Introduction
- authorship: Malachi, “My Messenger”
- date: 425 B. C., 100 years after return from exile
- situation: enthusiasm that marked the return from exile has faded, instead of a golden age there is a decline characterized by disillusionment, drought, plague, failed harvest, moral decay, careless priests, impurity. religious indifference
- message: reassurance after discipline, key argument of God’s continuing love and covenant fidelity, rebuke of mere formal religion, mixed marriage and neglected tithes
- structure: dialogue, question/answer format, charge/objection/refutation, six oracles:
1:1 Superscription
1:2-5 reaffirmation/proclamation of divine love for Israel
1:6-2:9 denunciation of priestly laxity
2:10-16 mixed marriage and divorce
2:17-3:6 prophecy of God coming in judgment
3:7-12 indifference/distress traced to non-tithing
3:13-4:3 moral ordering of life
4:4-6 Warning
Notes on 1:1-5
1:1 sentence begins with a noun-oracle/burden
1:2-5 Yahweh loves Jacob, catechetical/rhetorical question format, three-part structure: Yahweh/Malachi makes statement of fact, audience disputes, prophet restates fact with supporting evidence, antithetical word pairs and synonymous parallels, Jacob/Esau/Edom
-Yahweh is faithful to love His own even when they are unfaithful to Him. His is a love that does not let go.
Notes on 1:6-14
A part of the longest oracle (goes through 2:9), notice the irony, sarcasm, satire that is focused on priests rather than the general population
1:6 proverbial, commonly held to be true, note use of “honor”-kabod/heavy/glory
1:8 series of ironic statements begin which demand a negative response
1:9-13 expansion of verses 6-8, repetition of “LORD of hosts,” observe exasperation/weariness which reflect boredom/scorn for the priestly office
1:14 judgment pronounced with a curse, Yahweh is despised and responds with disgust
-picture of a cursed clergy that offers leftover/defiled sacrifices, who despise Yahweh’s character, who disparage His service
Notes on 2:1-9
Monologue with Yahweh as speaker in which courtroom style of 1:6-14 shifts to judgment and sentencing, second half of this section highlights obedience/disobedience with the use of antonyms, discourse turns from habitual past actions to present and future actions
2:1 “commandment”-torah/law represents the epitome of priestly responsibility
2:2 repeated appeal to “pay attention”
2:3 announcement of judgment, action is immediate future, “smear/scatter”-graphic connection to contents of bowels of sacrificial animals which priests are to burn as refuse at locations away from the altar, priests are “unclean” for priestly duties
2:5-7 Levi as the father of priestly tribe marked by reverence/fear, commitment to the truth, character/piety, preservation of knowledge
2:8 shift in dialogue from discussion of ideal priest to present state of priesthood, a contrast between the ideal and the current
2:9 conclusion of second oracle, priests “despise” Yahweh and now priests will be “despised”
Notes on 2:10-12
2:10 marks beginning of third oracle, verses 10-12 have a “one” emphasis, the unity of God connects to the nature/sanctity of marriage and is contradicted by divorce, permissive attitude of priests and their poor example contribute to moral decline, note reference to creation with “bara,” interfaith marriage and the compromise of revealed truth, the connection between marital fidelity and covenant fidelity, rhetorical questions here anticipate a “yes” answer, breach of covenant merits divine punishment
2:11 entire population of Judah indicted for its breach
2:12 “may be cut off”
Notes on 2:13-16
2:13 intensified focus on divorce, chiastic elements of accusation/consequence/consequence/accusation, reference to pagan (Baal) worship, marriage as a sacred covenant/contract (“berit”), wife of youth/other wives
2:14 “on what basis”
2:15 reference to those who married a foreign woman
2:16 “send away” -injustice to one’s wife, godliness linked to marital faithfulness, marriage as a divinely ordained institution, God hates divorce as He hates violence, God hates that which harms, God hates infidelity, God created man to reflect Himself and divorce mars that image
Notes on 2:17-3:6
The fourth oracle and the contrast between an unchanging God and a fickle and impatient humanity, active demonstration of the constancy of divine character, the people indicted for a loss of confidence in God
2:17 “weary/exhaust”-exasperate or provoke, in what way or how?
3:1 shift from past tense to present and immediate future, a sending of One from Yahweh which is sure to occur, “suddenly” the messenger of the covenant is coming
3:2-3 the day of his coming, refiner’s fire and fuller’s soap, purify the sons of Levi
3:4 the offering of Judah and Jerusalem
3:5 judgment and a “swift witness”
3:6 Yahweh’s unchanging character, not “consumed”
Notes on 3:7-12
Fifth oracle, people have consistently moved away from the statutes of Yahweh
3:7-8 appeal to repent followed by indictment of theft/betrayal
3:9 curse formula
3:10 Bring it! and entreaty to put he LORD of hosts to the test
3:11-12 promises of provision and blessing
Notes on 3:13-15
Beginning of sixth oracle, Yahweh’s confrontation of the infidelity of His covenant people
3:13 insensitivity of people
3:14 “vain”- empty, pejorative “illegal profit”
3:15 portrait of covenant violators
Notes on 3:16-18
3:16 idiom of reciprocity, book of remembrance and emphasis on “esteem/regard”
3:17 repetition of “LORD of hosts” and significance of “treasured possession”
3:18 distinction between righteous and wicked, the remnant or faithful minority
Notes on 4:1-3
Inevitability of judgment on the wicked, delay is not denial, furnace image here is not refining but destructive, the arrogant obliterated, yet even mercy may be found in judgment
4:1 emphatic use of “behold” and metaphor of a coming day, complete consumption of that which is set ablaze
4:2-3 picture of the blessing and prosperity of divine favor, reference to the “sun of righteousness” and possible connection to Christ, “righteousness like a sun in the day of God’s judgment,” ultimate triumph of righteousness which points to ultimate fulfillment in Christ
Notes on 4:4-6
Conclusion with comfort and warning
Efficacy of the law-remember and do, a command from Yahweh and an ending with a positive note, see Psa. 103:17-18
4:5-6 sending of Elijah the prophet prior to day of the LORD and fulfillment and the turning of hearts
Preaching Malachi (11 sermons)
1:1-5 (introduction and oracle 1)
1:6-14 (oracle 2)
2:1-9 (oracle 2)
2:10-12 (oracle 3)
2:13-16 (oracle 3)
2:17-3:6 (oracle 4)
3:7-12 (oracle 5)
3:13-15 (oracle 6)
3:16-18 (oracle 6)
4:1-3 (oracle 6)
4:4-6 (conclusion)
Outline Examples
2:1-9
1. The Curse of the Priests (1-4)
2. The Correct behavior of the Priests (5-7)
-life, peace, reverence, awe and true instruction
3. The Current Behavior of the Priests (8-9)
-stumble, corruption, partiality, despising…
Main Idea: Because God demands honor and obedience from ministers in word and deed, serve Him with reverence and awe.
Applications
-Avoid partiality
-Preach truth unapologetically
-Guard your integrity
-Christ connection…
3:7-12
1. A Call to Return (7-9)
-habitual disobedience and a loving call to repentance
-the people challenge God’s perspective
-God’s specificity: robbing Him in tithes/contributions
2. Commands to Obey (10-12)
-Tithe!
-Test my faithfulness!
Main Idea: Because faithfulness is the currency of intimacy in God’s covenantal economy, obedient proximity proves His sufficiency.
Applications
-Lead yourself and others to be delightful and generous givers.
-Resolve to follow the Lord as closely as possible.
-Christ connection
(Note: Because of the narrative qualities of Malachi’s prophecy, an inductive approach most effectively reflects the structure of the text).
(Outlines above are adapted from a Doctor of Ministry preaching course, with thanks to contributors Ronnie Leavelle and Pat Findley)
