MALACHI SUMMARIES
Author: Malachi 1:1identifies the author of the Book of Malachi as the Prophet Malachi.
Date of Writing:The Book of Malachi was written between 440 and 400 B.C.
Purpose of Writing:The Book of Malachi is an oracle: The word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi (1:1). This was God's warning through Malachi to tell the people to turn back to God. As the final book of the Old Testament closes, the pronouncement of God's justice and the promise of His restoration through the coming Messiah is ringing in the ears of the Israelites. Four hundred years of silence ensues, ending with a similar message from God's next prophet, John the Baptist, proclaiming, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matthew 3:2).
Key Verses: Malachi 1:6, "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me? says the Lord Almighty. It is you, O priests, who show contempt for my name."
Malachi 3:6-7, "I the Lord do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord Almighty."
Brief Summary: Malachi wrote the words of the Lord to God's chosen people who had gone astray, especially the priests who had turned from the Lord. Priests were not treating the sacrifices they were to make to God seriously. Animals with blemishes were being sacrificed even though the law demanded animals without defect (Deuteronomy 15:21). The men of Judah were dealing with the wives of their youth treacherously and wondering why God would not accept their sacrifices. Also, people were not tithing as they should have been (Leviticus 27:30,32). But in spite of the people's sin and turning away from God, Malachi reiterates God's love for His people (Malachi 1:1-5) and His promises of a coming Messenger (Malachi 2:17-3:5).
Foreshadowings: Malachi 3:1-6is a prophecy concerning John the Baptist. He was the Messenger of the Lord sent to prepare the way (Matthew 11:10) for the Messiah, Jesus Christ. John preached repentance and baptized in the name of the Lord, thus preparing the way for Jesus' first advent. But the Messenger who comes "suddenly to the Temple" is Christ Himself in His second advent when He comes in power and might (Matthew 24). At that time, He will "purify the sons of Levi" (v. 3), meaning that those who exemplified the Mosaic Law would themselves need purification from sin through the blood of the Savior. Only then will they be able to offer "an offering in righteousness" because it will be the righteousness of Christ imputed to them through faith (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Practical Application: God is not pleased when we do not obey His commands. He will repay those who disregard Him. As for God hating divorce (2:16), God takes the covenant of marriage seriously and He does not want it broken. We are to stay true to the spouse of our youth for a lifetime. God sees our hearts, so He knows what our intentions are; nothing can be hidden from Him. He will return and He will be the judge. But if we return to Him, He will return to us (Malachi 3:6).
Malachi
Who wrote the book?
The final book of the Old Testament, Malachi received its name from its author (Malachi 1:1). In Hebrew, the name comes from a word meaning "messenger," which points to Malachi's role as a prophet of the Lord, delivering God's message to God's people.1 Malachi offered no other identifying information about himself, leaving out markers typical of other prophets such as his father's name or the current leader of Israel.
However, based on the content of the book, it becomes clear that Malachi delivered his message of judgment to a Judean audience familiar with worshipping at the temple in Jerusalem (2:11). The people of Judah had turned away from the true worship of the Lord, leaving themselves under judgment and in need of salvation.
Where are we?
Malachi certainly wrote to the people of Judah (Malachi 1:1; 2:11), but the historical setting becomes clearer in Malachi 1:8. Here the prophet used the Persian word for governor, indicating a time period between 538-333 BC, when the Persian Empire ruled the Promised Land. Malachi also wrote about the corruption of the temple sacrifices, meaning that he likely delivered his message many years after the Israelites rebuilt the temple in 515 BC. The prophet's concerns mirror those of Nehemiah's, suggesting that Malachi prophesied to the people while Nehemiah left the city for several years, beginning in 432 BC (Nehemiah 13:6).
Why is Malachi so important?
Malachi's unique position as the final book of the Old Testament offers a glimpse into the hearts of Israelite men and women, members of a nation that had been specially chosen by God, descendents of Abraham, and inheritors of the rich tradition of the Jewish people. Their history told of glories like the exodus from Egypt and the faithfulness of God to King David. But they had also experienced the judgment of wandering in the desert and the shame of exile from the Promised Land.
At the time of Malachi, well over a thousand years after Abraham's era, the Israelites had the advantage and weight of history on their side; they could see the shining rewards of faithfulness and the punishments associated with judgment, even to the point of being uprooted from their land. But even then, with all that perspective, the book of Malachi teaches us that they still strayed from the Lord's path. They needed God's intervention as much as ever, so this book, as a final statement of judgment in the Old Testament, anticipates God's saving work through the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
What's the big idea?
The people of Judah began to be exiled from the Promised Land in 605 BC, returning from Babylon seventy years later. By the time of Malachi, they had been back in the land for more than a hundred years and were looking for the blessings they expected to receive when they returned. Though the temple had been rebuilt, the fervor of those early returning Israelites gave way to a thorough apathy for the things of God. This led to rampant corruption among the priesthood and a spiritual lethargy among the people.
Malachi came along at a time when the people were struggling to believe that God loved them (Malachi 1:2). The people focused on their unfortunate circumstances and refused to account for their own sinful deeds. So God pointed the finger back at them, and through Malachi, God told the people where they had fallen short of their covenant with Him. If they hoped to see changes, they needed to take responsibility for their own actions and serve God faithfully according to the promise their fathers had made to God on Mount Sinai all those years before.
How do I apply this?
Throughout Israel's history, the nation failed and God called His people back to Himself. Each time, Israel would fail again, prompting the cycle to begin again. God's final word of the Old Testament concerns judgment for sin and testifies to our inability to love Him without the help of His grace.
Do you struggle to follow God consistently? Malachi's call prompts us to live faithfully before God and offers hope that God is not yet through with extending mercy to His people (Malachi 3:1; 4:2, 5-6).
STEDMAN MALACHI INTRODUCTION: Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, is separated from the book of Matthew by a silent period of more than 400 years, and yet, these two books tie together in a remarkable way. Historically, there was a long, long time when no voice spoke for God, no prophet came to Israel. There were no scriptures being written. There was no encouragement from God. The heavens were silent. Still, history was going on, and remarkable things were taking place in Israel and among the Jews. New institutions were being formed that appear in the opening of the New Testament, but none of this is recorded for us in the sacred history. Malachi is the last of the Minor Prophets and the last prophetic voice to speak to Israel.
The last three books of the Old Testament -- Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi -- were all written after the return of the Israelites from their captivity in Babylon. The people did not come back from Babylon in one great big happy throng. There was a straggling return in two or three groups, the first one beginning in about 535 B.C. At that time, a handful of Jews fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah that the captivity would last for 70 years and they came back to the desolated, stricken city of Jerusalem. There they began to lay the foundations of the temple and it was Haggai's ministry fifteen years later to stir them up to continue that work and carry it through. The temple was completed during Zechariah's ministry and Ezra the priest then led another group back from Babylon.
The people had changed their entire way of life by that time. While they were in Israel before the captivity, they had been sheep keepers, for the most part. But in Babylon they learned to be shopkeepers, and they have been merchants and shopkeepers ever since. So Ezra led this group back and again they had difficulties which are recorded in the historical book of Ezra.
Finally, the last return was accomplished under Nehemiah who in 445 B.C. led a group back to begin the laying of the walls of Jerusalem. The fascinating book of Nehemiah records the exciting experience of building the walls once again. Shortly after Nehemiah finished this task, Malachi appears, and it is interesting to compare the book of Nehemiah with the book of Malachi. Nehemiah is the conclusion of the historical section of the Old Testament which begins with Genesis. That is all history. Following Nehemiah are the poetic books, and then the prophetic books; in Malachi we come into the same period as is covered by Nehemiah.
This prophecy of Malachi was given by a man whose name means "my messenger." It is most suggestive that this last book of our Old Testament centers around the theme of a messenger of God and a prediction of the coming of another messenger. In this, therefore, we have a direct tie between Malachi and the New Testament. Chapter 3, for instance, begins with this prophecy:
"Behold, I send my messenger[in Hebrew that would be "Behold, I send Malachi"]to prepare the way before me..." (Malachi 3:1a RSV)
And as you discover in the book of Matthew, that messenger was John the Baptist. He came to prepare the way of the Lord and to announce the coming of the second messenger from God. That second messenger is here in this prophecy in the next phrase:
"...and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant..." (Malachi 3:1b RSV)
It was the work of the Lord Jesus on the closing night of his ministry to take wine and bread with his disciples and holding the cup up to say, "This is my blood of the [new] covenant." (Matthew 26:28) The messenger of the covenant is the Lord Jesus himself.
"...in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap.[That is, 'he burns and he cleanses.'] He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till they present right offerings to the LORD." (Malachi 3:1c-3 RSV)
Malachi Summary
by Jay Smith
Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament and is a book of Prophetic Oracle. It is a post-exilic book, meaning it was written after the return from captivity in Babylon. The prophet Malachi wrote it approximately 430 B.C. Key personalities include Malachi and the priests. The purpose of this book is that Malachi wrote to ensure that the hearts of the Jews was right and that they were keeping God first in their lives.
• In chapters 1-3, Malachi identified the sins of the Jews, including their priests.
He prophesied that God would send a messenger to prepare the way (this is John the Baptist), "Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear 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" (3:1). Finally, he addressed the topic of tithes and offering and that God is stolen from when people disobey it.
• In chapter 4, the last chapter of the Old Testament, Malachi addressed, "the great and terrible day of the Lord" (vs. 5). He teaches about the coming judgment when God will set them ablaze in His holy anger. He also gives hope to the faithful with the Book of Remembrance. Those who do the will of God and are righteous will be spared.
Malachi, the last book of the Bible, ends very differently than it began in the book of Genesis. Let us compare them:
Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." This was a beautiful and perfect relationship with God.
Malachi 4:6, "He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse."
Consider the large contrast between the very first verse and the very last verse. Afterward, consider that "the sin of mankind" made all the difference. The Old Testament begins with the magnificent power of God's creation and ends with fear and separation from God and in need of a Savior. The Old Testament closes with a sad dreary clunk...
Bible Survey - Malachi
Hebrew Name - Malakiy "My Messenger"
Greek Name - Malakoi (Greek form of the Hebrew)
Author - Malachi (According to Tradition)
Date - 400 BC Approximately
Theme - Final Message to Rebellious Israel
Types and Shadows - In Malachi Jesus will come to His Temple
Summary of The Book of Malachi
Quick Overview of Malachi. - - 1:1-5 - - God's love for Israel - - 1:6-2:9 - - Oracle against the priests - - 2:10-4:3 - - Oracle against the people - - 4:4-6 - - God's final warning.
Malachi prophesied sometime near the end of the fifth century BC during the time with the Persian Empire ruled the world. The Temple in Jerusalem was rebuilt and many Jews had returned to the land of Israel but they had neglected the things of God. They were skimping on their sacrifices and failing to give their tithes, and the priests of God did nothing to encourage them. There were mixed marriages and divorce had become a common practice, and Malachi came to stir the people up. He told them not to neglect the things of God if they ever expect to prosper, and they need to repent right now in order for God to bless them. Malachi also speaks of the coming day of the Lord, but the prophet Elijah would come first, he will be a forerunner to the Messiah and then the Messiah would come. In the New Testament Elijah is identified as John the Baptist who was the forerunner for Jesus Christ (Matthew 3:1-12 and Matthew 11:14). The Book of Malachi closes the Old Testament and there was not another prophet in the land of Israel for nearly 400 years until John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness.
The exact time in which the prophet Malachi began his ministry's uncertain, but from his references to the Temple and the priests it it is safe to say that it was after the return of the Jews from captivity and after the Temple had been rebuilt. There is nothing else known Malachi other than the words that he wrote in this book. The Jews have returned from captivity, they became lazy in the things of God and the Prophets Haggai and Zechariah stirred them up and they rebuilt the Temple and the wall of Jerusalem was restored. But the people were still forgetful of God and his promises, they lost the enthusiasm about all the glorious things that God had promised he was going to do and then they became skeptical and they neglected their spiritual duties. they were offering him perfect sacrifices and failed to give tithes to God. The priests were unconcerned and did nothing to encourage the people. there were mixed marriages with foreigners and divorce had become common. Soon there were more problems in the land, there was drought, and crop failure, there was opposition from various enemies and life had become exceedingly more difficult.
The heart of Malachi's prophecy was to drive home the point that God loves them, but they need to remember his commandments if they were ever going to prosper. If they would repent God will bless them. Then Malachi reminds them of the coming Day of the Lord, which will be introduced by a forerunner and afterward the Messiah, the Lord will suddenly come to his Temple.
"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, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," says the LORD of hosts. Malachi 3:1
The book of Malachi closes the ministry of the prophets. The religious leaders, priests and scribes, became more zealous for expounding on the word of God, so much so that by the time of Christ their commentaries and traditions had prevented them from seeing the promises of God happening before their very eyes. John the Baptist came as the fulfillment of the prophecy about Elijah preparing the way for the Messiah. Then the Messiah, God himself came to His Temple veiled in human flesh and only a select few were there to worship Him. He entered the Eastern Gate of the Temple on a donkey, as prophesied by Zechariah, and the Jewish leaders were jealous of Him and put Him to death, but death could not hold Him and He rose again and is Savior to all who receive Him.
"Behold He is Coming"
Malachi's famous words "behold He is coming" is the prophetic cry that began in the first book of the Bible, and the message continued all the way to the end. God is faithful to his promises and this is what the prophets declared.
Outline of the Book of Malachi
The contents of the book may be analyzed further as follows:
Malachi 1:1-2 God's declaration of His love for Israel
Malachi 1:3-5 God's hatred for Esau and the Edomites
Malachi 1:6-14 The unrepentant priests
Malachi 2:1-9 God's punishment on the unrepentant priests
Malachi 2:10-16 First oracle against the people
Malachi 2:17 Second oracle against the people
Malachi 3:1-6 The prophecy of the Messiah and His forerunner
Malachi 3:7-12 Third Oracle: The people's sin of robbing God
Malachi 3:13-4:3 Fourth Oracle: The people's sin of speaking against the Lord
Malachi 4:4-6 The priests and people are warned
