INTRODUCTION:
The word "Malachi" itself brings some thought. "MAL'AK" (the Hebrew root word) means deputy. "MALACHIAH" means messenger sent from Yahweh. Thus Malachi is a person sent from God with a message. We are told nothing about where the prophet was born.

The message Malachi writes is one of pleading for repentance among a rebellious people.

Most scholars agree that this book was written during the times of the Persian dominance, after the return of those taken captive to Babylon, and after the rebuilding of the temple. Perhaps one of the main reasons it is ascribed to this date is Malachi 1:8, where the prophet speaks of the "governor." The prophet also speaks of the temple as it were completed, yet ignored (Malachi 3:1, 10).

Mal 1:2-5, shows that Yahweh still loves Israel even though they were temporarily disciplined.
Mal 1:6-2:9, shows that the priests, the Levites, had become neglectful of their office, indifferent to the Law, and unmindful of their covenant relationship to Yahweh.
Mal 2:10-16, speaks against idolatry and divorce.
Mal 2:17-3:6, is an announcement of judgment to come.
Mal 3:7-12, speaks to paying tithes and offerings.
Mal 3:13-4:3, specifically speaks to doubters.
Mal 4:4-6, concludes with an exhortation to obedience.

This book has wonderful present application. It is written with genuinely displayed love, has a message of encouragement, and places significance upon focusing on the promise to come.

CHAPTER 1

1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.

The "burden" is a heavy message implanted by the Lord upon the heart of Malachi. It is similar to the "burden" received by Nahum (Chapter 1:1) and by Habakkuk (Chapter 1:1). The message is a burden because it is a heaviness that is intended to be disbursed. One gets the impression that if the prophet does not SPEAK, he shall be crushed under the burden.

My heart is concerned today about the MESSAGE God has given Christians. Matthew 28:18-20, 2Corinthians 5:17-21.
Is this message not a "burden?" Is it not so heavy in weight that we cannot help but SPEAK?

2 I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, 3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. 4 Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever. 5 And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.

Through the prophet God proclaims his love for Israel. Perhaps the people did not actually STATE the question, "Wherein hast Thou loved us?" But God knew that question was in ther HEARTS!

Have you ever doubt felt in your heart toward God? Of course you have. There have been times in all of our lives when we were sincere in our faith, but sincerely doubted God's love, protection, and provision. Squire Parsons, in his song "I'm Not Giving Up," stated it this way:
"I've been walking through this valley,
through this vale of tears.
At times I've even questioned,
If my Lord was near."

In this passage of Scripture, God gives Israel an example of the demonstration of His love for them. Though "Edom" was of the same blood (descendents of Abraham), God had allowed them to be destroyed. But God had PRESERVED Israel!

Sometimes we go through circumstances that we feel were not caused by our own sin. And we question, in our hearts (if not openly), God's promise to protect and provide for us. But our lack of trust is easily turned away by the realization of God's love PROCLAIMED. He has proclaimed it through the prophets, through the apostles, through the Bible. And God has especially DEMONSTRATED His love through the cross. God even continues to proclaim His love through His Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts.

One day we will see Christ face to face. Then we shall realize that it has been God's FAITHFULNESS, even through our UNfaithfulness, that has brought us to the completion of salvation. Our hearts will proclaim His love eternally.

6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? 7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. 8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.

In the physical world we "honor" those who have authority over us. We treat them with respect, and heed their instructions. We are especially careful to be obedient to our bosses, who hold our jobs in their hands. For in holding our jobs, they hold our livelihood.

Should we not have tremendously MORE respect toward God, Who holds our very EXISTENCE in His hands? Yet, even the priests in the temple were disobedient and disrespectful toward God and His Word. Their question to God was "Wherein have we DESPISED thy Name?"

They conducted sacrifices as rote, never considering heartfelt prayer and genuine fellowship with God (see verse 7). The offering of sacrifices to them was "contemptible" for they could not see any GOOD that it did. They even allowed sacrifices to be made that were not "acceptable" ones.

How often have we entered the church and never genuinely worshipped? Our thoughts and minds were more preoccupied with other things than praising and honoring God. Most folk never think about half-hearted worship DEFILING God's altar.

(((THere's a story about an old farmer. The preacher missed him in Sunday morning worship, so he rode out to see about him. He found the farmer cutting and bailing his hay. The preacher asked, "Shouldn't you have been in church on God's day, worshipping instead of conducting your own business?" The old farmer said, "Wa'l preacher, I knew if I went to church, I'd be thinking about how this hay needed bailing. And I knew God would know that my worship was insincere. So, I'd rather be bailing the hay and thinking about how God blessed me, than to be in church thinking about how the hay needed bailing.")))

How many times have we given less than we should, and never even thought about that offering DEFILING God's altar?
How many times have we offered rote prayers, and never considered that to be DEFILING God's altar?

God had a question of His own to ask the priests. "Would you offer that stuff to the GOVERNOR?" Do you suppose the US Government would take a PORTION of your taxes? Do you suppose you can please your boss with half-hearted work? NO!

We should consider God's attitude toward worship: NO worship is better than CONTEMPTIBLE worship!

9 And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts. 10 Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand. 11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

The prophet calls upon the priests to "beseech God..." and see if "He regard your persons." God does not hear prayers offered out of an insincere heart. Peter speaks of this same type of thing in a different example. He says that if husbands don't treat their wives with love and respect, as God commands, then their prayers are "hindered." (See 1Peter 3:7)

In verse 10, the prophet states that God would rather have NO church! God does not accept worship that is without desire for a "fire" to be kindled in our hearts!

THe word "For" in verse 11 means "HOWEVER!" God is going to change the institution of worship. He will bring MESSIAH Who will usher in a NEW COVENANT. That covenant will not be based on ritualistic worship. For man cannot long live under ritualism without becoming vain. God is going to institute a worship that comes genuinely from the heart. It will be praise to the NAME of JESUS, and will be a "pure offering."

That worship will be "great among the Gentiles." And God did this through Jesus Christ. That Name is above all names today!

12 But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible. 13 Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD. 14 But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the LORD a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.

The priests had an attitude of platitude. They considered making the daily offerings a CHORE and not WORSHIP! Therefore they had PROFANED the altar and worship of God. They even allowed the people to attempt deceiving God by offering less than what God had ordered.

This deception was a slap in the face to the love and sovereignty of God.

God's Name was even "dreadful among the heathen." All the world knew of the power of God to preserve, protect and provide for His people. Kings of other nations had even been converted. And the world held God's NAME in reverence. But the people whom He had chosen did NOT!

Therefore, God has a specific COMMANDMENT for the priests.
We'll see about that in the next chapter.

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.