- Write one paragraph explaining the historical background and purpose of the prophet.
Malachi
was written by someone who referenced to themselves as Malachi (1:1),
but this name is not a proper name and means “the messenger”. But
we do know that the Lord spoke to whomever it was and they felt the
need to share the word. The book is written sometime after Isarel has
come back from captivity and the temple has been rebuilt. The anger
of the Lord is burning against the people because they are becoming
idle in their reverance and spirituality, they are completely closed
off to the Lord's love for them (1:2), they are offering defiled
sacrifices (1:7), they've withheld tithes and offerings (3:8),
they've started slacking off and have lost reverance since the books
of Ezra and Nehemiah have been written- where they were zealous for
the heart of God. Even the holy people, the Levites aren't showing
reverance for Him (2:1-8). The people ask questions like, “Really?
How have you loved us?” (1:2), “How have we ever shown contempt
for your name?” (1:6), “How have we defiled sacrifices?” (1:7).
He is
angry and He wants to be taken seriously and respected again. In
Chapter 4 He says, “The day of judgment is coming, burning like a
furnace. On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up
like straw. They will be consumed- root, branches and all. But for
you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing
in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let
out to pasture. On the day when I act, you will tread upon the wicked
as if they were dust under your feet.”
- What does this book show you about the character and nature of God?
Like in
most of the past Old Testament books we see that God is a jealous God
who longs to be honored, respected and obeyed. Not out of a dictator
kind of thinking, but out of a longing and desire for His people to
know His love and experience the freedom that comes from a life bound
in Christ. He is burning with anger, it's an anger of frustration but
it's because for YEARS His people have fallen away and even after all
that He's done for them they still don't get it. And He and His
desire and call have not changed, “I am the Lord, I do not change.
That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed. Ever
since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and
failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you.”
(3:6-7).
- What does this book show about God's redemptive plan for mankind?
The
book of Malachi is a lot of anger towards the people, but at the end
God speaks about the hope that there is for those who fear His name
(chapter 4) and He mentions that He is sending John the Baptist as
another resort of hope. “Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah*
before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives. His preaching
will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of
children to their fathers.”
*John
the Baptist is referred to as the prophet Elijah.
- Personal Application
Point of Passion- Chapter
2:12-15
God speaks of the why He
doesn't accept the worship of the people. And it is because they have
not kept the vows they made with their wives, they have been
unfaithful and He detests this! God loves and adores the union of
marriage. It is not something to be taken lightly because it is a
direct representation of the relationship He has with us as
believers- His bride. We see that a break of the bond made can hinder
the way we relate to the Lord. And it seems as if the union of
marriage built on Him is for the purpose of reproducing godly
children and continuing the generation to generation passion that God
has. Through out all of the Old Testament He commanded the people to
pass down the teachings and commands that He has given. There is
significance and power in generation after generation being taught
His ways and grounded in who He is.
No comments:
Post a Comment