Malachi
Malachi is the last book in the Old Testament, before the coming of Jesus Christ that we see read about in the chapters of the New Testament. It is the only prophetic book that ends in judgment. This is quite fitting as it shows the need for the coming Messiah that John the Baptist prepare the way for 400 years later.
Malachi refers to the sending of the prophet Elijah to ‘turn the hearts of fathers to their children and turn the hearts of children to their fathers’ (4:5-6). This is a clear message of restoration brought by Elijah who throughout scripture is paralleled and compared to John the Baptist. The message of Malachi is one that points to the coming of Jesus Christ and the gospel of the Kingdom that he will announce to the world as part of God’s ultimate intention and plan of restoration.
Background
Many scholars and commentators believe that the book was written between 475-450 BC when Jerusalem was under the rule of the Persian governor. Israel was plagued with feelings of insignificance and external hostilities. The lack of success in the light of the promised prophecies (Haggai 2:6-9, 20-23; Zechariah 8:1-13) led to discouragement (Malachi 3:6-12) so that God’s people began to question the need to serve God. Due to this scepticism and doubt, Israel once again lapsed into many of the same sins that led to her first captivity. Many of these internal problems are specifically addressed in the book of Malachi:
- Corrupt priests (1:6-2:9)
- Mixed marriage (2:11-15)
- Divorce (2:16)
- Social injustice (3:5)
- Neglecting tithes and offerings (3:8-10)
Against this dismal setting Malachi came as God’s messenger with God’s Word. The name ‘Malachi’ literally means ‘Messenger of the Lord.
A Covenant-Keeping God
Despite Israel’s unfaithfulness, God always remembers and keeps his covenant. This book is a vivid encounter between God and his covenant people — 47 of the 55 verses in the book are addressed to Israel in the first person. It is no dictatorial edict, but a loving God calling his people to a higher standard of holy living.
The message is one that calls God’s people to a better way of life that is submitted to his Lordship. Malachi reveals a God who blesses obedience and it includes the one instance in the whole of Scripture where we are permitted and allowed to test God.
“Throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it” (Malachi 3:10)
This passage reveals the Kingdom principle of sowing and reaping that we see throughout Scripture. The book of Malachi calls God’s church to faith trust in God’s wonderful covenant provision in Christ.
Throughout the prophetic books in the Old Testament, we see the truth that covenant has not only to be outworked in relationship to God, but with one another in the community of faith - God’s Church. Malachi speaks of this at various points to challenge God’s people in the areas of marriage, parenting and in how we talk with each other. This last quality is beautifully portrayed in the words:
“Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard” (Malachi 3:16)
Malachi calls God’s people to raise their eyes to the throne of God and to regard him with awe, reverence and holy fear. From this healthy position of faith, God promises to bless his people abundantly, and to see them come into the fulness of all that God has for his people.
A People of Declaration
The early part of the book encourages and provokes God’s people to bring an offering and sacrifice of worship that pleases and honours God. Today, we are called to do the same. Our daily lives should be a continual act of worship in all that we say, act and do.
A People of Devotion
Throughout the book of Malachi, we see the message of covenant coming through in the words that God brings to his people. God longs for his people to be those who have an ‘undivided’ heart, and follow his word and his precepts with a Kingdom devotion and discipline. We are called to be those who live and outwork the values of biblical covenant, both with God and with one another. In all kinds of ways, including in our handling of finance, in our worship or in the area of marriage and parenting, we are called to be a people of devotion.
A People of Distinction
The end of the book brings a message that God will make a distinction between those who are righteous and those that are wicked. God is totally against mixture; he cannot abide anything that is impure in his Kingdom. The people of God are called to be distinctive in their practical application of God’s word.
This background was written by Gavin White who is an elder at King’s Church, Manchester
You can visit his blog at www.gavinwhite.blogspot.com