T he only good news that we ought to know and remember is that Jesus Christ had already won the war against sin and death. He has made it possible for us to join Him in the afterlife. All we need now to do is accept Him as He is. God is alive today and it may be sometimes be difficult to see this. The world and its demonic nature has still made it look like that only worldly things matter and that the ultimate goal of each one is to achieve their own personal happiness. This is the biggest lie of all, that we should do all to make us happy. Individual happiness at the expense of someone else is the biggest deception of all. The truth is, our lives are never really about us. It is ultimately about God and about others. It is about how you can provide and give joy even at our own expense. This is the model of ultimate and genuine love that Jesus shown us at the cross. "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s frie...
The Book of Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament in the Christian Bible and the last of the twelve minor prophets in the Hebrew Bible. Its name means "my messenger" or "my angel."
Historical Context and Authorship:
The book is believed to have been written around 450-400 BC, after the Jewish people had returned from exile in Babylon and rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem. This period was a time of religious and social decline among the Jews. While the book is attributed to Malachi, it's possible that "Malachi" is not a personal name but a title, referring to an anonymous prophet as "my messenger." The text itself doesn't provide biographical details about the author.
The historical backdrop is crucial to understanding Malachi's message. The initial enthusiasm for rebuilding the Temple and restoring the community, as seen in books like Ezra and Nehemiah, had waned. The people were growing complacent, rituals were being performed half-heartedly, and social injustices were prevalent.
Key Themes and Summary:
Malachi addresses a series of disputations or arguments between God and His people, highlighting their spiritual apathy and moral failings. The book follows a consistent pattern: God makes an accusation, the people question or deny it, and then God provides evidence and elaborates on the accusation, often followed by a promise of future judgment or blessing.
Here are the main themes and accusations:
God's Love for Israel (Malachi 1:1-5): The book opens with God reaffirming His love for Israel, specifically contrasting it with His judgment on Edom (Esau).
Notable Quote: " 'I have loved you,' says the Lord. But you say, 'How have you loved us?' " (Malachi 1:2)
Corrupt Priesthood and Defiled Sacrifices (Malachi 1:6 - 2:9): Malachi condemns the priests for their contempt for God's name, offering defective and inferior animals for sacrifice, thereby polluting the altar. They are also accused of failing to instruct the people properly.
Notable Verse: " '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 respect?' says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name." (Malachi 1:6)
Historical Fact: The priests were supposed to be meticulous in their sacrifices according to Mosaic Law, offering only unblemished animals. Their negligence showed disrespect for God.
Unfaithfulness and Divorce (Malachi 2:10-16): The prophet condemns the people for their unfaithfulness to each other, especially men divorcing their Jewish wives to marry foreign women. This is seen as a betrayal of the covenant and a defilement of the "holy seed" of Israel.
Notable Quote: " 'For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her,' says the Lord, the God of Israel, 'covers his garment with violence,' says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless." (Malachi 2
:16)
God's Justice and the Coming Day of the Lord (Malachi 2:17 - 3:6): The people are accused of tiring God with their complaints about His apparent slowness to act justly. Malachi announces the coming of a messenger (a forerunner) who will prepare the way for the Lord Himself. This "Day of the Lord" will be a time of purification and judgment for the wicked, but also a time of refinement for the righteous.
Notable Verse: " '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." (Malachi 3:1)
Historical Fact: This prophecy of a forerunner is widely understood by Christians as a prediction of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus Christ.
Robbing God of Tithes and Offerings (Malachi 3:7-12): The people are accused of robbing God by failing to bring their full tithes and offerings to the Temple. This withholding of resources is seen as a direct disobedience that results in curses upon the land. God challenges them to "test Him" by bringing their tithes and see if He will not pour out blessings.
Notable Quote: " 'Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.' " (Malachi 3:8-9)
Notable Verse: " '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.' " (Malachi 3:10)
Distinction Between Righteous and Wicked (Malachi 3:13 - 4:6): The people complain that serving God is futile and that the arrogant prosper. Malachi reassures them that God remembers those who fear Him and will make a clear distinction between the righteous and the wicked on the Day of the Lord. The righteous will experience healing and triumph, while the wicked will be consumed.
Notable Verse: " '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.' " (Malachi 3:16)
Notable Quote: " '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.' " (Malachi 4:2)
The Coming of Elijah (Malachi 4:5-6): The book concludes with a promise to send the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful Day of the Lord, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and children to their fathers, preventing God from striking the land with a curse.
Notable Verse: " 'Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 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 decre
e of utter destruction. ' " (Mala chi 4:5-6) Hi
storical Fa ct: In Jewish tradition, Elijah is expected to return before the Messiah. In Christian tradition, this prophecy is also linked to John the Baptist (Matthew 11:13-14).
Significance:
Malachi serves as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments. It highlights the spiritual decline that necessitates a new covenant and sets the stage for the coming of Christ, particularly through its prophecies of a forerunner and the "Sun of Righteousness." It underscores the importance of genuine worship, righteous living, and faithful stewardship, reminding people that God sees and will ultimately bring justice and salvation.