Bible

In the Bible room today, we are reading the summary of the four chapters of the book of Malachi.

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Malachi

Introduction to Malachi:

Writer: Most likely Malachi.

Scope: The temple at Jerusalem has been rebuilt under Zerubbabel, the city walls are rebuilt under Nehemiah, and Ezra has come back from Babylon to preach to the returned exiles about being faithful in keeping the Law of Moses. Malachi will join in this work somewhere around 435-433 b.c., about the time Nehemiah has gone back to Babylon to resume his duties serving the king as his cup bearer. Malachi is probably the last of the recorded Old Testament prophets.

Chapter 1. Acceptable

Malachi says he has been called to bring the word of the Lord to Israel:

• The Lord says He has loved Israel;
• Jacob and Esau were brothers, and the Lord loved Jacob;
• But the Lord hated Esau, and destroyed his mountain home;
• Esau’s nation, Edom, says they intend to rebuild their homes;
• But the Lord says He will destroy them again;
• Edom had become a wicked nation and it will never be rebuilt;
• The Lord says He is not being respected by the priests in Israel;
• The priests may ask: “How have we not respected You?”
• The Lord says they have offered unclean food at His table;
• They have brought blind and lame animals as sacrifices;
• The Lord says He will not accept such unclean sacrifices;
• They have profaned the name of the Lord among the Gentiles;
• The Lord says only the best animals will be acceptable to Him.

Chapter 2. Covenant

The Lord says the priests are not keeping the covenant He made with Levi:

• He says the priests should glorify the name of the Lord;
• He tells them they have not followed His commandments;
• And He has already begun to curse their blessings;
• There was a time when Levi walked faithfully with the Lord;
• When the priests gave the people true instruction;
• As messengers for the Lord, the priests should be relied upon;
• But they have failed the Lord and debased the Levi covenant;
• So, the Lord has made them despicable before the people;
• He says the people of Judah have despised the Levi covenant;
• They have intermarried with the infidels around them;
• They have also broken the covenant by divorcing their wives;
• The Lord is tired of hearing bad people say they are good.

Chapter 3. Coming

There is a messenger coming to prepare the way for the Lord:

• The Lord is soon coming to His temple;
• When He gets there, He will purify the sons of Levi;
• Then, they will be able to make a good offering to the Lord;
• The Lord will also be coming to issue judgement against evil;
• For many years Judah has abandoned the laws of the Lord;
• Now, He is pleading with them to return to Him;
• The Lord says they have been stealing from Him;
• They ask how they have been stealing from the Lord;
• His answer: they have not been giving Him their tithes;
• The tithes of their crops are to be brought to the storehouse;
• He says if they do that, they will prove the Lord to be true;
• He will open the windows of heaven for them;
• And repay them with more than their storehouses will hold;
• All the neighboring nations will call them blessed;
• Yet, some people still question why they should serve the Lord;
• But there are many who will continue to worship the Lord;
• And they compose a book to document their resolve;
• The Lord says these are His people and He will protect them.

Chapter 4. Healing

The day is coming when the wicked will be burned up, trampled underfoot:

• But it will be different for those who serve the Lord;
• The Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings;
• And the Lord’s people will prosper and overcome the evil ones;
• The Lord reminds them to keep obeying the Law of Moses;
• As He had sent them the prophet, Elijah, to remind them;
• They must continue to worship and serve the Lord;
• And be ready for that great and dreadful day of the Lord.

End of the book of Malachi.

(This concludes the summaries of the books of the Old Testament.)