01 October

Bible In 365 Days

Malachi 1-4

Malachi 1

After the introductory word, which really constitutes the title page of the prophecy, the message begins almost abruptly with the tender and sensitive word of Jehovah to His people, "I have loved you." This is the real burden of the prophecy; everything is to be viewed in the light thereof.

Then the prophet, in an equally brief sentence, indicated the attitude of the people toward Jehovah. "Wherein hast Thou loved us?" The only possible explanation of such a question is that the people, conscious of the difference between their national position and their past greatness, and of the apparent failure of fuL6lment of the prophetic promises, questioned the love of Jehovah. This skeptical question the prophet answered by reminding them of Jehovah's love for Jacob and His hatred of Esau; of His destruction of Edom, and His deliverance of Israel.

Having thus made his fundamental statement, the prophet proceeded to utter his formal accusations. These fall into three groups, those against the priests, those against the people, and those against the nation in general.

Malachi 2

In dealing with the priests, he declared their corruption, and indicated the line of their punishment. He charged them with profanity, in that they had despised the name of Jehovah; with sacrilege, in that they had offered polluted bread on His altar; with greed, in that none of them was found willing to open the doors of His house for nought; and with weariness, in that they had "snuffed at" the whole system of worship as "a weariness."

In a study of these accusations against the priests it is most evident that they resented the charges against them, as the recurrence of the question, "Wherein?" shows. This makes it evident that the prophet was protesting against a formalism which was devoid of reality. He therefore uttered Jehovah's threatenings against the priests. Their blessings were to be cursed, and the punishment for their corruption would be the contempt of the people.

In this declaration occurs a passage full of beauty, describing the true ideal of the priesthood.

The prophet specifically charged the people with two sins, and in each case pronounced judgment on them. He introduced this charge by enunciating the principle of the common relationship of all to God as Father, and announcing the consequent sin of dealing treacherously with each other.

The first specific sin was the mixed marriages of the people. The second was the prevalence of divorce. Finally, the whole nation was charged with accommodating doctrine to the deterioration of conduct. While failing ethically, the people were saying that notwithstanding their evil doing, Jehovah delighted in the people, and they were inquiring skeptically, "Where is the God of judgment?"

Malachi 3

The last division of the Book contains the prophet's announcement of the coming of Messiah. It falls into three sections, one dealing with the coming One, one dealing with the Coming Day, and one uttering the closing words.

The prophet announced the advent of Jehovah's Messenger, describing His Person and the process of His administration, and finally declaring the principle of the unchangeableness of Jehovah.

He next appealed to the nation generally, calling the people, to return, and then making a twofold charge against them of robbery and of blasphemy. To each of these they responded kith the same inquiry, "Wherein?" and thus showed that like the priests, they were observing formalities of religion while being deficient in true spiritual life.

In all this widespread apostasy a remnant still remained loyal to Jehovah, whom the prophet described, and then addressed, declaring to them Jehovah's knowledge of them and determination concerning them.

Malachi 4

All this leads to his great declaration concerning the coming day. This day he described in its twofold effect. Toward the wicked it would be a day of burning and of destruction. Toward the righteous it would be a day of healing and of salvation.

The closing words of the prophet called on the people to remember the law of Moses, promised that a herald would come before the day of the Lord, and ended with a solemn suggestion of judgment.

So the word ends. Malachi's voice ceases. He had described the people's condition and told them of God's infinite love; and he makes this final announcement, that God is not abandoning them nor the world, that the day is coming when the Son will rise. He declares to them the different results produced on two conditions of life, and then with pathos in every tone of his voice he utters the divine words, "I will send you Elijah before that day, to turn your heart to the fathers, and the heart of the fathers to the children, lest God smite the earth with a curse."