September 30 A READ MALACHI 1–4
Hard Words for Hearts of Stone
OVERVIEW
Malachi marks the sunset of Old Testament prophecy. Malachi the prophet and Nehemiah the builder were contemporaries, and the situations Nehemiah faced—corrupt priests, religiously mixed marriages, neglected tithes—formed the basis for Malachi’s sermons. The book is constructed around a three-part pattern involving accusation, interrogation, and refutation. For example:
• Accusation: “Judah has been unfaithful, and a detestable thing has been done in Israel and in Jerusalem” (2:11).
• Interrogation: “You cry out, ‘Why doesn’t the LORD accept my worship?’ ” (2:14).
• Refutation: “Because the LORD witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. . . . But you have been unfaithful to her” (2:14).
Can you find more examples in the book?
Arrogant insensitivity shows that the nation has hit rock bottom spiritually. The people have become so sin-hardened that God’s proddings no longer prick their conscience. With his intense, convicting words, Malachi ushers in four hundred years of silence, which will be broken at last when John the Baptist emerges to proclaim, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).
MY DAILY WALK
It is fitting that the last word of the Old Testament should be a curse. A curse is something to be avoided—the result of a neglected command or disobedient action. Malachi brings down the curtain on the Old Testament with a final reminder that sin must be dealt with. When the New Testament opens, the scene will be set for the one who alone can cure humanity’s sin sickness: Jesus the Messiah.
Close your study of Malachi with a time of prayer. If you know Christ as Savior, tell him how much he means to you. If you don’t, wouldn’t now be a perfect time to put your trust in him?
MALACHI’S PROPHECY, LIKE A MORNING DAWN, BRINGS WITH IT THE PROMISE OF A NEW AND MORE GLORIOUS DAY.
INSIGHT
The Library of God | Mal. 3:16
The Bible is a collection of books inspired by God himself, but apparently God has other books we have never seen. The scroll of remembrance mentioned in Malachi 3:16 is one. Read the following passages for more on heavenly writings: Exodus 32:32; Psalm 56:8; 69:28; and 139:16; Daniel 7:10 and 12:1; Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15.
INSIGHT
Will the Real Elijah Please Stand Up? | Mal. 4:5-6
John the Baptist was the fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy that Elijah would come (4:5-6) as the Messiah’s forerunner (Matthew 17:12). And according to Malachi, another Elijah-like forerunner will precede Christ’s second coming as well (Matthew 17:11).
1This is the message* that the LORD gave to Israel through the prophet Malachi.*
The LORD’s Love for Israel
2“I have always loved you,” says the LORD.
But you retort, “Really? How have you loved us?”
And the LORD replies, “This is how I showed my love for you: I loved your ancestor Jacob, 3but I rejected his brother, Esau, and devastated his hill country. I turned Esau’s inheritance into a desert for jackals.”
4Esau’s descendants in Edom may say, “We have been shattered, but we will rebuild the ruins.”
But the LORD of Heaven’s Armies replies, “They may try to rebuild, but I will demolish them again. Their country will be known as ‘The Land of Wickedness,’ and their people will be called ‘The People with Whom the LORD Is Forever Angry.’ 5When you see the destruction for yourselves, you will say, ‘Truly, the LORD’s greatness reaches far beyond Israel’s borders!’”
Unworthy Sacrifices
6The LORD of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: “A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name!
“But you ask, ‘How have we ever shown contempt for your name?’
7“You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar.
“Then you ask, ‘How have we defiled the sacrifices?*’
“You defile them by saying the altar of the LORD deserves no respect. 8When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn’t that wrong? And isn’t it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
9“Go ahead, beg God to be merciful to you! But when you bring that kind of offering, why should he show you any favor at all?” asks the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
10“How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “and I will not accept your offerings. 11But my name is honored* by people of other nations from morning till night. All around the world they offer* sweet incense and pure offerings in honor of my name. For my name is great among the nations,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
12“But you dishonor my name with your actions. By bringing contemptible food, you are saying it’s all right to defile the Lord’s table. 13You say, ‘It’s too hard to serve the LORD,’ and you turn up your noses at my commands,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. “Think of it! Animals that are stolen and crippled and sick are being presented as offerings! Should I accept from you such offerings as these?” asks the LORD.
14“Cursed is the cheat who promises to give a fine ram from his flock but then sacrifices a defective one to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “and my name is feared among the nations!