48 The Last Prophetic Words [Malachi 1–4]
The Bible passage: [Malachi 1–4]
The Story:
The Lord spoke to Israel through Malachi:
“I have loved you,” says the Lord.
But you ask, “How have You loved us?”
The Lord declared, “Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother? I loved Jacob and turned my back on Esau. You will see this with your own eyes, and you will say: The Lord is great, even beyond the borders of Israel.”
“Where is your respect of Me?” says the Lord of Hosts to the priests, “Why do you despise My name.”
Yet you ask, “How have we despised Your name?”
The Lord says, “You present damaged and defective animals as sacrifices. If you brought that to the governor, would he be pleased with it?”
Judah has been unfaithful. You have rebuilt the temple, but you give yourself to other gods.
You expect the Lord to accept your offerings, but there is no purity in your sacrifice because you have been an unfaithful bride.
God made you and gave you the breath of life. And what does He want in return? He wants Godly offspring. Watch yourselves carefully and do not act unfaithfully toward Him.
You have worn out the Lord with your words. And you ask, “How have we worn Him out?” When you say, “Everyone who does evil is good in the Lord’s sight, and He is pleased with them.”
“Look, I am going to send My messenger before me. He will make a clear path for me. The Lord you seek will come suddenly to His temple. Look, He is coming,” says the Lord of Hosts.
Who can endure His coming? Who can stand when He appears? He will be like a refiner’s fire: separating the pure silver from the impurities that have gotten in. He will purify the priests and Levites and they will be righteous when they present their offerings to the Lord. The offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord, just as they were in the old days.
“I will come in judgment. I will witness against sorcerers and adulterers; against those who swear falsely; against those who oppress widows and orphans; against those who cheat the workers out of their wages; against those who refuse to give justice to the foreigner. People like that don’t respect and fear Me,” says the Lord of Hosts.
“You descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed because I, Yahweh, don’t change. Since the days of your fathers, you have not kept My laws. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Hosts.
But you ask: “How can we return?”
“Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me!”, declares the Lord.
You ask: “How do we rob You?”
“You don’t bring your tithes and contributions to My house. The whole nation is robbing Me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse so that there can be food in My house. Test Me in this way,” says the Lord of Hosts. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure. All the nations will consider you fortunate,” says the Lord of Hosts.
“Your words against Me are harsh,” says the Lord.
You ask: “What have we spoken against You?”
You have said: “Serving God is useless. What have we gained by keeping His requirements? Not only do those who commit wickedness prosper, they even test God and get away with it.”
At that time those who revered the Lord got together and wrote a book of remembrance for those who feared Yahweh and had high regard for His name.
“They will be My special possession on the day I am preparing,” says the Lord of Hosts. “I will have compassion on them. You will see the difference between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.”
“Indeed, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when everyone who commits wickedness will become stubble. The coming day will consume them, not leaving them roots or branches.
“But for those who have reverence for My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. You will trample the wicked. They will be ashes under your feet on the day I am preparing,” says the Lord of Hosts.
“Remember the statutes and ordinances that I gave to Moses for all Israel. Look, I am going to send Elijah the prophet before that great and awesome Day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.”
The Lessons:
- In this passage, God says, “I don’t change.” I gave you the term “immutable“ in 11 Exploring Canaan.
- The prophet reminded the people of Judah a number of God’s important principles. After reminding them to be faithful to God, a period of silence from God began. God didn’t speak directly to His people and He didn’t send any more prophets. This quiet period lasted for about 400 years.
Next: 49 The Pre-existence of Christ [John 1:1-18]
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