MALACHI
Malachi delivers God’s final prophetic message to Israel about 100 years after the exile in Babylon. Despite being back in Jerusalem, things are not going well for the Israelites. Although they have experienced many blessings, they have forgotten that God’s covenant requires their obedience.
The new generation has repeated the pattern of the previous generations, falling into the same rebellion as their ancestors. Malachi records disputes between God and His people during a time of doubt and confusion.
God confronts the Israelite’s corruption, faithlessness, and empty worship. The priests offer defiled sacrifices, the people break their vows, and they withhold offerings to the temple. They question God’s justice, wanting their enemies punished while ignoring their own wrongdoing.
Despite their rebellion, Malachi offers a message of hope God promises to refine His people, judge the rebellious, and restore the faithful. The book concludes with a call to remember the law, follow God, and anticipate a time of justice and redemption.
-
God’s love and faithfulness
The coming of a messenger
The importance of a personal relationship with God
The need for true worship
-
Malachi
Priests
John the Baptist
Jesus
Elijah
-
Author: Malachi
Date: 440-400 BC
Intended Audience: The post-exilic Israelites
MALACHI 1
GOD LOVES THE ISRAELITES DESPITE THEIR REBELLION
Through the prophet Malachi, God reassures the Israelites of His love for them. In response, the Israelites question God’s love, asking for the ways God has expressed His love. Because they have not seen God’s provision in the ways they have desired, they question God’s goodness and love for them.
God reminds the Israelites that He chose them as His people, referencing the rivalry between two brothers, Jacob and Esau (see Genesis 25–27). Jacob’s ancestors became the Israelites, God’s adopted people, but the descendants of Esau became the Edomites, one of Israel's greatest enemies. God declares that He loves His chosen people and hates those who oppose them.
God accuses the Israelite priests of disdain towards Him and He rebukes their defective, meaningless sacrifices. Instead of offering spotless animals, as required in Leviticus 22, they present blemished and worthless offerings. This law, and the Israelites failure to obey, points to the need for a savior—Jesus, a sinless, perfect lamb.
MALACHI 2
GOD CONFRONTS THE ISRAELITES FOR THEIR FAITHLESSNESS
God continues to question the integrity of the Israelite priests, reminding them how far they have deviated from Levi, the ancestor of the Levites, the priestly line of Israelites. Levi lived righteously and had reverence for God. Instead of following Levi’s example and following God’s law, the current generation of Israelites show partiality to their own instruction and act of their own accord.
Malachi confronts the men of Jerusalem about their disloyalty against both God and their wives, pointing to the spiritual unfaithfulness of the Israelites. God rebukes the people for marrying women of other religions and taking false gods as their own. God speaks against infidelity and divorce, acknowledging both the relational and spiritual brokenness in Israel.
MALACHI 3
GOD DESIRES FOR THE ISRAELITES TO FOLLOW HIS LAW + LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY
The Israelites question God’s justice system, wanting their sins to be ignored, but their enemies’ sin to be punished. Seeing their enemies thrive leads them to believe that God has neglected them and abandoned justice. In response, God promises to send a messenger to prepare the way for His coming judgment, a process of refinement and purification. In Luke 7, John the Baptist is identified as this messenger by referencing Malachi 3:1. God wants to refine His people for their redemption and His glory!
God desires for the Israelites to return to their covenant and follow the law. God confronts the selfishness of the Israelites, reminding them they have not offered a tithe or offering. God promises to meet all of their needs and bless them if they return to faithfulness and generosity.
God will remember the faithful remnant and add their names to a scroll of remembrance. When God’s judgment comes, those who love God and live righteously will be distinguished.
Malachi 3:1 - Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
MALACHI 4
GOD HAS PLANS TO REFINE + RESTORE HIS PEOPLE
God warns His people that the Day of the Lord, a time of God’s divine judgment and justice, will occur. Those who are evil will be set ablaze, reduced to nothing but ashes. For the righteous people who love God, there is hope for an appointed day of purification and refinement. Instead of a fire that brings death, they will experience a sun that brings growth. For the faithful remnant of people, God’s judgment is seen as healing instead of threatening.
Looking back upon the Law of Moses, Malachi encourages the Israelites to follow God’s law. Looking forward, Malachi tells of God’s promise to send the prophet Elijah before God’s arrival. Although some interpretations of this scripture believe in the literal return of Elijah, many believe that this is foreshadowing to John the Baptist, a representation of the prophet Elijah, who will prepare the people for the arrival of Jesus.
Moses is known for delivering God’s law to the Israelites and Elijah was a great prophet who told of the coming of Jesus. These two men exemplify the main messages of the Old Testament, the law, and the prophets, and they point to Jesus—the ultimate fulfillment of both the Law and the Prophets.
Despite the sinful nature of the Israelites, God has plans to restore their hearts and redeem His people. These final verses point to the promise of a new covenant and a new prophet, summarizing the message of the prophets and God’s pursuit of His people throughout the Old Testament.