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 Baptists (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 second chapter of Malachi. It is only 17 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 1-7 The Punishment of the Priests
Malachi begins chapter two addressing the priests. The priests were supposed to be the example for the people, leaders of Holiness unto the LORD, and to demonstrate the way the people were to live in order to please God. They were not doing this. The priests' hearts were far from God, so how could the people learn to have a relationship with God if the priests are not living that out?
God gives the priests a choice. He tells them if they will not obey Him and take to heart the warning He is giving them, He is going to curse them. He even said they are already cursed because they refuse to do what He has asked of them. God says in verse seven, "For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts." The priests were clearly not doing this and God is angry. He is warning them of what will happen if they continue to err.
Questions: Do you think God is being unfair to the priests by cursing them? Does that seem too harsh? Is it harsh enough? Why do you think the priests are only going through the ritualistic motions and not putting their heart into their work? Why even sacrifice to God if they are not going to sacrifice according to the Law?
Verses 8-9 The Corruption of the Priests
God says the priests have departed out of the way. They are not walking in Holiness. They have strayed away from the right path. The statement God makes next is scary to me. He says they have caused many people to stumble at the law. I never want to be the cause of someone compromising or being misled by something I do or say. What a horrible image to picture all those people who follow after the priests' manner of doing things, thinking they are in right standing with God, and yet they are breaking God's law and His heart.
Instead of exalting the priests, the way God wants to for those who walk upright, He has caused them to become common. They are not keeping God's ways. They have only been performing sacrifices in part. The corruption of the priests is being called out by God through the prophet Malachi. He is telling the priests that the show is over. Now it is time for judgment to begin because they are not following God's rules or acting in a way that would please Him.
Questions: What would you do or say if God told you that you had caused many people to stumble in their walk with Him because of things you were doing? What changes, if any, would you make? What do you think the priests will do in response to this message? Have you thought of the impact your actions can have on others watching you?
Verses 10-16 Judah's Treacherous Dealings
To get a proper perspective, we must understand that God made a covenant with His people, and God kept His part of the covenant. He fulfilled His promises. He did what He said. The priests have broken the covenant. There are mixed marriages which is prohibited in the Mosaic Law. Divorce was a problem in Israel that God hated. In verse eleven, the Bible says, "Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the Holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god."
Mixed marriages were prohibited because it mingled idol worship with God's people who were commanded to have no other gods before Him. God is the true God. He is all they need and they do not need to worship a false god, an idol. God's rules were for a reason, not just to be exclusive. There were major implications by introducing idolatry to His people. Foreigners could join the nation of Israel if they would forsake their idolatry and worship God alone, much like Ruth did when she came out of Moab and followed Naomi to Bethlehem.
Ruth 1:16, 17
16 And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people will be my people, and thy God my God:
17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
In verse twelve, we see that God makes no exceptions for breaking this rule. The LORD said He will cut off the person who does this whether they have education and influence, or they are just an observant follower, God will not tolerate this disobience.
The next verse God said they cover the altar with tears and crying but God is not moved by their tears or crying out. He knows what is really going on. He sees the hidden things that no one thinks He knows anything about. They think they outsmarted God and have kept their sinful acts from God, but He is all seeing and all knowing and all powerful. He knows what has been going on and He is angry.
In verse sixteen, God says He hates divorce. It tears up families. It destroys the union that He has blessed. It destroys the work He has created in forming a bond between a man and his wife to raise a family according to the will of God. He warns them to pay attention and take heed that they do not do this thing.
Questions: Do you have hidden sin that you have not confessed to God? Are you hoping that He hasn't found out about something in your life that you don't want to stop doing? Are you harboring unforgiveness in your heart to someone who caused you pain? Why do you think God cares if His chosen people marry someone who worships idols? Why was mixed marriages and/or divorce so detestable to God?
Verse 17 Wearied With Words
The last verse of chapter two says this:
Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied Him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of Judgment?
The LORD God is tired of the priests words. They wonder when they wearied God and by what words does He get tired of hearing. The culture in those days is much like America today. They are saying that the individuals that are doing evil are good in God's eyes. This is against the very word of the LORD. They also ask where the God of judgment is. They claim that God is unjust. They are so blind to the truth because their hearts have been hardened by the lies they believe. The people have drifted so far away from God and His Truth that they are morally confused.
In times like these, so much of our culture is confused and morally decayed. The truth is hard to find and underappreciated. The pastors and teachers of our day find it easier to share a feel-good sermon than an undiluted message from the passages of God's Holy Word. We should not call evil good. We need to call sin what it is: SIN. It separates us from God.
God is weary of hearing that He is unjust. He is a just and Holy God. He is a righteous judge. He is not corrupt. He is longsuffering so He does not immediately make us pay for our sins. He gives us a chance to deal with the sin in our lives and ask Him to remove it. He loves us so much that He wants us to be clean and Holy, not to die in our sinful state. He loves us too much to want us to go to hell. He has sent His messengers to tell the people the truth, and time and time again the people of God rebel and do what they want. They constantly disobey His commands and ignore His call for them to repent and turn back to Him.
Questions: What similarities do you see in the times of the corrupt priests and in today's times? What do you think God will do if the world continues the pattern of disobeying God's Word and doing whatever makes them happy? How would you feel if you were in the priests' situation and God said the words you spoke have wearied Him? Would you want to change and stop sinning? Why do you think the world does not want to hear God's opinion on sin? What changes do you think the church needs to make to become more Holy unto the LORD?
Friends, that is the second chapter of the book of Malachi. It was not a lengthy study, but definitely a deep study. The important thing to remember is who is being addressed and why, but realize we are still seeing similar patterns today. We are still seeing those in authority and leaders or influencers professing to be Godly leaders and yet so much corrupt behavior abounds. Many water down the message of God to gain appeal and popularity, but leave out the crucial information that sin is wrong and leads to eternal separation from God if not dealt with.
I hope that you will reflect on this week's Bible study and check your heart against the message found in God's Word. Let's look at ourselves in the mirror of the text to see how we measure up, and where we fall short. We are all striving to make it, and no one is perfect. With the help of God, we will all make it Home. Don't give up and do not let your heart grow hard and cold.
Thanks, again for joining me. I will share the things I am thankful for on tomorrow's post, and we will kick off the weekend with another Fuel for the Weekend blog post on intentional living. Invite a friend to check out my blog and feel free to leave a comment, question, or request.
May something shared today be strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!
~Bridgett Owens
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