Malachi

Malachi has no introductory information about him. It begins with “The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel” and then proceeds to speak against the evil practices of those who had returned from Babylon. (Mal 1:1)

“It is you, O priests, who show contempt for my name. But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name? You place defiled food on my altar. But you ask, How have we defiled you? By saying that the Lord's table is contemptible. When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? … I will accept no offering from your hands.” (Mal 1: 6-8, 10)

“Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord.”

“This admonition is for you, O priests. If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honor my name, I will send a curse among you.” (Mal 2:1-2)

“My covenant was with him Tribe of Levi, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin.” (Mal 2:5-6)

“But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi … because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality in matters of the law.” (Mal 2:8-9)

“Judah has broken faith. A detestable thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the Lord loves, by marrying the daughter of a foreign god.” (Mal 2:11-12) Comment: The Law of Moses prohibited marrying pagan idol worshippers “When the Lord your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations more numerous and mightier than yourselves, and when the Lord your God gives them over to you, and you defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them. You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods.” (Deut. 7:1-4)

Comment: The promise that all nations would be blessed by the promised Messiah, Christ, was given to Abraham and thus to the twelve tribes of Israel. Therefore, marrying within the twelve tribes ensured He would be an Israelite from lineage of David.

“As for the man who does this, whoever he may be, may the Lord cut him off from the tents of Jacob - even though he brings offerings to the Lord Almighty. Another thing you do: You flood the Lord's altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. You ask, "Why?" It is because the Lord is acting as the witness between you and

the wife of your youth because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.” (Mal 2:12-14)

“So, I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the Lord Almighty.” (Mal 3:5)

“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, How do we rob you? In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse — the whole nation of you — because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe (not part or blemished offerings) into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.” (Mal 3:8-10)

“Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire," says the Lord Almighty.” (Mal 4:1)

Key Points from Malachi ➢ Contempt for God is revealed by keeping the best for self. ➢ Walking with the Lord in uprightness produces a life of peace. ➢ Forsaking one’s covenant relationship with God, spouse or anyone else is detestable as it is adultery, the breaking of a covenant. ➢ Arrogants and evildoers will be consumed by fire at the end of time.