are blinded.
They could not even see their offenses to God.
The reason of their disrespect was that their love for God had died.
The death of love is seen in poor attitudes, and this is what you have
here.
THE CALL TO RETURN TO THE
COVENANT OF GOD
Malachi charged the priests and people of breaking covenant with God. Five times God will use the term covenant. The covenant between Israel and God was a solemn agreement or promise.
God had made a covenant with Abraham the father of the people that would be Israel.
Gen. 12:1-3 Now Jehovah said unto Abram, Get thee out of
thy country, and from
thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto the land that I will show
thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless
thee, and make
they name great; and be thou a blessing; and I will bless them that
bless thee,
and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall all the families
of the earth
be blessed
The Israelites entered into the covenant with God at Mt. Sinai.
Ex. 20:1-20 And God spake all these words, saying, I am
Jehovah thy God, who
brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto
thee
a graven image, nor any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above,
or that
is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
Thou shalt not
bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them, for I Jehovah thy God am a
jealous
God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third
and upon the
fourth generation of them that hate me, and showing lovingkindness
unto thousands
of them that love me and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take
the name of
Jehovah thy God in vain; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh
his name in
vain. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou
labor, and do all
thy work; but the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah thy God:
in it thou shalt not do
any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy
maid-servant, nor
thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for
in six days Jehovah made heaven
and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day:
wherefore Jehovah
blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Honor thy father and thy
mother, that thy days
may be long in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not
kill. Thou shalt
not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness
against thy neighbor.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's
wife, nor his
man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything
that is thy neighbor's.
And all the people perceived the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the
voice of the trumpet,
and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they trembled, and
stood afar off. And
they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not
God speak with us, lest
we die. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove
you, and that
his fear may be before you, that ye sin not.
Ex. 34:27-28 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Write thou these
words: for after the tenor of
these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel. And
he was
there with Jehovah forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread,
nor
drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the
ten
commandments.
God had established a covenant between the Levites.
Mal. 2:4-8 And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment
unto you, that my covenant
may be with Levi, saith Jehovah of hosts. My covenant was with
him of life and
peace; and I gave them to him that he might fear; and he feared me, and
stood in
we of my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and unrighteousness
was not
found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned
many away
from iniquity. For the priest's lips should keep knowledge,
and they should seek the
law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Jehovah of hosts.
But ye are turned aside
out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble in the law; ye have corrupted
the covenant
of Levi, saith Jehovah of hosts.
Num. 1: 49-50 Only the tribe of Levi thou shalt not number, neither
shalt thou take the sum of
them among the children of Israel;
Ex. 28:1 And bring thou near unto thee Aaron thy brother, and
his sons with him, from among the
children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office,
even Aaron, Nadab
and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.
God did not take his covenant with Israel lightly, unfortunately the people did not hold the covenant with God seriously or faithfully.
The agreement with God was sacred. Malachi pleads with the people to respect this covenant.
The Jews had abandoned the covenant of God in their callous disregard for his cause.
Mal. 2:2-4 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to
heart, to give glory unto my name, saith
Jehovah of hosts, then will I send the curse upon you, and I will curse
your blessings;
yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
Behold, I will rebuke
your seed, and will spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your
feasts; and ye
shall be taken away with it. And ye shall know that I have sent this
commandment unto
you, that my covenant may be with Levi, saith Jehovah of hosts.
The leaders of the people of God had become corrupt and abandoned the covenant.
Mal. 2:8-9 But ye are turned aside out of the way; ye have caused
many to stumble in
the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith Jehovah of hosts.
Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people,
according as ye have not kept my ways, but have had respect of persons
in the law.
The only way the people could return to God was through obedience to his law.
Mal. 2:5-7 My covenant was with him of life and peace;
and I gave them to him that he
might fear; and he feared me, and stood in awe of my name. The law
of truth
was in his mouth, and unrighteousness was not found in his lips: he walked
with
me in peace and uprightness, and turned many away from iniquity.
For the priest's
lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth;
for he is the
messenger of Jehovah of hosts.
The priests and leaders corruption caused the covenant to be broken. The people were not being instructed to be faithful by the priests. The people failed to see the proper example among the leaders.
The purse was more important than the their principles of faith.
What a true priest ought to be is one that fears God, teaches God's law in truth
Mal.2:6-7 The law of truth was in his mouth, and unrighteousness
was not found in his lips:
he walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many away from iniquity.
For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law
at his
mouth; for he is the messenger of Jehovah of hosts.
The land was filled with false teachers that perverted the law of God God refused the false priest accepted the true priest.
Mal. 2:8-9 But ye are turned aside out of the way; ye have caused
many to stumble in
the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith Jehovah of hosts.
Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people,
according as ye have not kept my ways, but have had respect of persons
in the law.
As you look at the attitudes of the priest and people you see the rank
hypocrisy. God charges by saying, their
hypocrisy was malignant. Their corrupt influence turned others
astray
The same attitudes was seen in the Jews by Christ as he dwelt among the people.
Luke 19:15 And it came to pass, when he was come back again,
having received the kingdom,
that he commanded these servants, unto whom he had given the money, to
be called
to him, that he might know what they had gained by trading.
The people flirted with idolatry as they married the heathens that lived around them.
The nation was becoming impure and worldly. The people were not the proper example one for another.
The men of Israel not only married foreign wives, but put away their
Jewish wives, and caused their abandoned wife to
cover the altar of Jehovah with tears.
Mal. 2:10-14 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created
us? why do we deal
treacherously every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of
our
fathers? Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination
is committed in
Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of Jehovah
which he loveth, and hath married the daughter of a foreign god.
Jehovah will
cut off, to the man that doeth this, him that waketh and him that answereth,
out of
the tents of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto Jehovah of hosts.
And this
again ye do: ye cover the altar of Jehovah with tears, with weeping, and
with sighing,
insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, neither receiveth
it with good will
at your hand. Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because Jehovah hath been
witness between thee
and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously,
though she is thy
companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
Marriages among the Jews were broken by divorce and inter-marriage with the heathens had become common place.
Mal. 2:14-16 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because Jehovah hath been
witness between thee and
the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously, though
she is
thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did he not make
one, although
he had the residue of the Spirit? And wherefore one? He sought a godly
seed.
Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against
the wife
of his youth. For I hate putting away, saith Jehovah, the God
of Israel, and him that
covereth his garment with violence, saith Jehovah of hosts: therefore take
heed to your
spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
The problem of unfaithfulness to the home was great, Nehemiah dealt with the people in a strong way.
Neh. 13:29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled
the priesthood, and the
covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
The people were guilty of adultery and infidelity not only with their spouses but with their vows to God.
The home was being destroyed by divorce. The men were putting away the wife of their youth. The partner and spouse that had given her best years was discarded without mercy and love.
To abandon the home in this fashion was to abandon the covenant of God.
The commitment to the home was sacred and was not to be violated. God was a witness to their marriage.
Prov. 2:17 That forsaketh the friend of her youth, And forgetteth the covenant of her God:
The people were unconcerned with what their actions would do to their children. the Jews had become a selfish and sinful people.
Mal. 2:15-16 And did he not make one, although he had the residue
of the Spirit? And wherefore
one? He sought a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let
none deal
treacherously against the wife of his youth. For I hate putting
away, saith Jehovah,
the God of Israel, and him that covereth his garment with violence, saith
Jehovah of
hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
The consequences would be severe and swift if they did not repent.
The words of Malachi sounds familiar to us today. Malachi ministered to a nation where divorce was widespread.
The society in the day of Malachi was filled with moral confusion.
The unfaithful covenant breaker stood condemned and under the anger of God.
To take the law of God in a light or flippant manner is tragic.
Judgment and condemnation is sure to come.
Mal. 2:17 Ye have wearied Jehovah with your words. Yet
ye say, Wherein have we
wearied him? In that ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight
of Jehovah, and he delighteth in them; or where is the God of justice?
Where is the God of judgment?
There aren't any standards. Everything is relative. There is no God of justice who says what is right and wrong.
We think this is new, but 400 hundred years before Christ, this
was already old.
MALACHI 3: JUDGMENT TO COME
The sins of the people had angered and burdened God. There would be grave consequences for their sinful attitudes and actions.
The people had wearied God as they had in the time of Isaiah 300 years earlier.
Isaiah 1:14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul
hateth; they are a trouble
unto me; I am weary of bearing them.
Isa. 43:2-4 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with
thee; and through the rivers,
they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou
shalt not be
burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am
Jehovah thy God, the
Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour; I have given Egypt as thy ransom, Ethiopia
and
Seba in thy stead. Since thou hast been precious in my sight,
and honorable, and
I have loved thee; therefore will I give men in thy stead, and peoples
instead of thy life.
The prophets such as Jeremiah and Ezekial had told the people about the displeasure they brought God.
Jer. 15:6 Thou hast rejected me, saith Jehovah, thou art gone
backward: therefore have I stretched
out my hand against thee, and destroyed thee; I am weary with repenting.
Ez. 16:43 Because thou hast not remembered the days of
thy youth, but hast raged against
me in all these things; therefore, behold, I also will bring thy way upon
thy head,
saith the Lord Jehovah: and thou shalt not commit this lewdness with all
thine abominations.
The judgment of God would come swiftly and surely.
A MESSENGER PRECEDES JUDGMENT
God does not work on the time frame of man. God would send punishment on his own terms and own time.
This author of the book, Malachi is a man whose name means, my messenger.
It is remarkable that the last book of the Old Testament concluded with the theme of a messenger of God.
Malachi predictions the coming of another messenger.
This is a direct link between Malachi and the New Testament.
The messenger will cleanse them and make things right. He will be recognized him because a messenger will go before him to prepare the way, and then he will suddenly come to his temple.
John the immerser prepared the way for Jesus. This prophecy is fulfilled in the New Testament.
Mal. 3:1 Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare
the way before me: and the Lord,
whom ye seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger
of the covenant,
whom ye desire, behold, he cometh, saith Jehovah of hosts
The punishment would be after God sent one to prepare his way.
The promised one to come prepare the way of the lord was John the Immerser.
Isa. 40:3-5 The voice of one that crieth, Prepare ye in the wilderness
the way of Jehovah;
make level in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall
be exalted,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the uneven shall be
made level,
and the rough places a plain: and the glory of Jehovah shall
be revealed, and all flesh
shall see it together; for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it.
The coming of John would be swift and surprising to the Jewish leaders and people.
God's messenger will come suddenly to prepare the way for Messiah who is Christ Jesus.
Mal. 3:1 Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare
the way before me: and the Lord,
whom ye seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger
of the covenant,
whom ye desire, behold, he cometh, saith Jehovah of hosts
The preaching and work of John would sift the wicked from the rightous.
Mal. 3:2-3 But who can abide the day of his coming? and who shall
stand when he appeareth?
for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap: and
he will sit as a refiner and purifier
of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold
and silver; and they
shall offer unto Jehovah offerings in righteousness.
The Messiah will rebuke and condemn. The Lord Jesus cleansed the temple twice and severely rebuked the sins of the leaders and nation.
The worship will be true and happy as we serve the Christ. We worship with joy and thanksgiving at the gift of God's son for you and me. Any other type of worship is useless and condemned.
Matt. 15:8-9 This people honoreth me with their lips;
But their heart is far from me.
But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines
the precepts of men.
Matt. 3:12 whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly
cleanse his threshing-floor; and he will
gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable
fire.
The sins of the people would be proclaimed and punished by the wrath of God. The people were guilty of spittle superstition, adultery, oath breakers and lies, oppression of the weak women and children.
The sins of Israel grew and developed greater over a period of time.
Mal. 3:5-6 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will
be a swift witness against the
sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false swearers,
and against those
that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless,
and that turn aside
the sojourner from his right, and fear not me, saith Jehovah of hosts.
For I, Jehovah,
change not; therefore ye, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
Because of the sins and abandonment of God severe punishment would be delivered.
Mal. 3:6-7 For I, Jehovah, change not; therefore
ye, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
From the days of your fathers ye have turned aside from mine ordinances,
and
have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith Jehovah
of
hosts. But ye say,Wherein shall we return?
Jehovah will receive the penitent that obey him in repentance and love.
If the people remembered their own past, they would remember how God rewards evil.
The people were being begged by God to return to faithfulness.
If they did not return and repent they would be destroyed. This promise
of god was certain and steadfast.
THE OFFERINGS OF THE PEOPLE
The people had become selfish in their alms and tithes to Jehovah. The reason they had this indifference and stinginess was because they had lost respect for god.
They had broken his covenant and felt no remorse in their robbing of God.
The selfish attitude of the people caused them to withhold their required alms and tithes.
The people were spiritual thieves. The people had robbed Jehovah and he would punish the robbers.
Mal. 3:11-12 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
and he shall not destroy the
fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast its fruit before the
time in
the field, saith Jehovah of hosts. 3:12 And all nations shall call you
happy; for
ye shall be a delightsome land, saith Jehovah of hosts.
Many in the church sing, pray, study, commune weekly with the Lord Supper, and then rob God financially.
The people were guilty of robbing God in their offerings.
God had commanded tithes and offerings to be gathered.
Lev. 27:30-33 And all the tithe of the land, whether of
the seed of the land, or of the fruit
of the tree, is Jehovah's: it is holy unto Jehovah. And if a man will redeem
aught
of his tithe, he shall add unto it the fifth part thereof. And all
the tithe of the herd
or the flock, whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy
unto Jehovah.
He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change
it: and if he
change it at all, then both it and that for which it is changed shall be
holy; it shall not be
redeemed.
The rebellious people that spoke against God and his law were described in strong language.
Mal. 3:13-15 Your words have been stout against me, saith Jehovah.
Yet ye say, What have we
spoken against thee? Ye have said, It is vain to serve
God; and what profit is it that
we have kept his charge, and that we have walked mournfully before Jehovah
of hosts?
And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are built
up; yea, they
tempt God, and escape.
The words they spoke were stout and against God.
They ridiculed God's work and trusted in their own wisdom and power.
There were a few faithful who did not speak against God and they would be greatly honored.
Mal. 3:16-18 Then they that feared Jehovah spake one with another;
and Jehovah hearkened,
and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that
feared
Jehovah, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine,
saith Jehovah of
hosts, even mine own possession, in the day that I make; and I will spare
them, as
a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return
and discern between
the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that
serveth him not.
The spiritual people that praised and served God would be blessed. They feared God and were a holy people.
They thought and reverenced the name of Jehovah in word and deed.
This is an answer to the church, think upon his name. Do we really think of God daily?
You take away all the programs of the church, facilities, committees, and everything else, and if you have a people who have thinks on the name of God, you have not lost a thing.
They would not lose their reward.
The names of the faithful are upheld and honored in the book of remembrance
Psalms 69:28 Let them be blotted out of the book of life, And not be written with the righteous.
Rev. 13:8 And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him,
every one whose name hath not been
written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb
that hath been slain.
Rev. 21:27 and there shall in no wise enter into it anything
unclean, or he that maketh an
abomination and a lie: but only they that are written in the Lamb's book
of life.
Rev. 22:19 and if any man shall take away from the words of the
book of this prophecy, God shall
take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which
are written in this book.
The idea can be seen as the Persians recorded the names of those to receive favor and blessing from the king.
Esther 6:1 On that night could not the king sleep; and he commanded
to bring the book of
records of the chronicles, and they were read before the king.
What a contrast is seen between the faithful and unfaithful. The
faithful are called the jewels of God.
MALACHI
4: REWARDS GIVEN
Separation of good and evil will be made at the day of God's judgment.
The prophet lifts up his eyes to see the day that is coming, not only
the day 400 years later when the Lord Jesus will
stand on the earth, but beyond that, across the great reaches of the
centuries to the second coming of Christ.
The Son of Righteousness shall rise. Those that refuse him will be destroyed.
There is a burning to the disobedient, but to those who receive him,
there is a healing.
Mal. 4:1-3 For, behold, the day cometh, it burneth as a furnace;
and all the proud, and all
that work wickedness, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn
them
up, saith Jehovah of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
But unto
you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing
in its wings; and
ye shall go forth, and gambol as calves of the stall. And ye shall
tread down the wicked;
for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I
make, saith Jehovah
of hosts.
On this great day the proud and the rebellious will be burned up.
The faithful children of God will be delivered and made free.
The day of judgment is clearly seen in the words of the prophet.
The righteous will stand and the wicked will fall eternally.
This is a day that will be filled with terror for the lost.
II Thess. 1:7-9 and to you that are afflicted rest with
us, at the revelation of the Lord
Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire, rendering
vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel
of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction
from
the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
The lost will be frightened and without hope on the last day.
Heb. 10:27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment,
and a fierceness of fire
which shall devour the adversaries.
Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Those who are delivered will escape by the blood of Christ
They will find salvation in the son of God.
The reward of heaven and spiritual healing are found in Jesus Christ.
The term, he shall go forth, pictures a release of captives. Through the son of God, the Messiah we have liberty and freedom in the day of deliverance.
The victory of the Lord is realized fully and with great joy.
Malachi pleads with the people to prepare for the great day of judgment.
Mal. 4:4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which
I commanded unto him
in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and ordinances.
They people are instructed to remember the law.
To remember the law would certainly mean to obey the law of god.
The Israelites had been blessed with the oracles of God. Their condemnation came in the fact that they had disobeyed the law.
The will of God is binding upon humanity.
Psalms 103:18 To such as keep his covenant, And to those
that remember his precepts to do them.
Num. 15:39-40 and it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye
may look upon it, and remember all the
commandments of Jehovah, and do them; and that ye follow not after your
own heart
and your own eyes, after which ye use to play the harlot; 0that ye
may remember and
do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God
The command for them to return and remember the law was from God not
simply from Malachi, a mere mortal man.
THE COMING OF ELIJAH
The last book of the Old Testament concludes with a promise. God instructed his people that he still loved them and was making provisions for them.
The Jews had a remnant that still loved and followed him.
God was going to send the people Elijah.
Mal. 4:5-6 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before
the great and terrible day of Jehovah come.
And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart
of the children to their
fathers; lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
This would not be the person Elijah but rather on that came like Elijah.
This prophecy was fulfilled in the appearance of John the Immerser.
John was the messenger of God that prepared the way for the Messiah.
John 1:6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.
John 2:28 These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Jesus gave approval to John.
Matt. 11:7-14 And as these went their way, Jesus began to say
unto the multitudes
concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed
shaken with the wind? But what went ye out to see? a man clothed
in soft
raiment? Behold, they that wear soft raiment are in king's houses.
But wherefore
went ye out? to see a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than
a prophet.
This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before
thy face,
Who shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, Among them
that are
born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist: yet
he that
is but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the
days of John
the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and men
of violence
take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until
John. And if ye
are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, that is to come.
John was a messenger to prepare the way of Christ. John preached for Israel to repent of sins. John identified Jesus as the Messiah.
The Immerser came in the likeness of Elijah and was great in the sight of the Lord.
Luke 1:15-17 For he shall be great in the sight of the
Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor
strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his
mother's
womb. And many of the children of Israel shall be turn unto the Lord
their God.
And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn
the hearts
of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom
of the just;
to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.
Luke 1:66-76 And all that heard them laid them up in their
heart, saying, What then shall
this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father
Zacharias
was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the
Lord,
the God of Israel; For he hath visited and wrought redemption for
his people,
And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of his
servant David
(As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old),
Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To show
mercy
towards, our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant; The
oath which he spake
unto Abraham our father, To grant unto us that we being delivered
out of the hand
of our enemies Should serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness
before
him all our days. Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the
Most High:
For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways;
The preaching of John was to turn the people's heart to Christ. John sought to change their thinking.
This change of heart produced by the preaching of John would bring spiritual
healing in their lives.
John presented a message of salvation and hope for the people.
If they obeyed his preaching they could find forgiveness and redemption
from God.
If the people rejected the preaching of John they would bring destruction to their souls.
The book begins with Malachi speaking of the love of God. The book closes speaking of the long suffering and promises of God.
It is significant that at the end of all the words of the Old Testament, the last word is, curse.
This is not a prediction, but a warning.
This prophecy begins, Behold, I have loved you, says the Lord, and ends with a great warning.
If the message of love is not received, the result is a curse.
Compare this ending with the last words of the New Testament, Come, Lord Jesus!
That is God's answer to the curse. All the blessing in Christ is to be ours.
CONCLUSION
Believe Jesus to be the son of God, John 8:24
Repent of sins, Luke 13:3-5
Confess Christ with the mouth, Romans 10:10
Be baptized for the remission of sins, Acts 2:38
Live faithful unto death, Revelation 2:10
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