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Old Testament Survey: The Book of Malachi

Old Testament Survey: The Book of Malachi. God’s Final Message to His Ancient People. “For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob” (3:6). Background. Malachi means “ my messenger . ” Date is 445—432 B.C.

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Old Testament Survey: The Book of Malachi

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  1. Old Testament Survey: The Book of Malachi God’s Final Message to His Ancient People “For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob” (3:6)

  2. Background • Malachi means “my messenger.” • Date is 445—432 B.C. • God spoke His final word to His ancient people. • Malachi introduced a new teaching method—question-and-answer. • Malachi puts out a question in the mouths of the people and then supplies God’s answer.

  3. Background • It had been 100 years since the people returned from captivity. • They had completed the temple, and Nehemiah came from Persia to serve as governor. • Nehemiah and Malachi were contemporary in seeking the rebuilding of the “walls.” • Malachi sought to restore the spiritual walls of their character. • Persian Empire was reaching the height of its glory.

  4. Background • Rulers were more cruel and ironhanded than Cyrus and Darius had been. • Trying times for the Jews. • Jews were not following God as faithfully as they should have been. • The worship ritual was in a state of decay. • People who were indifferent to the law were offering blind and lame animals!

  5. Background • They weren’t bringing tithes as God had commanded. • The men were putting away their Jewish wives and marrying heathen women. • Malachi rebuked the people for these sins and pointed them back to God. • They had set up idols and gone into idolatry. • The people were indifferent to God and the righteousness He demanded!

  6. Keys to Malachi • Key words • Love and rebuke • Key phrase • “Ye say…” (12) • Key chapter • Chapter 3 • Key verses • 1:2 “I have loved you," says the LORD. Yet you say, 'In what way have You loved us?' Was not Esau Jacob's brother? Says the LORD. Yet Jacob I have loved.”

  7. Keys to Malachi “You have wearied the LORD with your words; yet you say, ‘In what way have we wearied Him?’ In that you say, ‘Everyone who does evil Is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delights in them,’ or, ‘Where is the God of justice?’” • Key words • Love and rebuke • Key phrase • “Ye say…” (12) • Key chapter • Chapter 3 • Key verses • 2:17

  8. Keys to Malachi “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, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming, says the LORD of hosts.” • Key words • Love and rebuke • Key phrase • “Ye say…” (12) • Key chapter • Chapter 3 • Key verses • 3:1

  9. Keys to Malachi “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” • Key words • Love and rebuke • Key phrase • “Ye say…” (12) • Key chapter • Chapter 3 • Key verses • 4:5-6

  10. Three Divine Messages • A message about God’s love. • 1:1-5 • A message of rebuke for their sins. • 1:6 — 2:17 • A message of hope in the renewed promise of Christ’s second coming. • 3:1 — 4:6

  11. Seven Debates in Israel’sControversy with God • “Wherein hast thou loved us?” (1:2,3) • “Wherein have we despised your name?” (1:6) • “Wherein have we polluted thee?”(1:7; 2:10-16) • “Wherein have we wearied the Lord with our words?” (2:17)

  12. Seven Debates in Israel’sControversy with God • “Wherein shall we return to the Lord?” (3:7) • “Wherein have we robbed thee?” (3:8) • “What have we spoken against thee?” (3:13) • “For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. Yet from the days of your fathers you have gone away from My ordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," says the LORD of hosts…” (4:6,7)

  13. The Book’s Message • Condemnation of the priests’ faithfulness (1:2-2:9). • Declares God’s love for Israel. • Loved them ahead of Edom (1:2-5). • Should have inspired faithfulness on the part of the people. • Rather, they grew indifferent toward Him. • God held the priests largely responsible—they failed to teach the people.

  14. The Book’s Message • Condemnation of the priests’ faithfulness (1:2-2:9). • Each person responsible for himself. • Allowed them to offer unworthy sacrifices. • God demands the best (1:6-8). • Curse on those who would seek to deceive God with such sacrifices. • Curse on the priests (2:1-5). • Showing respect for people in their work (2:6-9).

  15. The Book’s Message • Against divorce and remarriage (2:10-16) • Men were putting away their Jewish wives and marrying heathen women. • God called them “the daughters of a foreign god” (2:11). • If continued unchecked, would lead them back into idolatry. • God lays down the principle--wife is the companion of His covenant (2:14).

  16. The Book’s Message • Against divorce and remarriage (2:10-16). • God seeking to keep the Hebrew lineage pure. • God intended to bring His Son through Abraham (2:15). • God hates divorce (2:16). • God designed marriage to be a lifetime covenant. • Man and woman must take their marriage vows seriously!

  17. The Book’s Message • The principle of tithing (3:7-12) • They had been robbing God. • Lack of tithes and offerings (3:8). • By law, one-tenth of everything belonged to the Lord. • He could open heaven’s windows and pour out more blessings than they would have room to receive (3:10). • They could, due to God’s blessings, be the envy of other nations (3:11,12).

  18. The Book’s Message • The final promise (4:5,6) • God’s book closes with the promise of the coming of Elijah—John the Baptist. • He would introduce and prepare the way for the Lord! • “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

  19. Lessons for Us Today • Worship must be deeply spiritual and from the heart. • Must harmonize with God’s will and wishes • A closed meeting house is better than one filled with insincere and indifferent worshippers. • We must observe all of God’s laws—those pertaining to marriage and the home, as well as those that relate to worship.

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