Malachi Introduction

December 19, 2018

Malachi Introduction

 “Malachi is the last prophetic message from God before the close of the Old Testament period (although non-prophetic books such as Ezra – Nehemiah and Chronicles may have been written later.)  This small book captures the nature of God and our relationship and responsibility to Him and to others in the covenant community.”

“Nothing is known about the author except his name.  The book emphasizes the message rather than the messenger; God is the speaker in about 47 of the 55 verses.”  (Taken from HCSB Holman Christian Standard Bible, pages 1587-1588)

We just finished the book of Proverbs, and I desire to be a wise man and not a fool.  And in keeping with that thought, when God speaks a wise person should be all ears asking the Holy Spirit to open their eyes to the truth.  Our desire should be to seek the truth, and since Jesus tells us He is the Truth, the way and the light, should one not seek Him?

Malachi 1: 1-5

The Oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi:  “I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob's brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.”   If Edom says, “We are shattered, but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.’”   Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!”

Malachi, tells us in verse one that these messages are from God, so let’s ask the Holy Spirit to enlarge our minds and hearts to gain knowledge and insight to serve others with the good news of God and His only Son, Jesus the Christ.

Malachi is only the deliveryman of the message to Israel and to you and me, but one should be careful to be thankful for the message.  Often, we miss the mark praising the messenger and not the sender of the message.  Often, we find it baffling that Israel did not grasp the fullness of God’s love for them, in that they are the chosen nation out of all the people and countries of this world. 

When God talks about the brothers Jacob and Esau, it is clear that He chooses Jacob over Esau the one who was willing to give up His birthright for a bowl of soup.  God did not choose to enter into a covenant relationship with Esau, and out of Esau came the Edomites who were known for being prideful, greedy, and violent.  We know that God allowed them to be destroyed, but never Israel even though Israel was captured and enslaved, but God always has kept His covenant relationship with Jacob and Israel, and has had to bring disaster because they have chased after gods that could not hear or see.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice