Malachi

Malachi, the last of the OT writers. His book shows that despite the ministries of Haggai ad Zechariah Israel was still steeped  in sin & failure. But more than that God gives us. in this book, some wonderful Messianic prophecies.

Author & date

Nothing is known about this prophet. It is not even known if Malachi was his real name, but only a title. But there is no good reason to reject it being a real name.  Newberry puts the date of this book at 397 BC

Outline

A. Message to the nation Ch.1:1-5

1. Setting 1:1
2. God’s declaration 1:2a
3. Wherein? 1:2b
4. God’s reply 1:2c-5
   • Jacob & Esau  1:2c-3a
   • Edom’s desolation 1:3b-5
     • Edom’s heritage
     • Edom’s confession
     • God’s verdict

B. Message to the Priests Ch.1:6-2:9

1. Accusations 1:6-14
   • God’s Name despised 1:6
   • Polluted Offerings 1:7-9
     • Indictment
     • Explanation
2. God’s rejection & promise  1:10-14
   • God’s displeasure 1:10
   • God’s Name 1:11-14
     • Among the Gentiles
     • Among Israel
3. The Commandment for the priests 2:1-9
   • Curse of the priests 2:1-3
     • The warning
     • The curses
   • Covenant of the priests 2:4-9
     • The Levites’ responsibilities
     • The Levites’ failures

C. Message to the People Ch.2:10-17

1. Declaration 2:10
   • Common Father 2:10a
   • Covenant Profaned2:10b
2. Disordered Marriages  2:11-12
   • The abomination 2:11
   • The consequence 2:12
3. Divorce 2:13-16
   • Second offence 2:13-14a
   • Covenant of marriage 2:14b-16
     • One Flesh
     • Godly seed
4. Dismal words 2:17

D. The Messengers Ch.3:1-4:6

1. The messenger who prepares 3:1:a
2. The Messenger of the Covenant 3:1b-6
   • He shall come 3:1b-1d
     • To His Temple
     • The Covenant
     • The Certainty
   • The day of His coming 3:2-3a
     • Who may abide?
     • The Refiners fire
   • Offerings and Judgement 3:3b
     • Righteous Offerings
     • Judgement
3. A call to return 3:7-18
   • Appeal and Query 3:7
   • Robbing God  3:8-12
   • Words against God 3:13-18
     • Those who spoke against God
     • Those who feared God
4. The Coming day 4:1-6
   • Burning as an oven 4:1
   • The Sun of Righteousness 4:2-4
   • Elijah the prophet 4:5-6

notes

a. Messengers
Malachi’s Name means My messenger. The theme of the book is that God’s OT messengers, the priests failed. See Ch.2:7-8. Therefor God sent Malachi, His messenger to warn the nation and prophesy of the messengers to come: John the Baptist, and Christ Himself

b. Israel’s perpetual failure
Zechariah warned the post exile Jews not to repeat the mistakes of their forefathers, Zech.1:2-6.
Yet in Malachi we find a record of Israel making the same mistakes!

In particular the problems face by Ezra and Nehemiah are addressed by Malachi:
Mal.1:6-2:9 — Polluted priesthood — Neh. 13:29etc.
Mal.2:10-16– Mixed marriages– Ezra 9:12; Neh.13:23-28
Mal.3:8-10 — Neglect of Tithes–Neh.13:10-12

c. John the Baptist

That the prophecies of Ch.3:1a, & 4:5-6 refer to John the Baptist is in no doubt since the NT gives witness to this, Lk.1:13-17; Mtt.11:7-15; 17:10-13.