This month, I want to study the book of Malachi. This is the very last book in the Old Testament. Once God stops speaking four short chapters later, He is silent for 400 years! I want to dig into God's Word and find out what God wanted to say in the final chapters of the Old Testament, gain insight on what made God stop talking to His people, and hopefully gain a better understanding of the scriptures. Whether you do this study alone, or with a small group, please let me know in the comments below, or via email if this is something you enjoy on my blog. If you have a particular request of a book or topic to study, please let me know and I will prayerfully consider including it.
As with other studies, I like to include the introduction my Bible has for the book we are studying. Here is the introduction to The Book of Malachi:
MALACHI, a prophet in the days of Nehemiah, directs his message of judgment to 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 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 (prophesied in 3:1) 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; 3:1). The Septuagint used the title Malachias even though it also translated it "by the hand of the messenger." The Latin title is Maleachi.
Read through the first chapter of Malachi. It is only 14 verses. Grab a notebook or journal, pen or pencil, and keep your Bible open as we break the bread together. I will be asking questions throughout today's study. Record your answers in your book. If you are participating in this study with friends or a small group, use the questions for talking points. The purpose of this study is to dig deeper into the Word of God and to apply the lessons to our own lives. Feel free to leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you!
Verses 1-5 God's Great Love For Israel
Malachi has a message from God for the people of Israel. The message is a serious one and God is very clear that He is displeased with His people. The very ones He set apart for Himself have dishonored Him and He addresses it in the first chapter.
When the Bible says that Jacob was loved and Esau was hated, this is not a literal love and hate as we use the terms commonly today. Rather God was showing a comparison with how He loved Jacob (Israel) more than Esau (Edom). He favored Jacob with more honor and blessings than Esau. When Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed everything they had, Jacob was able to rebuild, but Esau never was.
In verse four, God said, "They shall build, but I will throw down." He says that not only will he tear down whatever they hope to build, but people would label them as "The border of wickedness," and "The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever." What a serious statement. God's not only going to destroy any effort they make, but others are going to point their finger and say they line up along the wicked and these are the ones that God is angry with for ever. I don't know about you, but I don't want to be in that category.
God says that not only will He do these things, but Israel would see it and magnify His Holy name. God is not merely threatening His people, He says they will see it come to pass for themselves. This is a really tough message to receive.
Questions: Is it difficult to see this side of God, an angry God? Do you view God as One who is waiting to destroy everything you are building up? Do you see God as a loving Heavenly Father? How do these verses change your viewpoint on who God really is?
Verses 6-14 The Priests Dishonor God
God is very specific in His law that the priests were to make sacrifices for the people. They were to offer perfect sacrifices without spot or blemish and then make their requests known. The priests know this. They are not ignorant of the law. They choose to dishonor God by offering animal sacrifices that are marred in some way. They have diseases, are blind, cannot walk, or are sick. These sacrifices would not be good enough for dignitaries on earth, so why would they be considered good enough for the most Holy and High God?
Not only are they offering defective sacrifices to God, they have the audacity to request He grant them favor. Their sloppy shortcuts and irresponsible behavior has caused God to become angry. He is so displeased with the priests that He tells them, "I have no pleasure in you, neither will I accept an offering at your hand." Why do they even think God would want to do anything for them? They have not surrendered their heart to Him. They are just giving Him whatever they want and expecting God to accept it.
Why even open the doors of the temple, take the time and effort to sacrifice feeble offerings, and ask God for anything, if they are not going to have pure motives? The Bible says in verse eleven that people from other nations will honor the name of God and worship Him purely.
For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same My name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto My name, and a pure offering: for My name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.
The last verse of chapter one, God curses the deceiver. He said, For I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and My name is dreadful among the heathen. Even the enemies of God knew how powerful and mighty He was and is. They feared God. They did not revere Him, but they feared what He could do.
The priests should have feared God and revered His great name.
Additional Readings:
Proverbs 15:8 talks about the sacrifice of the wicked and the prayer of the upright.
Isaiah 1:10-21 speaks of the sacrifices and ritualistic behavior not uncommon in our society in America today.
Amos 5:21-23 is God's rejection of sacrifices and songs from the impure in heart.
Romans 14:23 speaks about sin.
Hebrews 11:6 says without faith it is impossible to please God and why.
Romans 11:11-12 explains that the fall of God's people was a benefit to the Gentiles and discusses the effects of the fall on God's people.
I am guilty of not giving God my very best. He deserves my time and attention. He deserves my uninterrupted praise and worship and adoration. He deserves for me to brag on Him and His goodness. I repent of the times I pushed back my prayer time until bedtime and then fall asleep mid-prayer. I repent of the times I rushed through my day, not giving Him much thought, as I hurried from task to task and errand to errand, then wondered why I felt such worry and anxiety. I felt so rushed and hurried when I had not first given my day to Him to bless and my steps to order. Let's end chapter one's study today with reflection and repentance. Let's turn our hearts back to our Heavenly Father and show Him the adoration He longs to receive and so deserves. Let's lavish Him with love and honor as we go about our day and as we take our pilgrim's journey through this world.
Friends, I hope you have been encouraged and enlightened with this week's Bible Study. It is not a book I have delved into before at any great lengths but I am looking forward to breaking the bread with you again next week as we look at chapter two.
May something I shared today give you strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!
~Bridgett Owens
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