clues.
destinies?
or
not they with
loathing understanding
not God’s
On One
a The
God’s brother and The
paraded what
question the
output sufferings. 8). of
Israel. covenant
people Malachi
I. burden
B. prophetic A.
Old “oracle” The
conveying a
vending
message
How
emotion;
corporate?
Prophetic
the Introduction
the
intense
OT
Testament.
their
affirmation
Israelites
of
opening
hate
his
way
love
love,
Esau
the
other
or
of
are
focus
or
over
begins
covenant
also
but Have
before
God’s
long
word,
material
their
NT
machine
have
calling
Or,
weight
central
is
They an
from
bound
fatherhood,
is
dislike.
above
in
not
hand,
has verse
the
is
to
identified
I
ominous
do
Is
apparently
years
have
the
of
parents
love.
with You
on you
them.
In
begin
an
Challenge
of
this
God’s
could
a
Jacob
older
the
conveys,
this
on
together
and
questions
sweet, Mal
these all
God’s
prosperity.
sense
election
how
establishes
basis.
loved
Perhaps
(1:1)
loved
about
In of a
sense
Loved
the
it
saying
This
with
declaration
prophet.
election
not
1:1,
brother
and
captivity.
word
response,
they
and
is
with
should
two
love
of shoulders
syrupy
Put
want
an
us?”
but
see
whether
two
the
is
“burden”
such
in
Esau
“loving
word.
fairness.
cannot Malachi
we
involves
expression
Edom,
individuals
is
to
likely
(1:2-4:3)
Us?
in
reveals
a
Esau
God’s
In
Their
prophet
that
purposes.
that
raises
individuals, we a
relationship
The
the
a
could
an
represent
Also,
emotional
the bill
God
number
God
of
(1:2-5):
understand
less.”
born
people,
of
affirmation. the
I
Jesus
Jacob
the
be
Hebrew
love
response
have
Yahweh’s
of
absence
or
a
the
the
the
uses
the
point
chose
his
complaint
book
particulars
seems
message heavy/weighty
Commentary
of
of
or
More
in
meaning
“Chosen”
did complex
with
prophet.
hated.”
promises
of
disciple
covenantal
the
nations.
their
and
the
Jacob
attachment,
the
to
governed
word
The
good
is
Israel
not
of
to
is
Jesus fate
importantly,
Israel love
to
“hate?”
nations
destruction
(2)
This
such
continuing
a
is
(1)
mean
and
read
or
God’s
God
works
virtual
masñã,
question
of
(Luke
of ominous
of
because
could
the
The
for
of
the
telling
dispute
love
“love” material
(Gen
the
Esau
Esau,
by
relationship.
prosperity
as
It weighty
his
they
“hate”
object.
Who
choosing
story
rather, burden
could
and
14:26).
love
serve
love.
a
is
denial
typically
32:28).
people,
to
prophetic
his
wrought
and
and
he
however, more
about
hardships
or
represent?
from
there
illustrate
in
of
in
prosperity, Loves
The
occurs
loved
disciples
mean not.
as
God’s’
responsibility
their “hate”
Genesis
and
Yahweh
of
the
The
of
were
than
a
God’s
the
the
translated
the
word
would
The
synonym God
the
sense
responsibility
her
in
easiest to
eternal
announcement,
is 67
nature
and
love
only
and
love
in
an
God’s
calculated
their
younger
message
“love
Is
whether
people:
and
that
gives
times
(Deut.
is
to
this
expression
they
it
be
of
has
a
book
of
Hates
be
personal
his
land
unless
intense
an
of
love
less,”
here.
text.
God.
us
such
to
in
7:6-
“In
the
of
is
or
the
do
for
on
of
a a
The writer of Genesis makes it plain: the two boys are twins, jostling about in Rebekah’s belly. She asks God, why is this happening? To which God replied, “Two nations are in your womb, and two people from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger” (Gen 25:20-23]. This was literalLy two nations separated at birth. In choosing Jacob over Esau, God was illustrating his choice of Israel, the descendants of Jacob, over the Edomites, the descendants of Esau. This didn’t mean that all Edomites were eternally lost. It just means that these nations were not chosen for the revelatory role in history for which God chose the Israelites. Note Paul’s use of Mal 1:2 in Rom 9:6-13. Ultimately, the sovereign God has mercy on whomever he wants and hardens whomever he wants. Not coincidentally, those who believe make up the “whomever he has mercy on”; those who refuse to believe make up the “whomever he hardens.”
II. How Have We Despised Your Name (1:6-2:9): The God Whose Name Is Great Among the Nations A. Yahweh Defiled by Polluted Offerings (1:6-14) 1. It Would Be Better to Shut Down the Temple (1:6-10] The section begins with a widely accepted truth in this culture: sons honor fathers and servants honor masters. A reverence for parents was engrained in Israelites via the fifth commandment (Exod 20:12; Deut 5:16). Yahweh is likely in view in both metaphors. God is both Father and Lord/master (Exod 4:22; Isa 26:13; Ps 123:2). The painful reality is, however, that Israel has disrespected God and failed to acknowledge God’s authority by their actions. Specifically, the priests, the one group that should have known better, are despisers of the name Yahweh. They were in violation of the 3rd Commandment, “You shall not take the name of your Lord, your God in vain.” The priests were continually bringing contaminated, polluted offerings and placing them on the altar. It was the responsibility of priests to ensure that the offerings brought by the people met the requirements. It was so sickening to God, that Yahweh bemoans that there is no one among the priests “to shut the doors and not light a fire on my altar in vain.”
2. Yahweh’s Name Must Be Honored (1:11-14) At the present, not even Israel’s offerings were acceptable to God. But the day would come when even the nations would offer pure worship to God. Paul seems to reflect the same anticipation in Phil 2:11, when every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. In v.13 we learn that the priestly duties had become wearisome, a bore to the priests. Oh, what a burden worship has become. The joy in performing their duties was lost. They might have continued to look like their ministry mattered to them, but in reality, they had become phonies. The fire they kindle is only on the altar; there is none in their heart. V. 14 invokes God’s curse on those who try to substitute a blemished animal (see Deut 27:15-26). The basis for the curse is Yahweh’s kingship and the necessity that his name is reverenced among the nations.
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priestly B. (Num peace to makes confronts extend textual
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witness.
together
God antiquated is
replaced divorce. grandiose
noisy three
God of worshippers.
reference
Regardless with
loyalty
they Over
foreign marrying Sinai. brothers
punishment share
In couplet here
into Who
In
III. replaced
religious
b.
there
rather
NOT
Jacob,”
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their
every
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hates
instituted
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join
God.
it
against
your
times
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a that
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name
3.
a
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shut
begins
to
woman.
common
marital
and
Sadly,
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civil
other
with of
and
another
God’s
leaders
that
a
God,
The
in God
divorce;
displays
God
Are
profane
is
wailing,
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notion.
two
of
person
in
down
express
Gen
for
of
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since
arrangement.
sisters
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how
“as
with
is,
Divorce
Scripture terms
marriage,
reminder
the
section
but
Detests
Yahweh
agenda
people
We
Detests
an
people.
practices
marrying
The
one
the
31:33.
heritage.
use
long
family,
the
sense
Israelite to
“To many
in
and
of God’s
of
three
God
Unfaithful
problem
the
and
people
of
true
their
one
marriage,
another
emotion
whole
as
of
have
owe
with
so
the
V.
will
must/will
(Gen
same
that
Interfaith
of
tears
God
(Malachi
thereby
Divorce
one
Malachi,
name.
rhetorical
my
they
another.
God
a
should
14
Thus,
position
covenant
marriage
joins
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“daughter
of
and
not
their
sacrificial
spouse
emphasizes
our
where
is
is
31:33; is
ethnicity.
idea:
who
are
you
in
Israel.
the
present
that
a
accept
the
to
with
worship
existence
we.
relationship
profane/defile/violate
binding
own.
to
the
violating
be
might
(13-16)
hold
is
two
and
God
questions.
third
God
she
meets
2:10-16)
Marriage
Num
God
as
God
The
acknowledged
Father
oracle
a
of
system
your
a woman
become
at
authority
The
as
is
is
a
is
lifelong cover
made
the
expression
agreement
when question,
24:5;
the
father
foreign
and
the
long
to
not
my
the
problem
offering.
begins
stands
covenant
him.
with
ceremony
daughter
The
than
needs
Father.
the
with covenant
as Jer
who
(10-12]
to
a
one
of
commitment
man
to
god”
we
If
first
30:18).
altar others
One
the
with
“Why
allow
a
benefit
(Gen
God
worships
among
Moses
that
“tents
and
God
is
foreign
both
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is
nature
Israelites
is
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not
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unfaithful
is
God
exclusion
I
takes
are
2:21-24), inferior
has
impacts
declarative
a
am
Most issue
shall
their
that
bound
of
the
questions themselves.
foreign
covenant
witness
god
you
made
not
and
Jacob”
of
happy
another
seems
place
nations.
the
live”
importantly
here
father,
marriage.
and
and
unfaithful
interest
offerings
no
them
our
to
from
God
with
woman
god.
occurs
The
of
and
has with
he
matter
like
is
her
his
of statement,
act
relationship
God,
then
the
not
hates
not
Meanwhile,
They
called
the
The
the Moses
been
wife.
fulfilled.”
as
such
in
God
God
Marriage
be
joining
is
then
only
to
only
fathers?
a
“tents
how
they
is
have
a
made
Since your
them
an
as
the
at
in but
doing
covenant
Malachi
call
What
of
can
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questioned
God
with
hope:
V.
Though
In there
people. when
be throughout
that
This
context
Justice,
righteous.
“Everyone
basic words.”
This
evildoers
God Will
The
IV.
his
light
How
a
to
be
primary
of
time How
day,”
the fourth
is
s
section
people
is
the
is
God’s
attribute
repentance
God
Make
Justice
justice.
B.
moved
A.
the
B.
A.
of
central
takes
See
in
hope.
the
it
arrival
obligations
Do
Assertion
unthinkable:
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of
Warning:
the
seems
(208x)
are
this
Complaint
will
Although
who
Have
first
God’s
Joel unit
threat
people
the
judgment
assertion
in
opens
We
in
the
impending
Things
by
good
God
the
2.
1.
context,
intervene
here
their
of
does
reference
Book
of
light
2:1-3;
in
The
Example
more
prayer
justice,
or
opportunity
We
God,
in
Return?
God
the
of
does
Malachi,
can
with
in
“the
evil
is
this
3:7:
disobedience.
by
the
second
of
Two:
of
The
One:
God’s
God
for
Amos
the
Exhausted
They of
Malachi
like
that
Right
means of
repent
the
raising
the
not
and
is
an
could
“Return
Day day
thereby justice?”
Day in
to
many,
the
one
good
consistency
Day
of
a
apparent
he
God the
indictment:
Twelve. and
You
change
eyes.
are
the
can
taunt.
The
example
5:18-20;
justice,
of
of
of
to
that
of
is
People:
and
(2:17-3:5)
be
makes
their
world
darkness
the
in
of
the
robbing the
Day
but
good
change
their
challenge
and
Are
to
implying
a
God
the
the
God’s
God
The
legitimate
in
Lord
most
me Lord,
Whether
it
God
of
the
failure
triumph
of
sight
Robbing Zeph
God’s and
his
and
is
“wearying”
will
of
the
Lord
will
thing
and
Who
Malachi
“You
wearisome
his
that
God.
people
casts
presence
Yahweh
and
familiar,
being,
and
with
bring
just.
also
Lord
the
that
of
1:7.
punish
mind
to I
God
People
will
have
that
is
it
gloom”
the
the
of
expression
Desires
bring a
commitment
be
God
is
could
Coming
dark
character, in
his
Our
God
those
Lord”
does
return
in
2:17
the
devastating
in
holds
words
a
takes
wearied
and
Malachi,
evildoers
justice
time
words
response
changed,
his
the
shadow
(Zeph
“day
Are
Words?
(3:8-9]
lose
who
not
blessing
calls
justice
the
whole
up
to to
and
when
(3:1-5)
of
Consistent
change. of
hope.
essence,
fully
is
you,
Yahweh
the
do
a
two
Bless
2:2),
of
longing/lament,
into
the
and the
theme
attitude:
since
to
over
judgment
the evil.
tithe,
and
enduring
God
can
says
and
The
ideas
repentance.
Malachi
Lord,” question,
it
question
vindicate
people
The
God’s is
(3:6-12)
he
the
It
purifies
etc.
return.
with
that
harshly.
and,
the
a
is,
God
together
had
coming
consistency
people
(Ma!
And
(18x),
in
associated
Lord.”
persists
question
your
people,
now
in
to
the
been
effect,
“Where
Who
the
effect,
his
yet,
their
It
in
3:6-7]
offers
“on
most
had
day
will
is
a
God
as
the
of
is if
curses
without
arrogant,”
They
the
The
have
conflict,
VI.
spoken
it, The
2:17.
the
(3:13-4:3) repentance, than
If
test The
instance,
The
the
chamber The
would
risk the
government
3:12). --The
drought, As
produce
people
reference
--The
the
in
people
a
storehouse,
Is
“storehouse,”
last
other
final
me.
only
invitation
bringing
of
the
been
to
live
result
The
people
scope
severity
and
A.
It
Perhaps
involve
becoming
Will
C.
harshly
curse
living
the
accusation
grief,
world
God
argument
Useless
not
of
place
testing
and
that
Return
people
The
three
who
harsh
to
judgment,
question
of
invitation
their
of
Yahweh
Be
is
will
by
would
cursing
them. of
2.
locust
1.
death, around
was
robbing
of
the
from
both
governed
stand where
challenging
Imperative:
Israel’s
about
Yahweh
references
They
They
the the
Blessed
against
God
are the
soil.
show
nothing
literally
to
curse
part
to
against
in
credo, full
If
Yahweh’s
have
agricultural
God
invasion,
and
accused curse
will
in
in
they
Theodicy:
is
have
claim
The
450
the
Yahweh
God
God
Malachi
Serve
God,
the
failure
of
something
opposition tithe
Malachi
him.
will
was
to
innumerable
by
restore
been
people
the
more
(3:10-12) vine
in
B.C.
fare
gave
says
“blessed
was
confused
fruit
to
the
them
“put
they
that
the
open
Hebrew,
was
“the
In
of
Bring
temple
“nation”
the
accusation: God?
to
begins
It
by
overwhelming.
better
people
in
evident
to
to than
Yahweh
slandering
typical
of
there
me
(1:14;
goods,
were
is
to
will
keep
their
their
a
The
returning
whole
taxation
test
those
the
their
clear
evildoers
to
concrete
test
are
to
the
material
a
The
complex
repent
with
than
God.
the
is
“windows
“cursed
the
is injustices
up
me
land.
pagan
in
2:2).
Question
fields
fashion,
livestock,
the
in
his
true
from
no
who
there
nation.”
the
Full
Malachi
their
“house
the
is
“How
test”
God they
The
the
an
Yaliweli’s
meek.
willingness
profit
to
over
charge
action
and
do.
repentance
was
nation
repent
prosperity
indictment
3:11
economic
Tithe
where
with
is
the
righteous.
end
wicked
is
were
rather
Who
have
such
of
show
No
of
tithing.
and barren.
refer
rare
in
Theirs
of
question
that
of
of
heaven.”
a
supplies.”
by
themselves.
following
one
(3:10).
to
God’s
goods
curse.”
required
name.
we
repentance.
the
violence,
harvest.
indeed.
Yahweh
than
Remembers
the
put
to
and
locusts
the
and
was
and
with
is
spoken
In
similar
On
covenant
pagan
concrete
God
“blessed
of
ability
this were
accepting
Justice
The
Specifically,
Storehouse
social
This
top
bring
exempt.
There
blessing.
God’s
Yahweh
In
ft
to
were
poverty,
that
to
one
nations
result:
was
of
to fact,
against
pay
stored.
is
the
The
to
conditions
the
the
placed
the
the
their evidence
are
justice.
area,
was
(13-15)
destroying
to
bless,
the
test, in
Interestingly,
responsibility
full
His
full
crop
charge
rather
third
be
the
almost
crime,
they
(1:11,
you?”
a
Persian
words
God
tithe
and
them
but
tithe
brought
room
People
rather
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failure,
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says
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14;
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to to
justice
C. survival
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right. well
ungodly
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appear.
remembrance” book
(Ps
He
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Conclusion
knows
69:28;
139:16).
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remembrance
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God.
of
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their
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book
remembrance.
prosperity
suffering
the
life”
20:12).
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2.
describes
1.
4:3;
appears
struggles.
Comfort
Comfort
wicked
(Malachi
that
where
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for
shows
and
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of
12:23;
only
Those
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so
be the
in
in
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evildoers
hardship.
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that
the
punished,
the
future
names
4:4-5)
the
here
Rev
Future:
present:
do
Yahweh
book
Who
distinction
in
(3:17-4:3)
not
of
3:5).
of
will
It
Scripture,
a
records
but
God’s
Fear
is
pass
person’s
God
is
no
God
a
also
book
reminded.
longer
unnoticed.
Will
between
people
the
hears
the
God
but
that
life
Vindicate
Lord
obedient
stand
will
the
the
over
including
ensures
God’s
The
idea
(3:16-4:3)
In
cries
vindicate
against
as
fact,
exact
His
deeds
obedient
evidence
of
of
things
their
a
there
True
his
heavenly
phrase
the
his
of
people
number
People
will
individuals
dead
is
people.
people
against
a
“book
book
be
book
are
(3:16).
and
made
of
and
The
the
written
of
of
days.
does
as the