September 30, 2017

Insights on Today's Reading

Malachi 1 - The name Malachi means "messenger" and that is what he was.  He doesn't mention anything about himself primarily because he had a message to deliver and he delivered it.  The people of Israel had questions about God because they were waiting longer than they thought they had to for Him to send deliverance.  In verse 2 the people question God's love for them.  God points out that He loved Jacob and his descendants which were the very people who were questioning His love!  in verse 6 they ask how they have despised God's name.  God's answer in verse 7,8 is that they were careless with what they offered to God in their sacrifices.  In verse 14 God declares that He is a great King and His name is to be feared among the nations.

Malachi 2 - God speaks against the priests of Israel for not giving glory to His name, verse 1.  He says in verse 7 that the priest should learn knowledge and that the people should be able to come to them to be taught.  Instead, the priests have departed from obeying the Lord and have led the people to do the same, verse 8.  God spoke of them as dealing treacherously, verse 11.  They ask, "How?" in verse 14.  God answers them by saying they have dealt treacherously with their wives, verse 14-16.*

Malachi 3 - God promises to send His messenger which was a prediction of John the Baptist's ministry, verse 1.  John's ministry would be to prepare the way for the Lord, also verse 1.  When the Lord comes He will speak against sin, verse 5, which has always been the focal point of His wrath.  God doesn't change, verse 6.  The people ask how they have "robbed God" verse 8.  God's answer is that they refused to give a tithe of their income to the Lord, verse 8.  In verse 10 God challenges the people to "prove God" and see if He doesn't give back more to them than they could ever give to Him!

Malachi 4 - The promise of God's ultimate judgment, bringing judgment against evildoers, and bringing healing to those who fear His name, verse 1-2.  Again, God speaks of sending Elijah, verse 5, which was fulfilled in His sending John the Baptist.  Note that the last verse of the Old Testament speaks of God striking this earth with a curse.  But in the New Testament God will show how that curse was dealt with when Jesus died on the cross, note Galatians 3:13.

*The word "covenant" in chapter 2:14 speaks of the marriage vows a couple exchange in a wedding ceremony.  This is why the vows are so important because they are a promise made to each other and done so in the presence of God.

You've just finished reading through the entire Old Testament!  Congratulations to all who did, but especially to those who did for the first time!  As you read into the New Testament see if you can find how often the Old Testament is referred to?  You'll be surprised.