"STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS" Malachi - My Messenger (2:17-4:6) INTRODUCTION 1. In our previous lesson we introduced the last of "The Minor Prophets"... a. Malachi, whose name means "My Messenger" b. A prophet of God during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah (ca. 444 B.C.) c. A prophet who like Ezra the priest... 1) Attacked the spiritual and moral decay at that time 2) Especially among the priests d. A prophet who used the didactic-dialectic style of teaching 1) Making a charge, raising potential objections, and then refuting them 2) Which later became common in Jewish schools and synagogues 2. We have already seen how Malachi addressed three problems affecting Israel at that time... a. They were doubting God's love - Mal 1:1-5 b. They were dishonoring God's name - Mal 1:6-2:9 1) By offering blemished sacrifices 2) By offering half-hearted worship c. They were profaning God's covenant - Mal 2:10-16 1) By marrying heathen women 2) By divorcing their Jewish wives 3. In the last section of the book of Malachi, we find... a. More indications of their spiritual and moral decay b. Promises concerning the coming Messiah! [We begin with the last verse of the second chapter, noting how...] I. THEY WERE TRYING GOD'S PATIENCE A. BY QUESTIONING THE JUSTICE OF GOD - Mal 2:17 1. They had wearied God with their words 2. Especially regarding His justice: a. For they said that those who do evil is good in God's sight, that He even delights in them b. For they asked, "Where is the God of justice?" B. THE LORD'S RESPONSE WILL BE TO SEND HIS MESSENGER - Mal 3:1-5 1. First, the "messenger" who will prepare His way for Him - Mal 3:1a a. A clear reference to John the Baptist b. Compare Isa 40:3; Mt 3:1-3; 11:7-10 2. Then will appear the "Messenger of the covenant" - Mal 3:1b a. Here the reference is to Christ, the Messiah for which they had longed b. Who certainly came to His temple - Mt 21:12ff c. And was a messenger of a new covenant - Mt 26:26-28 3. His coming will be one to purge His people - Mal 3:2-5 a. Like a refiner's fire and a fuller's soap b. The sons of Levi (i.e., priests) especially, that their offerings may be acceptable c. He will come near to judge those who do not fear the Lord - cf. Mt 3:11-12 [With the coming of the "Messenger of the covenant", they would have their answer to the question "Where is the God of justice?" As we continue, we see yet another complaint God had against the Israelites in Malachi's day...] II. THEY WERE FORSAKING GOD'S ORDINANCES A. GOD CHARGES THEM WITH INCONSISTENCY - Mal 3:6-7 1. Unlike God Himself, whose unchanging nature has kept Him from totally consuming Israel! - Mal 3:6 2. Yet their history showed a practice of apostasy - Mal 3:7a 3. Even when called to return, they ask "In what way shall we return?" - Mal 3:7b 4. No answer is given directly a. Perhaps because the answer is so obvious it does not deserve a response b. Or the answer is given by the example which follows... B. THEIR TITHES AS A CASE IN POINT - Mal 3:8-12 1. They had robbed God by their failure to offer their tithes - Mal 3:8 2. For this reason the whole nation had been accursed - Mal 3:9 3. They are challenged to bring the tithes, and to see the blessings that would follow - Mal 3:10-12 [The sixth and final complaint that God had against them is now presented...] III. THEY WERE DESPISING GOD'S SERVICE A. BY SAYING IT WAS VAIN TO SERVE GOD - Mal 3:13-15 1. Their words were harsh against God - Mal 3:13 2. Questioning what profit there was in keeping His ordinances - Mal 3:14 2. Calling the proud blessed, saying the wicked are raised up, and those who tempt God go free - Mal 3:15 B. YET SOME BEGAN TO HEED MALACHI'S MESSAGE - Mal 3:16-4:6 1. Those who feared the Lord, as they spoke to one another - Mal 3:16a 2. Whom the Lord noticed, and a "book of remembrance" was written - Mal 3:16b 3. Whom the Lord promised to make His "jewels" and spare them - Mal 3:17 a. It will be easy to discern the righteous - Mal 3:18 b. For the day was coming when the wicked will be burned liked stubble - Mal 4:1 c. But those who fear His name will be blessed by "the Sun of Righteousness" (i.e., Jesus) - Mal 4:2-3 4. Until then... a. The faithful are exhorted to heed the Law of Moses - Mal 4:4 b. And await the coming of "Elijah the prophet" (i.e., John the Baptist) who will come to prepare people for the coming of the Lord - Mal 4:5-6; cf. Lk 1:16-17 CONCLUSION 1. As with most prophets, Malachi had a message for both the present and the future... a. Exhorting the people to look at themselves, how they were guilty of: 1) Doubting God's love 2) Dishonoring God's name 3) Profaning God's covenant 4) Trying God's patience 5) Forsaking God's ordinances 6) Despising God's service -- Note: These points were adapted from Wiersbe's "Be Amazed" commentary b. Encouraging the people to look forward to the coming of: 1) God's Messenger (John), who would come in the spirit of Elijah and prepare people for the coming of the Lord 2) The Messenger of the covenant (Jesus), who come to refine and purify those willing to repent, and bring judgment on those who do not fear the Lord 2. It is encouraging to note that some evidently took Malachi's message to heart - Mal 3:16-18 a. Whom the Lord would claim as His b. Whom the Lord would make His "jewels" c. Whom the Lord would spare as a man spares His own son who serves him As we come to the close of this survey of "The Minor Prophets", perhaps it is appropriate to ask: Are we willing to take the prophets' messages to heart? * They were written for our learning and admonition - cf. Ro 15:4; 1Co 10:11 * They help make us wise for the salvation which by faith in Christ - cf. 2Ti 3:14-15 * They are certainly profitable for instruction in righteousness - cf. 2Ti 3:16-17 I pray that in some way this series has helped you to appreciate the value of studying "The Minor Prophets" and making application of them to your life.
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