What would you say to someone you were not going to talk to again for four centuries? What final words of wisdom would you leave with them? After six condemnations of Israel, God ends the message of Malachi with a charge and a promise. He commands the people to remember the law – the very […]
It makes sense that a people who do not care about honoring God with their sacrifices and tithes do not think much about coming judgment. It also makes sense that people who treat worship as an afterthought and have a low view of God do not understand that justice delayed is not justice in doubt. […]
God condemns Israel for the fifth time. He again brings up their offerings and sacrifices but instead of rebuking them for the quality of what they bring He disputes the quantity. Under Mosaic Law the Israelites are to bring a tithe (10%) of all they produce and receive to the temple. This supports the work […]
This text outlines God’s fourth condemnation of the people. God tells the Israelites they dishonor Him with how they speak about Him and with their perverted view of evil and justice. The people not only have a lackluster view of worship and faithfulness, they have a lackluster perspective on judgment. Since evil does not appear […]
The tone of the book changes somewhat beginning in verse 10 of Chapter 2. Instead of God speaking in the first person as He did in 1:6 through 2:9, Malachi now speaks on God’s behalf. And instead of addressing only the priests he seems to speak to all the people. Malachi condemns the people for […]
God continues his condemnation of the priests of Israel. In 1:6-14 He admonished them for allowing substandard sacrifices and having a disdainful attitude toward worship. He said they dishonored His great name by their approach and the lackluster worship they tolerated. He told them the best thing they could do is to close the temple […]
God now moves the conversation from proving to Israel that He loves her to His first accusation against her. He says the priests of the nation do not honor Him with the honor He is due. God makes it clear in the remainder of this chapter that while He is a Father who loves His […]
Overview of Malachi Malachi, along with Haggai and Zechariah, is a prophet to Israel after the people return from the Babylonian exile. The exact dates of his prophecies are unknown, but he probably speaks to the people some time around 450 to 420 BC. He may be a contemporary of Nehemiah. By the time Malachi […]
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