Reading the Bible together – Malachi
August 2020
– The book we are reading this month is the book of Malachi, which is the last book of the Old Testament.
This will be the 65th book of the Bible we will have read, since commencing this initiative over four years ago in October 2015. (We have actually read Matthew and Joshua twice!) . There are a total of 66 books in the Bible, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Only 1 more to go and we will have read the whole Bible together!
We may not be able to review this book in the usual way during the coronavirus lockdown. However, this does not stop us from continuing to read the Bible together and to benefit from our own personal study of this book.
Introduction to the Book of Malachi
Malachi 3:1 – Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
Malachi 4:5-6 – Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
A Brief Overview
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
Overview
- Chapter 1:1-5 – God’s love for Israel.
- Chapter 1:6 to 2:9 -17 – Oracle against the priests.
- Chapter 2:10 to 4:3 – Oracle against the people.
- Chapter 4:4-6 – God’s final warning.
The exact time in which the prophet Malachi began his ministry’s uncertain, but from his references to the Temple and the priests 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 of 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 sceptical 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 fulfilment 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 Saviour 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 analysed 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
More information can be found HERE
SHORT ILLUSTRATED SUMMARY OF MALACHI
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