zMalachi:

The Messenger

zHistorical Look:

Terms to know:

Pre-Exile = The time before Babylonian Captivity 586bc

Exile/Captivity = 70 years from 586 bc –516 bc

Post-Exile = After 538 bc when Cyrus let the Israelites

return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple

Malachi written sometime between 515 bc –445 bc. The

chart shows it was written around 460 bc. Written

approximately 100 years after the new Temple was

built.

Malachi means Messenger. An individual? Or general?

zNothing new! Attitude same as before captivity!

6 Discussions between God and Israel’s leaders and people:

#1. (1:1-5) God said, “I have loved you!” but the people said,

“How?”… God reminded them – they chose disobedience

#2. (1:6-14) God said, “You have despised Me and defile the

Temple!” but the people asked, “How?” God said, “you

offered me unclean sacrifices!”

(Priests’ calling defined: (V7) “For the lips/hands of the Priests

ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of

the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from him…”)

#3. (2:1-16) God said, “You turned against Me and your

wives!” They responded, “How?”. God replied, “You

married foreign women after divorcing the wives of your

youth and you worshipped the gods/idols your foreign

wives brought with them!”

There was an attitude of careless divorce –no reason –

lust for the foreign women and lust for their gods… always

looking/seeking “something better”…God not enough …

their first wife – not enough… no thrill in responsibility!

These divorces were a betrayal of the covenants they

made with God – they chose “self” and not commitment!

#4. (2:17-3:5) People said, “You (God) have neglected

us! Where is Your justice!” God responds, “I will send a

Messenger and He will come like a purifying fire…only the

faithful remnant will live!” (faithful obedient believers)

#5. (3:6-12) God calls, “Turn back to Me”. People asks,

“How?”. God reveals their selfishness and says they are

robbing/stealing from Him –not tithing and no offerings

Tithe: 1/10th of your income –net or gross is not the point!!!

Are you giving 1/10th of His blessings back to Him? (Lev.

27:30) (I Cor, Paul talks about ‘not muzzling the ox’

Offerings – giving above your tithe… “Just because”

#6. (3:13-18) People accuse God, “It is worthless

to serve You! The wicked get rich and the

righteous are oppressed! You, God, do nothing!”

God tells them how to remain faithful –gather

together and remind each other of how He

answered prayer and tell stories of how He has

blessed them…reflect on the past blessings to

give hope for tomorrow’s blessings. *He is the

same yesterday, today, and forever!

zConclusion: Chapter 4

God reminds them of the Messenger’s coming – the

hope for the remnant –the faithful obedient believers.

“Remember My Laws” – Torah and remember the

words of the prophets (Elijah = model of prophets)

The Messenger will unite the words of the Torah and

prophets. He will redeem Israel, restore His people and

heal their hearts.

What do we see…

#1. Without Jesus –people do not

change…

#2. We need to learn His Word to

discipline our heart’s wandering…

#3. Tithing is an act of obedience

and worship –not a demand for

salvation –but an act of obedience

and worship

#4. He is a redeeming God Who

loves us!