July 26, 2024
The Message of the Book of Malachi
The Book of Malachi, the last book in the Old Testament, is a prophetic scripture that calls Israel to return to God and restore the reverence and faithfulness that their covenant with Him demands. The central message of the book can be summarized in several key themes:
1. God’s Love and Election:
Malachi begins by emphasizing God’s enduring love for Israel (Malachi 1:2-5). Despite the people’s doubts and questions, God reminds them that He has chosen and blessed them, in contrast to Esau and his descendants. This underscores that God’s love and faithfulness to Israel remain unchanged, even when the people have fallen into sin and unfaithfulness.
2. Criticism of the Priests and the People:
The book sharply criticizes the priests and the people for their disrespect and failure to keep God’s commandments (Malachi 1:6-2:9). The priests are criticized for offering inferior sacrifices and despising the altar. This lack of reverence and discipline reflects a deep spiritual crisis and alienation from God.
3. Call for Faithfulness in Marriage and Family:
Malachi emphasizes the importance of marital faithfulness and the role of the family as the fundamental unit of faith (Malachi 2:10-16). God hates divorce and unfaithfulness because they break the essence of the covenant. Faithfulness in marriage is portrayed as a reflection of faithfulness to God.
4. The Coming Day of the Lord:
Another central theme is the announcement of the coming Day of the Lord, a day of judgment and purification (Malachi 3:1-5; 4:1-6). Malachi prophesies the coming of a messenger who will prepare the way for the Lord. This announcement points to John the Baptist and ultimately to the coming of Jesus Christ. The Day of the Lord will be a day of refining for the righteous and a day of judgment for the wicked.
5. The Importance of Tithing:
Malachi calls the people to give God the full tithe and honor Him in this way (Malachi 3:8-12). Neglecting this duty is described as robbing God. God promises to bless those who faithfully give the tithe and to bless their nation.
6. Hope and Renewal:
The book concludes with a note of hope and renewal (Malachi 4:2-6). Those who fear and honor God are promised healing and righteousness. The return of the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful Day of the Lord is announced, pointing to future spiritual renewal and restoration.
Summary:
The message of the Book of Malachi is a call to repentance and a return to God. It emphasizes the need for reverence, faithfulness, and obedience to God and His commandments. It reminds Israel of God’s enduring love and faithfulness, calls them to take their spiritual responsibility seriously, and offers hope for redemption and renewal to those who remain faithful to God.
DAILY BIBLE READING – Malachi Chapter 1
1 The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.
2 I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob,
3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.
4 Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the Lord of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the Lord hath indignation for ever.
5 And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The Lord will be magnified from the border of Israel.
6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the Lord is contemptible.
8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts.
9 And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the Lord of hosts.
10 Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts.
12 But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the Lord is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.
13 Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the Lord.
14 But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.
King James Version. Public Domain
Commentary
God’s Love for Israel (Verses 1-5)
The Book of Malachi begins with a strong emphasis on God’s love for Israel. The Lord highlights His love by referring to the relationship between Jacob and Esau. God shows that He loves Jacob and hates Esau, which is evident in the destruction of Esau’s inheritance and land. This choice and distinction underscore the special grace that Israel receives. The message is clear: despite all difficulties and doubts about God’s love, Israel should recognize that God’s preference and protection surround them.
Contempt for God through Inferior Offerings (Verses 6-14)
Malachi criticizes the priests and the people of Israel for not giving God the honor He deserves. Instead of bringing pure and valuable offerings to God, they offer blind, lame, and sick animals. These inferior offerings demonstrate profound contempt and disrespect towards God. Malachi challenges them to rethink their offering practices by reminding them that they would never present such gifts to their earthly rulers.
In verse 10, God expresses His desire for the temple doors to be closed to prevent these worthless offerings. This shows how deeply God is disappointed with the quality and sincerity of the sacrifices.
God’s Name Among the Nations (Verse 11)
A remarkable aspect of this chapter is the prophecy that God’s name will be great among the nations. This points to a future time when people from all nations will recognize and worship the true God. It is a call to Israel to be aware of their responsibility and to set a worthy example for other nations.
Conclusion (Verses 12-14)
The chapter ends with a stern warning to those who bring deceitful and inferior offerings. God curses those who vow to offer something valuable but ultimately present an inferior sacrifice. These actions show not only disrespect but also deceit and fraud.
Malachi Chapter 1 calls Israel to self-reflection and reminds them that God is a great king who deserves respect and honor. By offering pure and sincere sacrifices, they should recognize and reflect God’s holiness and glory.
This message remains relevant today: it reminds us that our devotion to God should be sincere and honorable and that God deserves the honor due to Him through our lives and actions.
WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING – Ellen White | The Desire of Ages Chapter 49: At the Feast of Tabernacles
This chapter is based on John 7:1-15, 37-39.
Read online here
Commentary
The Feast of Tabernacles, as described in John 7, was a significant celebration in the Jewish calendar. Three times a year, the Jews were to gather in Jerusalem to worship the Lord, who had led them through the wilderness. After the Babylonian captivity, they were able to resume this practice, and it became very important to celebrate these memorial days. However, over time, the religious leaders had forgotten the original purpose of the festivals. Christ, who had instituted these festivals, recognized this and showed that they had lost their meaning.
The Feast of Tabernacles was the last of the annual festivals and was meant to remind Israel of God’s goodness and grace. During this time, the land was flooded with God’s blessings. The harvest had been gathered, olives had been harvested, and grapes had been pressed. For seven days, people from all parts of the land and from other countries came to Jerusalem to celebrate and thank God for His goodness. They lived in booths made of green branches to remember the tent life in the wilderness.
The festival was celebrated with spiritual songs and prayers of thanksgiving. The great Day of Atonement, which had been observed shortly before, had brought peace to the hearts and prepared the way for the joyful Feast of Tabernacles. The temple was the center of the celebrations, and the sacrificial ceremonies reached their peak. At night, artificial light illuminated the temple, and the splendor of the celebration deeply impressed those present.
A significant ritual during the festival was drawing water from the Pool of Siloam, which symbolized quenching the thirst of Israel in the wilderness. This symbolized the spiritual thirst that Christ intended to satisfy. When Jesus told his brothers that His time had not yet come, He showed that He was guided not by human expectations but by divine timing.
Jesus eventually came to Jerusalem in the middle of the feast and taught in the temple. His wisdom and knowledge of the law amazed everyone. Despite the hostility of the religious leaders, He spoke boldly and persuasively. On the last day of the feast, He cried out loudly: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink!” This was an invitation to satisfy spiritual thirst through faith in Him.
Jesus was aware of the needs of the people and offered to quench their inner thirst. His invitation still stands today: anyone who is thirsty can come to Him and take the water of life freely. His words offer comfort, hope, and refreshment to all who recognize Him as the true Messiah.
WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING – Ellen White | The Desire of Ages Chapter 50: Among Snares
This chapter is based on John 7:16-36, 40-53; John 8:1-11.
Read online here
Commentary
Based on John 7:16-36, 40-53, and John 8:1-11, this chapter describes the increasing hostility of the Jewish leaders towards Jesus. During the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, Jesus was constantly surrounded by priests and Pharisees who tried to trap him. They questioned his authority and attempted to discredit his teaching.
Jesus responded to them with the words: “My teaching is not mine, but His who sent me” (John 7:16). He made it clear that the ability to recognize the truth depends less on the mind and more on the heart. A person must be willing to submit their will to God to truly grasp the truth. The Pharisees lacked this willingness, which is why they could not understand his teaching.
Jesus revealed their evil intentions by exposing their thoughts and reminding them that they were breaking the law by plotting his death. Although they wanted to kill him, they were hindered by an invisible power. Many people began to believe in Jesus, but the religious leaders remained stubborn in their unbelief.
Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin, asked the question: “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” (John 7:51). This question silenced the accusers, and Jesus escaped immediate danger.
The next morning, Jesus was interrupted in the temple by scribes and Pharisees who brought a woman accused of adultery before him. They tried to trap Jesus: if he freed the woman, they could accuse him of disregarding the law; if he condemned her, they could report him to the Romans. But Jesus wisely responded by saying, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7). The accusers shamefully withdrew, and Jesus freed the woman and encouraged her to sin no more.
This episode shows the deep grace and mercy of Jesus. He did not condemn the woman but gave her a new chance. This stands in stark contrast to the religious leaders, who were only focused on condemnation and punishment. Jesus demonstrated that true justice is linked with mercy and forgiveness. His words and actions reveal that he came to save, not to condemn.
The story urges us not to judge but to show mercy and give others a second chance. It highlights the difference between a superficial, self-righteous religion and a genuine faith characterized by love. Jesus invites us to be his followers by reflecting his mercy and love in our lives.
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