Malachi 4 – Living with anticipation

Malachi 4 closes the books of the Old Testament. Between this last book and the coming of John the Baptist, there was an approximate gap of 400 years of silence, during which God did not speak through prophets. This chapter focuses on the judgment and restoration of the people of God.

In the first three verses of this chapter, Malachi refers to the Day of the Lord. This will be a time when God will bring judgment upon the wicked. Verse 1 says it will be a day that “burns like a furnace.” The arrogance and evildoers, like chaffs, will be burnt till nothing will be left of them.

But the righteous will be different. The righteous, those who revere and fear the Lord, will stand firm. The “sun of righteousness” shall arise to these, bringing healing in His wings.  They will experience victory over the wicked, whose ashes will be trampled upon.

In verse 4, Malachi reminds them to remember the Law of Moses given on Mount Horeb, another name for Mount Sinai. More than just a reminder, this is a solemn call for God’s people to be faithful to their covenant with Him. The Law prescribes God's righteous ways, and our responsibility is to uphold them.  

The last two verses close by discussing the future return of the Prophet Elijah. It is said that he will come before the great and terrible days of the Lord. He will restore the relationship by turning the hearts of the parents to the children and vice versa. Here, reconciliation and renewal in the community are indicated so that God will not stick the land.

The question that confronts us is this: Is this the Elijah described in the Book of the Kings? Is he John the Baptist? Jewish tradition fervently anticipates Elijah's personal and physical return before the Messiah arrives, and they are still awaiting and expecting his literal return.  

In Matthew 11:14, Jesus says, “If we are willing to accept it, he (meaning John the Baptist) is Elijah who is to come.” Furthermore, in Luke 1:17, the angel, in describing the Baptist, says he will “go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Isn't this precisely what Malachi 4:6 says he would do?"

As we come to the end of this book, let us be mindful of the importance of remaining faithful to our covenant with God. Just as the people of Israel were reminded to remember the Law of Moses, we should also uphold God's righteous ways and strive to live according to His teachings. We must anticipate the closing of the ages and the fulfillment of prophecy. Be open to unexpected ways in which God may work in our lives and the world around us.

 

Malachi 3:16-18 – How should we conduct ourselves?

No one can ever get away from our all-knowing and all-seeing God. He sees and knows everything. How we live our lives is essential, especially those called by His name. Malachi 3:16-18 tells us that He notes everything we do and knows the distinction between them.

Malachi 3:16 says that God knows those who respect and fear Him. He is aware of their gathering and the things they discuss. He pays attention by listening to their conversation. He notes their faithfulness and records it on a little scroll called “the Book of Remembrance.”   

Verse 17 says He treats them as His treasure, His precious possession, on the day of His judgment. He endears them to Himself and shows mercy, protects, and spares them, like a father sparing his obedient children. Knowing that God will deeply love and tenderly care for them is a source of great comfort.

Verse 18 says that God can distinguish between the righteous and the wicked. And between one who serves Him and one who is not. His justice will be evident. The lives and destinies of the faithful and the unfaithful are distinct and distinguishable.

Remember that God sees and knows everything. He takes note of those who respect and fear Him and treasures them. His justice will distinguish between the righteous and the wicked. Living faithfully for the Lord is a testament to His goodness and our response to His grace. It is an investment in the future and allows our character to be honed. Let’s seek to live faithfully to testify to His goodness.

Malachi 3:8-15 – The principle of tithing

Tithing, a practice deeply rooted in our religious heritage, was essential to Old Testament law. Under the Mosaic Law, a “tithe” - one-tenth of their produce, livestock, and income to be given by the Israelites. This was to support the Levites, the priestly tribe, the temple, and the poor.  The tithe was considered holy and belonged to God.

Numbers 18:21 talks about the tithe to the Levites. God says, “To the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting.” Then, there is the festival tithe described in Deuteronomy 14:22-27. This is the tithe given to fund religious festivals. The third type of tithe is the charity tithe. Deuteronomy 14:28-29 describes it as given every three years to support orphans, widows, and foreigners.

In Malachi 3:8-15, we see that tithing is not just a financial obligation but an act of trust in God’s provision. It is an acknowledgment that everything we have belongs to God and a way to support His work and care for those in need. This act of trust is a powerful reassurance of His faithfulness.

God in Malachi 3:8-9 accuses the people of Israel of robbing him. They responded by asking God how they had robbed Him. God then told them that they had robbed Him by withholding their tithe and offerings as stipulated.

God then issued them a challenge. He offered to bless them abundantly until they could not hold His blessings if they faithfully brought their whole tithe to the temple storehouse. A storehouse is a place in the temple where the people’s tithes are stored. The “windows of heavens” signified God’s abundance.

In verses 11-12, God makes a profound promise. He pledges to protect their crops from pests, ensuring a bountiful harvest. This promise of protection and abundance is a source of hope, especially for agricultural communities.

Evidently, the people had been murmuring against God. Verses 13-15 suggest that they complained that serving Him did not bring them material prosperity or benefit. They seemed to envy the prosperous wicked and those who did not obey God’s command. This is a thing we must not emulate. Never malign God, no matter what we are going through, because God never has any ill intention for us.     

Tithing is a trust. God expects us to faithfully give back some of what He has blessed us. God's faithful blessing will be evident when we are steadfast in this practice. Not to tithe is to rob God. When we do so, abundance will follow.    

Malachi 2:17-3:7 – The call to repentance

In Malachi 2:17 to 3:7, God confronts Israel’s complaints about His lack of justice and their doubts about His goodness. God then promises to send a messenger, widely believed to be John the Baptist, to prepare the way for the Messiah, who will bring purification and judgment.

In this passage, God calls His people to repentance, reminding them of His unchanging faithfulness and mercy. Despite their history of disobedience, God still offers them a chance to return to Him. Still, He warns that His coming will be one of refining, purifying, and judgment.

The passage begins with God telling His people they have wearied Him by incessantly questioning His justice. They have perceived God as indifferent to evil in allowing the wicked to prosper, implying that God is either approving of evil or unjust. God responded by telling them that He is wearied by their accusations and twisted perception of His justice. In fact, they fail to see that their faults and injustices contributed to the problems.  

In addressing their accusation, God promises to send a messenger. He is widely understood to be John the Baptist. He will come to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah, who will come suddenly. The word “suddenly” suggests the unexpected nature of Messiah’s coming. The people expected a conquering Messiah and did not expect Messiah to come the way He did, to cleanse and purify the people first.

Malachi 3:2-5 then proceeds to describe Messiah’s task when He arrives. Firstly, He will be a Refiner’s Fire and Fuller’s Soap. These metaphors represent the process of purification. A refiner’s fire purifies metals by removing impurities, and Fuller’s soap cleanses deeply.

The Lord’s coming will cleanse the people, especially the priests, the sons of Levi, from their sins. The whole priesthood had been corrupt and unfaithful. Still, God promised to purify them so that they could offer righteous sacrifices again. God wants a spiritual purification that will allow the people to have the right relationship with God.

When that is done, the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and in former years. Here, restoration of Worship is suggested. Once purified, the Worship of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to God. This points to a time when true and righteous Worship will be restored.

However, in verse 5, God promises to bring judgment on diverse forms of sin—sorcery, adultery, false oaths, oppression of the vulnerable and marginalized, such as wage earners, widows, orphans, and foreigners, and general disregard for God. This is how God responds to the people's complaint that He does not deal with evil. He will not delay in bringing judgment on these injustices.

In verse 6, He reminds the people that His unchanging nature is why they have not been wholly destroyed. Despite their unfaithfulness, He remains faithful to His covenant promises. Although they deserve judgment, God's steadfastness and mercy have preserved them.

In verse 7, God calls them to return to Him. He begins by pointing to their recalcitrance. To God, their disobedience is not new; they have been unfaithful since the time of their ancestors. However, God still calls on them to repent, saying that if they return to Him in obedience and faith, He will restore His relationship with them. The people retorted with a question that indicates a refusal to acknowledge their sin, which suggests a more profound spiritual blindness.

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We need to recognize the unchanging nature of God’s faithfulness and mercy. Despite our faults and disobedience, God continues to offer us the opportunity to return to Him. Just as He called the people of Israel to repentance, we are also called to examine our hearts and turn back to God in obedience and faith. Christ’s coming has dealt with our sinful nature and purified us, so we should seek to live a sanctified life pleasing to Him.

Malachi 2:13-16 – Issue of marital fidelity

In Malachi 2:13-16, the prophet deals with marriage and divorce. The people are distraught because God no longer accepts their sacrifices and offerings. Verse 13 says they deeply lament and cover the altar with tears.

They cannot fathom why God rejects their sacrifices. So, God gave them the answer in verse 14. They have broken their covenant with their wives, dealing treacherously with the “wife of your youth,” meaning they have been unfaithful or unjust in their marital relationships. They have dealt treacherously with their marriages and wives.

As far as God is concerned, marriage is a covenant—an agreement made before Him. A wife is a partner and a companion bound by this sacred agreement. Betraying this bond is seen as violating God’s law and spirit.

For God, raising “godly offspring” in a marriage is essential. Marriage and family are integral to His plan. Hence, a divorce or unfaithfulness undermines His goal. They damage the stability and sanctity of marriage and family life.

Thus, in verse 16, God explicitly declares, “I hate divorce.” He hates divorce because it is a betrayal and injustice. What does this phrase “covering his garment with wrong” mean? The garment is a symbol of one’s reputation or identity. To cover one’s garment with wrong suggests that the person is identified by his betrayal of the sacred trust of marriage.

The word “cover” implies that nothing is hidden from God's eyes. God sees through everything. Therefore, He admonishes and warns the people to guard their spirits and not act treacherously in their marital relationships. Here is God’s call for us to stay faithful to our marriage covenants, especially when made before God.

We must uphold marriage's sacredness, prioritize faithfulness, and honor the covenant we have made before God. We must never downplay marriage's sanctity and significance since it is a covenant before God. Being faithful and committed and demonstrating integrity within marital relationships is paramount. 

Malachi 2:10-12 – Behave as believers of God

Despite acknowledging God as their Father, the people of God dealt with each other treacherously. Both Israel and Judah, with their shared heritage and common ancestry, are united in their worship of the same God who created them. Yet their ethical behavior left much to be desired. Malachi appeals to this shared identity as a basis for conducting their relationship ethically with brotherly love.

The prophet raises a poignant question: “Why do we deal treacherously each against his brother to profane the covenant of our fathers?” This question shines a light on the people's moral and spiritual shortcomings, as they are accused of betraying one another. This betrayal goes far deeper than personal interactions; it violates the covenant their ancestors made with God. The breach of trust is a betrayal of individuals and a desecration of the community’s solemn promise to God.

In verse 11, Malachi points to two specific issues. Firstly, the treachery of Judah for forsaking their covenant with God. These people defiled God’s sacred space by desecrating the temple with idolatrous worship. Secondly, the ‘abomination’ of marrying idol-worshiping foreigners. These marriages with foreign women who follow other gods further break their covenant and lead to idolatry.

Malachi strongly emphasizes the need for judgment against those who engage in this particular sin of marrying wives of foreign origin. He suggests that they should be excluded from the community of Israel and unable to take part in temple worship or participate in the life of the covenant community.

Here is how we can apply these verses in our lives: They urge us to prioritize ethical behavior, remain loyal in our commitment to God, and guard against influences that may lead us astray. Firstly, we must uphold ethical behavior in our relationships with others. Learn to treat each other respectfully and with love, even under challenging circumstances. Secondly, be mindful of our loyalty to God and remain faithful to our beliefs and commitments, resisting the temptation to compromise our faith for worldly desires. Thirdly, we should guard against influences that lead to spiritual compromise. For example, marrying the wrong partner may lead a person away from the faith.

 

Malachi 2:1-9 – The responsibility of spiritual leaders

In Malachi 2:1-9, God rebukes the priests for failing to fulfill their duties. This dereliction of duty has resulted in a decline in the moral and spiritual condition of the nation. God urges them to enact urgent reform and warns of potential consequences, including decreased income, public disgrace, and possibly removal from the priesthood.

While these measures may seem severe, they are crucial to prevent the priesthood from becoming so corrupt that it would require abolition, even though God desires to preserve it according to his covenant with the tribe of Levi.

The role of priests extends beyond performing rituals; it is primarily about providing spiritual and moral guidance for the people. Throughout history, priests have been revered as paragons of righteousness, tasked with instructing the populace in observing God’s laws.

Regrettably, during Malachi’s era, their teachings and personal behavior faltered, resulting in their followers being spiritually misguided. They were disobedient and led others astray, thus breaking the sacred covenant between God and the Levites. The consequences were spiritual and moral decay within the community. 

Here are some lessons gleaned from these verses:

Spiritual leaders are responsible for upholding moral and spiritual standards, not just performing rituals. Their failures will impact the spiritual well-being of followers and the wider community. In leadership, partiality and injustice have no place; leaders should serve all community members with fairness and equity. Changes must be made when spiritual leaders neglect their duties; if not, they will face dire consequences. All leaders should be held accountable for their actions and strive to fulfill their responsibilities with integrity and diligence.