Malachi 1:1~4:6
Malachi , Sarah Barry
HONOR THE LORD ALMIGHTY
Passage: Malachi 1:1~14
Key verse: 11a
INTRODUCTION TO MALACHI
Malachi's name means 'my messenger.' He was a prophet who spoke God's message to the people of Israel around 440 B.C. This was about 100 years after the first exiles had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon captivity. That generation flourished spiritually under the ministries of Haggai and Zechariah. God had fulfilled his promise through Jeremiah that the people would return to Jerusalem and Judah after 70 years in Babylon. With great spiritual fervor, the temple of God had been rebuilt. Against this backdrop of fulfillment and with eager expectation, the Israelites hoped the LORD would also fulfill his promise to shake the nations (Haggai 2:6-8), restore Israel's glory, and bring about an earthly messianic kingdom. As time passed and a new generation came, the Israelites became cynical, worldly and cold in their relationship with God. They lost hope that God would keep his promises. They complained about God. Malachi addresses these complaints in the form of six disputations. Malachi reminds the people that God loves them and that God is to be honored in every way, from their offerings and tithes (1:8,13; 4:9-10), to faithfulness to their spouses (2:14-16), to their obligations to love their neighbors as themselves (3:5). Malachi looks forward to the coming of the Messiah (3:1-3) and the day of the Lord when the wicked will be judged and righteousness restored. May our hope in Jesus' second coming and our reverence for God in daily life be strengthened through our study of Malachi.
HONOR THE LORD ALMIGHTY
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your amazing love. Help me to honor you with offerings worthy of your name.
One Word: God's name will be great
Malachi's name means 'my messenger.' He was a prophet who spoke God's message to the people of Israel around 440 B.C. This was about 100 years after the first exiles had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon captivity. That generation flourished spiritually under the ministries of Haggai and Zechariah. God had fulfilled his promise through Jeremiah that the people would return to Jerusalem and Judah after 70 years in Babylon. With great spiritual fervor, the temple of God had been rebuilt. Against this backdrop of fulfillment and with eager expectation, the Israelites hoped the LORD would also fulfill his promise to shake the nations (Haggai 2:6-8), restore Israel's glory, and bring about an earthly messianic kingdom. As time passed and a new generation came, the Israelites became cynical, worldly and cold in their relationship with God. They lost hope that God would keep his promises. They complained about God. Malachi addresses these complaints in the form of six disputations. Malachi reminds the people that God loves them and that God is to be honored in every way, from their offerings and tithes (1:8,13; 4:9-10), to faithfulness to their spouses (2:14-16), to their obligations to love their neighbors as themselves (3:5). Malachi looks forward to the coming of the Messiah (3:1-3) and the day of the Lord when the wicked will be judged and righteousness restored. May our hope in Jesus' second coming and our reverence for God in daily life be strengthened through our study of Malachi.
HONOR THE LORD ALMIGHTY
1. "I have loved you," says the LORD (1-5)
Malachi's prophecy begins with the LORD's message, "I have loved you." However, the people doubted God's love. The LORD reminded his people that his love was demonstrated in his choice of Jacob over Esau. God chose Jacob and his descendants because of his one-sided love and sovereign choice. Over time, the descendants of Esau would be judged for their evil and pride. We cannot fully understand God's choice in love. But we can be certain that God loves us because of his word and promise in Jesus (1 Jn 4:10; Ro 5:8).
2. "For I am a great king" (6-14)
The people dishonored God and showed contempt for his name by offering diseased animals. Such animals couldn't be given to earthly governors who would certainly refuse them. How could they dare offer them to the LORD God Almighty, the greatest King? God desires that his name be honored everywhere in the world with pure offerings from a broken and contrite heart (Ps 51:17). This begins from those who are called by his name (2 Ch 7:14).
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your amazing love. Help me to honor you with offerings worthy of your name.
One Word: God's name will be great
