Bible Overview: Malachi
Notes
Transcript
Author: Malachi?
Author: Malachi?
Malachi means “my messenger” (see also 3:1)
Malachi may be the name of the prophet who wrote this, or verse 1 may be a superscription or title added to the beginning of this prophecy when it was compiled.
1 The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.
1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
Lexham Hebrew Bible Chapter 3
מַלְאָכִ֔י
Date: 490 B.C. ?
Date: 490 B.C. ?
Many date this book after the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, around 450-430 B.C. There are several common themes with Nehemiah, and some of the same sins and problems seem to be addressed here, such as mixed marriages, divorce, corruption among the priests, neglecting the tithe/giving, and other social injustices. Based on the common themes, many biblical scholars have placed this book at the same time or slightly after Nehemiah, who served around this same time, 450-430 B.C.
But more recent studies, especially language studies, show many similarities in language and style to the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah, both written around 520 B.C. (Even a repeated phrase from Zechariah here in Malachi—see Zech. 1:3 and Malachi 3:7
7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’
3 Therefore say to them, Thus declares the Lord of hosts: Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts.
There are no other historical clues to the dating of the book. (No kings or other figures or events mentioned)
But the conclusion to Malachi seems to be the conclusion of the Old Testament (see 4:4-6)
Purpose: a final appeal to the people to return to the Lord.
Purpose: a final appeal to the people to return to the Lord.
Summary / Outline
Summary / Outline
Six Disputations (1:2-3:15)
Six Disputations (1:2-3:15)
God makes a statement, question, or indictment
The people respond questioning God’s statement
God concludes with his response and explanation
2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob
Disputation 1 (1:2)
I have loved / chosen you
How have you loved us (where’s the evidence)
Here’s the evidence of my love and what I will do
6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’
Disputation 2 (1:6)
Where is the honor and reverence I deserve as Father and Master?
How have we dishonored / despised you?
Here’s how: you offer polluted offerings / defective animals
13 And this second thing you do. You cover the Lord’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand.
Disputation 3 (2:13)
Your offerings aren’t being accepted
Why not?
Because you’re unfaithful to your marriage vows
17 You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”
Disputation 4 (2:17)
You have wearied the Lord
How have we wearied the Lord?
By justifying wrongdoing then asking where is God’s justice?
1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.
6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’
Disputation 5 (3:6-7)
Return to me, and I will return to you (see Zech 1:3)
How can we return? (Why do we need to return)
Give your tithes again, stop withholding what you owe the Lord Malachi 3:9-10
9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
13 “Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’
Disputation 6 (3:13)
You have spoken harsh words against the Lord
What wrong things did we say?
You’re saying, “What’s the use of serving God? Let’s just live our own way.”
The Faithful Remnant (3:16)
The Faithful Remnant (3:16)
16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name.
17 “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.
The Day of the Lord (4:1-6 (3:19-24 in Hebrew)): Conclusion of the OT
The Day of the Lord (4:1-6 (3:19-24 in Hebrew)): Conclusion of the OT
1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.
2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.
3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts.
4 “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.
5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
Application
Application
Every generation needs the same message: Repent! Turn from your sins and turn to the Lord. Receive his mercy instead of judgment.
Every generation needs the same message: Repent! Turn from your sins and turn to the Lord. Receive his mercy instead of judgment.