The Book of Malachi
Chapter 1
Biblical Malachi Study Asking Who is Malachi
The Prophet Malachi in the Bible Quest
A pleasure to have you here at Daily Bread for our study of the last
book of the Old Testament. Malachi, the last of the twelve minor
prophets, prophesied in the same general time frame as the days of
Nehemiah. He directs his message of judgment to Israel, a people
plagued with corrupt priests, wicked practices, and a false sense of
security in their privileged relationship with God. Using the
question-and-answer method, Malachi probes deeply into their problems
of hypocrisy, infidelity, mixed marriages, divorce, false worship,
and arrogance.
So sinful has the nation become, that God's words to the people no
longer have any impact. For four hundred years after Malachi's
ringing condemnations, God remains silent. Only with the coming of
John the Baptist, does God again communicate to His people through a
prophet's voice.
The meaning of the name Mal'aki ("My Messenger") is probably a
shortened form of Mal'akya, "Messenger of Yahweh," and it is
appropriate to the book which speaks of the coming of the "messenger
of the covenant" ("messenger" is mentioned three times in 2:7 and
3:1). Malachi gives a fiery ending to his message with Elijah coming
before the dreadful day of the Lord.
Biblical Malachi Lesson on Who is Malachi
The Prophet Malachi in the Bible Truth
Let's look at the first several verses together:
Malachi 1:1-4
1 The burden of the Word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.
2 I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein
hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the Lord: yet
I loved Jacob,
3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his
heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. [
Jeremiah 49:17-18]
4 Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will
return and build the desolate places; thus saith the Lord of hosts,
They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them,
The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the Lord hath
indignation for ever.
This is a very interesting thing. Why, you might be wondering does
God hate Esau? You're probably remembering a cute little story from
back in Genesis about when Jacob returned to his homeland and Esau
met him with a warm embrace and they lived in peace thereafter. And
in fact, that did happen, however, the descendants of Esau, weren't
so peaceable. There was much animosity between the descendants of
Jacob and Esau, and in fact, that animosity lives to this very day.
The descendants of Esau (which today are called Muslim) claim that
the Promise that God made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, was supposed
to be for Esau, not Jacob, and even though God provided Esau and his
descendants with much more land than the Promised Land that Jacob and
his descendants inherited, they have a never ending hatred for
Israel, and seek holy war (which they call jihad) as their purpose in
life.
Biblical Malachi Teaching on Who is Malachi
The Prophet Malachi in the Bible Journey
Now, through the ages, the descendants of Esau have had the hand of
God against them many times, yet they still pursue their purpose of
annihilating Israel, and as you just read Malachi's warning, they
will build up, and I will knock them down.
Malachi 1:5
And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The Lord will be magnified
from the border of Israel. [Psalms
35:27]
Although God has a soft spot in His heart for Jacob, He's not pleased
about the way that Israel has strayed from Him. To begin with, the
priests offer sacrifices that are defiled in God's eyes, and this
offends Him greatly.
Malachi 1:6-8
6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if
then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where
is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise
my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say,
Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the Lord
is contemptible.
8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil?
and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto
thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person?
saith the Lord of hosts. [Deuteronomy
15:21]
Biblical Malachi Laws Who is Malachi Answer
The Prophet Malachi in the Bible Rules
As you can see, God is greatly insulted by the carelessness and
apathy of the priests in their offerings. Malachi explains, that
they've brought this on themselves and pleads with them to beg the
Lord's forgiveness.
Next Malachi explains, people don't even close a door without a
reason, yet your offerings are worth nothing if you care so little,
that you offer the Lord unworthy gifts, (remember Cain's offering?)
so you shouldn't bother.
Biblical Malachi- Who is Malachi Prophecy
The Prophet Malachi in the Bible Path
Malachi doesn't hesitate to tell them God's message that His name
will be honored among the Gentiles. Don't forget, the Gentiles were
despised by the people of Israel. It was by God's command that they
were deported out of their homelands during the Conquest of Canaan
many years before because they were "heathen" nations, who did not
practice righteousness, yet here it is many many years later, and
this prophet, whom God is speaking through, is telling them that the
Gentiles will honor Him. This was not only in hopes of getting their
attention and to point out their wrongdoings, but it was also Truth
... Prophecy! (Isaiah
66:19)
Throughout the Old Testament you've read that the Gentiles would have
their time with God, and Malachi prophesies the same thing. He
continues to describe the Lord's disgust with the way the Israelites
have disregarded Him.
Malachi 1:12-14
12 But ye have profaned it [made it un-Holy], in that ye
say, The table of the Lord is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even
His meat, is contemptible.
13 Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness [a nuisance, a
bother] is it! and ye have snuffed [sighed heavily] at it, saith the
Lord of hosts [Isaiah
43:22]; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the
sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand?
saith the Lord.
14 But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a
male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt [blemished]
thing [
Leviticus 22:18-20
]: for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is
dreadful [respected] among the heathen [the Gentiles].
Biblical Malachi - Who is Malachi Conclusion
The Prophet Malachi in the Bible Summary
Wowie, Kazowie! Has God got their number or what?! We should all
remember God's Word through Malachi, when we tithe, or give to a food
drive or toy drive, because these are all offerings. Our Father can
see when we give things that are expired, while the fresh goods
remain for ourselves. He can see when we offer Him the blemished
instead of the first fruits.
Who is Malachi? The proclaimer of a powerful message from God, that's
who. Praise God for the Word of God, that we can pick up our Bible
and remind us every day, when we stray from righteousness, even a
little bit, and get back on track!
Can't wait to share more prophecy from the prophet Malachi with you,
so hurry back soon and we'll study it together, right here at Daily
Bread.
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