Malachi - The Dead Faith of Formalism

Author: The prophet Malachi (Mal. 1:1). His name means “my angel/messenger.” This name is not used anywhere else in the OT. Some scholars debate whether this was a proper name or a title. Regardless, the name/title is certainly a play on the role of God’s messenger to come (2:7, 3:1).

Date: Sometime after the temple was completed (515bc) and perhaps into the administration of Nehemiah (started 445bc)

Message: Malachi delivered his message in a time of waiting for Israel. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah had encouraged the people to finish the Temple, but the grand prophecies regarding the restoration of the nation and its returning glory had not taken place. God’s plan of restoration had seemingly been abandoned or stalled. Unknown to the nation, they would soon enter a silent period of 400 years of turmoil without God’s voice. During this time, their reinstituted religion had become outward focused and empty. They went through the motions of God’s law requirements but lacked devotion from the heart. This threatened their covenant relationship with the LORD. God sent Malachi with a message of repentance. He wanted Israel to turn back to Him with their whole hearts in preparation for the entrance of God’s servant who will enact God’s promised plan.

Outline

NIV Application Commentary

Heading (1:1)

First Dispute: To You (1:2–5)

Israel, Not Edom (1:2–3)

God Dialogs with Edom (1:4–5)

Second Dispute: To You, Priests (1:6–2:9)

Problem Sacrifices (1:6–14)

Cursed Priests (2:1–9)

Third Dispute: We Are Unfaithful (2:10–16)

Fourth Dispute: Coming Messenger (2:17–3:5)

Fifth Dispute: God Spurned (3:6–12)

Sixth Dispute: God’s Mercy (3:13–4:6)

God’s First Dispute - His Faithful Love (1:2-5)

God declares His love for Israel, but they respond by questioning His love for them.

Why might the Israelites in this moment in their history doubt God’s love for them?

What does God point to in order to prove His love?

What was the relationship between Jacob and Esau? Did one deserve God’s blessing more than the other? How does God’s treatment of Jacob and his descendants help characterize God’s love? How does this affect our understanding of the statement “God is Love.”

God’s Second Dispute - Their Unfaithful Worship (1:6-2:9)

Their Dishonoring Sacrifices (1:6-14)

God rebukes Israel for dishonoring Him and despised His name. His name is significant. It carries His character and even relationship with Israel. They were to be a people known for being YHWH’s people who served Him. Their failures to worship God correctly defamed YHWH as the righteous God deserving true worship.

God illustrates their failure by noting that fathers and masters are honored. How much more should they honor God?

But the priests, the spiritual leaders themselves, are ignorant of their sin - asking “How have we despised your name?” and “How have we defiled you?” They had defiled the sacrifice by offering defiled, blemished, unacceptable animals for sacrifice.

Why are these defiled sacrifices such a big deal?

It is explicitly against God’s commands in the Law (Ex. 12:5; 29:1; Lev 1:3; 22:21-22; Num 19:2; Deut 15:21; 17:1)

It devalues God and His worth. (Think about the command to honor father and mother)

It destroys the image and reality which the sacrifices were to portray - the necessity of a perfect sacrifice to atone for sin - fulfilled in Jesus.

1:10 - It is better for the worship of God to be stopped, than for dishonoring, false worship to continue.

1:11 - If God’s name will not be valued by His chosen people, then He will make his name great among the gentile, pagan nations. God does not need their empty worship. God doesn’t need the temple. He will have incense offered to Him throughout the world. (John 4:21-24)

God’s Curse on the Sinful Priests (2:1-9)

Their Infidelity (2:10-16)

God rebukes Israel for infidelity and foreign intermarriage. In breaking the covenants they made with their Israelite wives, they are breaking their joint covenant with God. God hates this type of covenant breaking because it is opposite to God’s faithful character.

This section does contain some verses which are difficult to translate and interpret. Opinions can vary on the exact meaning of Malachi’s speech.

2:10-12. God notes the covenant bonds all Israelites share with their Father and Creator, God. Judah has broken covenant with one another by marrying foreign wives. This is not ethnically focused as much as religious.

2:13-16. They made a great show of outward piety and repentance, but God had rejected their offerings because their personal lives demonstrated spiritual hypocrisy. Many Israelites were either divorcing or neglecting the “wives of their youth,” presumably to pursue younger women. This was breaking the covenants they had made of which God oversaw. Verse 15 notes that in a marriage God makes two become one (Gen 1-2). For this reason God hates divorce because it separates that which God joined. It is a violent covenant breaking.

God’s Coming Messenger of the Covenant - To Purify Israel (2:17-3:5)

2:17 - God again begins with a statement of rebuke which Israel questions. They have wearied God by claiming evil doers are the delight of God and questioning God’s justice. (We cannot question God’s justice if we refuse to enact justice in our own lives)

3:1 - God promises that He is acting. Soon He will appear Himself with His preceding Him. The messenger of the covenant.

3:2-3. This messenger will refine and purify Levi (the priests) through through judgment and fire. The launders soap is probably an alkali for bleaching.

3:4-5. Their sacrifices will be pleasing to God and all evil doers will be judged.

Israel Has Robbed God (3:6-12)

3:6-7. God’s faithfulness to His covenant, His loyal love (mercy) is the reason Israel has not been consumed. Still he offers restoration if they will repent.

3:8-9. Once again the familiar rebuke with to a questioning Israel. They have robbed God by withholding their prescribed tithes and offerings which were to demonstrate their thankfulness and trust in God.

3:10-12. God commands them to test His blessing. If they would obey God, according to the covenant, He would bless them. By refusing the pay the tithes they were demonstrating they did not trust God to provide.

The Coming Day of the LORD - God’s Judgment and Mercy (3:13-4:6)

3:13-15. Israel condemned for condemning God. They have declared that serving God. Those who serve Him receive grief and mourning while the arrogant and wicked succeed.

3:16-18. God is not blind or ignorant. Those who feared God wrote a book of remembrance, of the covenant and law, so they could meditate on God. And God remembers them as His jewels.

4:1-6. The Great Day of the LORD is coming. In that day those who are proud and wicked will be burned up in judgment. They have not escaped justice.

But to those who fear God, the “Sun of Righteousness” will rise with healing in His wings. (Hark the Herald Angels Sing references this prophecy).

The prophet Elijah will appear before this coming day of judgment/restoration to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers - that the new generation might believe like the past generations. (See Luke 1)

Conclusion:

An external religion that lacks a heart of love and devotion is a sin against God. What is the greatest commandment? Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And the second? Love your neighbor as yourself. God demands more than external submission.

God rebukes their infidelity, their ingratitude, their selfishness, and their doubt. We must not be like them in these things. But more importantly we must recognize that the fulfillment of the Law and the perfect sacrifice will not be found in us. You cannot earn God’s favor. Rather Jesus is the one who will fulfill and keep God’s requirements.

We are called to offer the sacrifice of praise (Heb 13:15) and our own selves in service to God (Rom 12:1). We are to live worthily with those who have been joined together in Christ (Eph 4-6).

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