The Book of Malachi

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Purity

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I hope (God willing) to give a series in the Book of Malachi in 2014 and thought we could all benefit from its consideration together. At any time feel free to comment or critic as you feel necessary.

As you may appreciate the book of Malachi is reasonably well known among Christians. I am sure that many of you will have looked at it at some point in your lives, however it is also true in our decaying state we become forgetful which cause these lessons to be lost in us, so I hope this provides us the opportunity to revisit such a wonderful book.

Paul when writing to the Hebrews declared that the word of God is quick and powerful or living and energetic. If it is applied personally in the life of an individual, this divine word becomes a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Heb 4:12) The word translated discerner is Kritikos, from which we have the English word critic. It defines one who is fit for or skilled in judging.

2924. κριτικός kritikos; from 2919; critical:— able to judge

Bearing this argument in mind when studying any of the books of the Old Testament scriptures,we should also bear in mind the apostle words to the Hebrews, he often referred specifically to the Old Testament. Now Theologians look upon the Old Testament scriptures as interesting and historical – but to us we know that they are far more than this. If the book of Malachi was living and energetic in the days of the apostles, then it must still be so today. If the word of Malachi were merely interesting and historical then they would be dead words, would they not? They are far from this they are living and energetic. And we need to receive them as such. This introduction serves to remind us that the word of God only becomes living when we allow it to live within us. It will become an energetic critic when we turn its teaching inward upon ourselves. Thus, whilst the book of Malachi was written in the first instance to convey powerful truths to a congregation long ago, the same principles apply just as powerfully today, and as an community of believers we need to take them to heart, so that we can receive instruction from our Father who was rejected by the majority of those in Malachi’s day.

The people of Malachi’s day were found guilty of three great sins:

1. Ignorance Mal 1:6 They lacked understanding
2. Indifference Mal 1:13 Not their problem, someone else will do it,she’ll be right
3. Self Seeking Mal 3:8 All about me

To me this book cuts to the core of what we are all about. It highlights the challenges that we face both individually and collectively as believers. This book does not pull any punches and does not hold back in revealing the Jewish nation for what they were. It contrasts the difference between the identity of the Jewish community as the people of God and a living out of all that was required of them. They did not have the problem of rebuilding the Temple and the holy city, for that had long been done by Malachi’s day; for them, it was the issue of holy living and holy service after of all the wonderful accomplishments and the rebuilding of the temple. Malachi, speaks to us today about the need to bring performance into line with our profession. His message, therefore, is current, especially in light of the signs all around us that show us that Jesus Christ is soon to return to this earth.

But more than anything else this book shines upon the great God of heaven and earth and reminds us so strongly of the love and mercy that he is prepared to show anyone that seeks after him with a willing heart.

So we need to gladly receive the teaching of this book so that we are not found guilty of the same sins. Malachi’s message is an encouragement to discouraged and disillusioned servants not to break the covenant that they had made with their God. It’s a motivation to faith and obedience. There is a blessing reserved for those who return to the Lord and begin to do his will and love the Lord their God with all their being.
 

FHII

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I look forward to what you have to say. I may have to later recant this thought, but it seems to me that many of the OT prophets were speaking of literal things in their own time. However, the lessons and true meaning of their prophecy apply to us spiritually and at times literally too.
 

Purity

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Yes FHII I believe we have much to learn today from this little book - I hope you will keep me & this study honest as we step through the record.

Malachi’s Distinctive Teaching

Malachi appeared on the scene at a time when the euphoria of the Jewish community following the rebuilding of the Temple and the restoration of their social and political life was beginning to give way to a cynical view. The priests had begun to become corrupt in their official capacities as well as their private lives; the people had mixed themselves with the pagans around them by undertaking illicit marriages and they were being sucked in by false religious systems; and the nation as a whole had lost their enthusiasm and passion, and instead they focused their attention on the mundane necessities and pleasures of the here and now.
Malachi’s message was one of rebuke and indictment of the sins of the people across the many areas of their lives, a message that ended, however, with a note of ultimate hope.

Malachi called to account all the guilty, challenging them to face up to and confess their sins to the Lord before whom, in fact, they stood on trial. His word is strong, passionate, and unrelenting, for he lived in critical times. Unless he could get his message across, there was a real and imminent danger that all the gains that the Jewish nation had made would be lost. Malachi urged the nation to be worthy of their calling, for the King of all the earth was at hand.
Now you will often hear speakers make the comment that it is amazing how similar the time period that we are studying is to our own times. The only difference with Malachi is that it might actually be true. As we go through the book we see a remarkable resemblance to the attitudes and the circumstances that can at time face us in the days that we live.

Well, I have aimed to break this series up into five separate nights and I thought that it would be important to set the context of this book at the beginning as without an understanding of the times it which it is written it can be hard to see how and where the Jewish nation failed in their worship and service towards their God.

So tonight then I would like to consider the time period that Malachi was written in. What was it like in a material sense in a moral sense and in a spiritual sense? These are all questions that we need to ask as we try to get a feel for the days of Malachi.

So when was it written?

It is impossible to date this book precisely, however if we examine the material in the book itself we can determine the general time of this prophecy. For example, The Persian term for governor ("pehah") is used in Malachi 1:8 (see: Neh. 5:14; Haggai 1:1, 14; 2:21), so it indicates that it was written during the Persian domination of Israel (539-333 BC).

Now we can narrow it down more by examining the conditions existing in the nation at this time. The Temple has been rebuilt and sacrifices are being offered in it. The priests are corrupt. The tithes and offerings are neglected. There is intermarriage with pagans and divorce is rampant. There is a spirit of skepticism. Financial abuses abound. Judah is under a governor, and Edom has been destroyed. It is agreed by most that these are the same problems as those faced by Nehemiah. It is therefore likely that the prophet and Nehemiah were active at about the same time. A fair estimate as to date would be about 435 BC.

So let’s now consider the historical background.

In 536 BC the Babylonian Captivity of the Jews officially ended when Cyrus allowed the people of Israel to return to their homeland. Under the leadership of Zerubbabel some 50,000 Jews returned. Encouraged by the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah, the people rebuilt the Temple between 520-516 BC.

In 458 BC Ezra returned with a second group of exiles. The Persian King during this time was Artaxerxes I (465-425 BC). It was he who permitted Nehemiah to return in 445 BC to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah's first term as Governor was 445-433 BC. He then returned to Persia for a time, after which he served a second term as Governor from 430-425 BC.

It was during this time that Malachi took the helm of spiritual affairs in Jerusalem. For a full picture of the conditions in Judea during this period we would need to read Ezra chapters 7-10 and the complete book of Nehemiah. The conditions of the people as revealed in Nehemiah and the bold and courageous attack of Malachi against the problems which he writes in his book point clearly to the fact that they were contemporary with each other.

So about 100 years had passed since the people of Israel had returned to their homeland from the Babylonian captivity. The Temple had been rebuilt; the walls were rebuilt; the sacrificial system had been reinstituted. Most of their goals, which had been set for them upon their return, had been achieved. They were safe from the nations around them. And they were bored!! Their initial enthusiasm, due to the challenges they faced, had worn off. Their worship had become mechanical, ritualistic, and unspiritual. They went through the motions, but their heart was not involved. Their relationships were falling apart --- both with God and with one another. Yet, they can't seem to fathom why God is dissatisfied with them!
 

FHII

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Ok, I'll try to keep up! I've read Malachi several times before but I'll have to reaquaint myself with it. Kinda wish you would've picked Amos.... I just did an in depth study of it!

My only comment now is that in many ways, the problems you listed weren't new. For example, corruption of priests was seen in Eli's day when his sons were guilty of that. Kinda breaks my heart because I think Eli truly loved God and he was instrumental in training a great prophet in Samuel. Yet his weakness was evident. The intermingling of pagans and God's people was also not a new problem in that two of my favorite OT folks (Solomon and Jehu) also fell victim. I am wondering if there was anything that Malachi prophesied against that was a new problem.

What IS different is that Malachi was the last prophet to be recorded in the Bible before the Ministry of John the Baptist and the NT. I think that's a big point, but as Solomon said.... I'll wait to hear the conclusion of the whole matter!

(Speaking off the cuff and from memory here.... Feel free to correct me if I am mistaken... Just giving my initial thoughts...)
 

Purity

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Ok, I'll try to keep up! I've read Malachi several times before but I'll have to reaquaint myself with it. Kinda wish you would've picked Amos.... I just did an in depth study of it!

My only comment now is that in many ways, the problems you listed weren't new. For example, corruption of priests was seen in Eli's day when his sons were guilty of that. Kinda breaks my heart because I think Eli truly loved God and he was instrumental in training a great prophet in Samuel. Yet his weakness was evident. The intermingling of pagans and God's people was also not a new problem in that two of my favorite OT folks (Solomon and Jehu) also fell victim. I am wondering if there was anything that Malachi prophesied against that was a new problem.

What IS different is that Malachi was the last prophet to be recorded in the Bible before the Ministry of John the Baptist and the NT. I think that's a big point, but as Solomon said.... I'll wait to hear the conclusion of the whole matter!

(Speaking off the cuff and from memory here.... Feel free to correct me if I am mistaken... Just giving my initial thoughts...)
FHII - I can see from your above comment you will be a great help in this study and have been so already. Making the point "there is nothing new under the sun" Eccl 1:9, in that the struggles of this people are really our struggles, is an important place to arrive at. Owning this personally is where the rubber meets the road for us. I will be sure to include this in my opening introduction. In time we shall address what is unique about the book and how it applies to us today...but clearly your mind is already thinking ahead. Thanks, Purity ( I should add you are correct to say all these works of the flesh were manifested long before Malachi's day, but the warning of them should never fall to the ground.)

Study Cont...

It is into this arena of deteriorating relationships, enthusiasm, and declining spirituality which becomes the rebuking thrust of Malachi message, as the last "messenger of the Lord" before a 400 year period of prophetic silence! His aim was to restore the Jews to a fresh relationship with God by indicating the precise causes of their spiritual decline and setting out the steps by which the life of the community could be renewed. Like Haggai before him, his dominant concern was for the recognition of spiritual priorities.

Judah's sins against both God and man were numerous. Some of the sins which Malachi's anger was directed towards is as follows:

Priestly laxity (Slack Priests --- Mal. 1:6 - 2:9 (Neh. 13:4-9). He got stuck into the priestly hierarchy for their inability to display any kind of moral and religious leadership which would have enabled them to avoid much of the current distress. The priests had been indifferent and even contemptuous in discharging their duties

Financial abuses & neglect of tithes --- Mal. 3:5-10 (Neh. 13:10-13).

Worship was in a state of decay --- The sick and lame of the flocks and herds were being brought to the Temple for sacrifices unto God --- Mal. 1:8.

Intermarriage with pagans & divorce of their wives to marry pagan women --- The people were not honoring their covenants. Their relationships, both with God and with each other, were failing --- Mal. 2:10-16 (Neh. 10:30; 13:23-28; Ezra 9-10).

The people of Israel had become disillusioned and doubtful. They began to question God's providence as their faith degenerated into cynicism.

These people who suffered from these sinful tendencies would surely wonder if it was worth serving God at all. Externally, these attitudes surfaced in mechanical observances, empty ritual, cheating on tithes and offerings, and indifference to God's moral and ceremonial law. Their priests were corrupt and their practices were wicked, but ironically they were so spiritually insensitive that they wondered why they were not being blessed by God. And as their perception of God grew dim, the resulting materialism, seat warming and external show of worship became ingrained characteristics that were to later grip the Pharisees and Sadducees.

So in these circumstances, Malachi tells us that Temple worship had been restored, but ceremonial formalism if you like and complete hypocrisy had invalidated Israel’s worship. True religious worship had waned, and personal holiness had degenerated to a point where it was no longer considered necessary for an Israelite to manifest Godliness, or walk by faith.

The ecclesia in the days of Malachi failed to appreciate that the living and energetic word of God must be known and manifested:

Mentally
Morally
Physically

Now that gives us a bit of an introduction to the what was going on when this book was written. But what was the book all about? What is the theme of the Book?

Well more than a theme it is really the answer to a question? And the question is:

Who may abide the day of His coming?

Quite an important question really, one that will cause all of us to deeply examine what lies at the core of our being. So Mal 3:2 reads

Mal 3:2
(2) But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:

So who will stand in that day? That is the question, and I’m sure, you like me, want to know that answer to that question. So over the course of the next 5 nights we want to answer that question.

Well let’s get into it then.

So what does Malachi mean? Well it simply means “my messenger”. He was the messenger of Yahweh, and therefore a type of the Lord Jesus who represented the voice of Yahweh to Israel. So who was Malachi and where did he come from? Well nothing is known of him outside the pages of this book. Some commentators have suggested that “Malachi” is merely a pseudonym (a name assumed by an author to protect his or her anonymity), and that possibly the real author is Nehemiah, or some other writer. The obvious answer to this is that none of the other prophetic books of the bible are anonymously written? So why should this one be? But at the end of the day we cannot answer the question adequately so I do not see the point in spending time debating the issue.

First Section – The messenger states God’s Love

Mal 1:1

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

The first thing that stands out is the word burden. The word in the Hebrew signifies a prophetic oracle or warning. Strong’s says that it is an utterance - chiefly a doom - - “a heavy message.” So the second word of this book sets the tone for what follows, it is indeed a prophetic oracle, one that will end in doom for those that will not change their ways.

In the prophetic books maśśā’ introduces messages of a threatening nature 27 times (e.g., Isa. 13:1; 14:28; 15:1; Nahum 1:1; Hab. 1:1; Zech. 9:1; 12:1)

So it is the oracle of the word of the Lord, or the word of Yahweh. So in simple terms they are not Malachi’s words they are the words of God Himself. So in this very initial sense he fulfils the meaning of his name as the messenger, passing on a message that he has received from God.

And finally we see who this oracle is addressed to – none other than the children of Israel.

Let’s now move onto the next four verses, and this is what we want to finish the night off with. Now as I read through these verses I want you to think about what is being said here. I want you to consider why you would start a letter in this way.

Mal 1:2-5
(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.

Now this is an extremely important section of the book of Malachi. In my opinion if you miss the point of these verses then you will never fully comprehend the power of the message contained in the rest of the book. I have loved you! What an incredible way to start. You get the feeling already that this is not a letter where the introduction will slowly build and we will then get to the main point to the letter. No, there is no time for that. This is an emotional appeal from a Father.

The first thing that He wants Israel to know is that he Loves them. It is almost like when a relationship is being torn apart and the party that has been betrayed says in anguish, I loved you. And what was Israel’s reply.

When did you love us?

Hang on a second, is this for real. Did Israel really just question whether God loved them? I don’t know about you but this is absolutely mind blowing that Israel would make such a comment. How could you experience all that they had and not be convinced that God loved them? The Father had proven his love for Israel beyond all doubt, by the blessings and privileges He had extended to His people.

Deu 7:8
(8) But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Deu 10:15
(15) Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.

After being brought out of captivity and rebuilding the walls of the city. This was the first of eight queries that they brought against God, in which they revealed their lack of knowledge and understanding. There attitude to God was “give us proof of your love”. They had forgotten past blessings and had no vision of the future.

Deu 32:28-29
(28) For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.
(29) O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!

Encompassed with difficulties the Jew at this time lacked the vision to see beyond their current troubles to the ultimate purpose of God, and their privileged position. They failed to see that they themselves had created the difficulties that existed.

So how about us today? Are we really any different? Is there anyone in this forum that would be unable to say that the Father of heaven and earth has Loved them? Have we not all been chosen, hand picked if you like, freed from the bondage of sin, forgiven, extended mercy, grace longsuffering, been offered eternal life and been promised the overshadowing care of the creator of heaven and earth. Is that not Love.

And do we throw it all back in Gods face and say when did you love me? Do we ask God to give us proof of his love? Do we do that? Maybe we don’t say it out loud, but do our actions, the way we think, the way we doubt, the way we pray, testify to the fact that at times we question the love of God, we don’t understand how He could possibly love us, when all we do is fail and muck things up. We prefer to be cynical as it is the safest option as we can’t be disappointed that way. Does our fragile faith show the shallowness of our conviction that God loves us? We so often forget that just as we would give our all for our children and those that we love, so our Father in heaven will do all that he can for us.

1Jo 4:10
(10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

The second part of the verse is the response to Israel’s query “when did you love us”. Now we want follow this through carefully as you would think that an answer to a question of such magnitude would hold some very insightful points.

So the response was Mal 1:2-3

(2) 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.

What an interesting response to the question from Israel “When did you love me”. So what does it mean? What can we learn from this? Ok, on the surface it doesn’t seen to be a very insightful answer to Israel’s question. I guess you would expect a long list of the individual things that God had done for his people, but no, this answer that he gave was supposed to highlight to Israel in no uncertain terms the depth of His love for them. This response was the strongest way that the Father could highlight to Israel the love that he had for them. So let’s dig a little deeper.

Well when God was questioned on how he loved Israel he responded with the example of Jacob and Esau. When Isaac was sixty, and Abraham was one hundred and sixty, Esau and Jacob were born. Before the birth the Lord said to Rebekah, “Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. Upon this election, the apostle Paul makes the following remarks in Romans 9, saying,

Rom 9:10-13
(10) And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
(11) (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
(12) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
(13) As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

So the decision was made before the children were born, and we are told that they had neither done good nor evil, but their was something far greater at work here in the purpose of God. God’s purpose was to make a mighty nation. This purpose could not be accomplished if left to the undirected will of man. Abraham would have made Ishmael his heir; and Isaac would have elected Esau. The rejection of Ishmael and Esau, and the election of Jacob, proved the wisdom and foresight of the Father. He sees the end of all things from the beginning; and perceiving the future character of the two races, he said I have loved Jacob and I hated Esau. Now it should be notes that the term hated is not to be interpreted as we would in the days that we live, it simply means loving one less than the other. So in this case God love Jacob more than Esau.

Lets look a little further at Romans 9 for further confirmation.

Rom 9:15-17
(15) For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
(16) So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
(17) For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

Now this concept of election is not a light topic that can be grasped instantly it is one that the human mind grapples with. From where we stand it does not always seem fair the way things happen or the way God has ordained things to be. But at some point we must all accept that God will do what He wants to do regardless of whether we want to be part of it. The kingdom of God will be established whether we decide to part of it or not. His purpose will be fulfilled with or without us, it is sure, it is certain. Now whether you like it or not you have been chosen by God, you have been elected to a position of great privilege, just as Israel had. The way we respond to that election will ultimately determine our eternal destiny.

But it goes further than that. Exodus 33 gives us a further insight into this whole idea of election and the purpose behind it. Here we have Moses asking God to show him His glory. Once again we are dealing with big questions. But the answer that the Father gives once again is astounding.

Exo 33:18-19

(18) And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
(19) And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

So when asked to show His glory, we see that the name is proclaimed which is what we usually quote but amazingly God is glorified in the fact that He will be gracious to who He will be gracious, and He will shew mercy on whom He will shew mercy.

So in answer to the question of Israel— “How have you loved us?” —the answer was plain.

He loved them by choosing their father, a choice that was never annulled and whose benefits were extended to them.

Evidence of that love was the fact that Israel survived through the ages up to their own day. Even Babylonian destruction of the state and the temple, and the exile had not cancelled the promise, for here they were, a century after the captivity, still alive and flourishing in a restored nation with a renewed religious and social life.

Esau, on the other hand, had not only been “hated” ,that is, rejected in covenant terms in the original story, but his nation Edom had known nothing but Gods disfavour ever since.

Jacob survived despite the Babylonian conquest whereas Esau did not. Jacob represents those that seek to follow God; Esau represents those that live after the flesh. From Jacob came Israel and the kingdom of God. From Esau came Edom and the Kingdom of Men.

Mal 1:4
(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.

Both Israel and Edom were overthrown by Nebuchadnezzar, but after the overthrow of Babylon and the return of the Jews to Palastine, Edom also tried to rebuild her state, but with the rise of the Maccabees in Israel 175-135 BC, Edom was given the choice of either accepting Judaism or the sword. Many embraced the Jews religion and became proselytes, and so the nation was absorbed into Israel.

In the end there was and is no Edom, but Israel continued, and continues on to this very day. In no clearer terms could the God of heaven and earth communicate to His people what it meant for Him to love them. The fact that they existed was testimony enough of the love that God had extended to them.

And then we come to verse 5 which really puts the icing on the cake and pulls all this together.

Mal 1:5

(5) And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.

What will their eyes see?

What was God promising that they would see? The destruction of Edom (v4)! This was fulfilled in the days of the Maccabees.

Is that all? No!

There was a much greater fulfilment to this verse. Edom is typical of the gentiles, in Acts the word Edom is translated the residue of men and God in his longsuffering mercy was once again reminding Israel of the ultimate purpose that he has with them as His chosen people. He says to Israel that your eyes will see and you will say, the LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel. A new heart will be formed in Israel. They will acknowledge their God. The Father Is encouraging Israel to press on in spite of their unbelieving spirit.

So what of us then forum members? Is our position really any different being grafted in to spiritual Israel the Father is saying in no uncertain terms that He loves us, and if we are in any way doubting or questioning when He has loved us He simply says consider your election. Consider the privileged position that you stand in. I have put you there says God. In my Love I have put you there. I have provided you with everything that you have. I have provided you with truth. I have given you each other. I have promised you eternal life.

But let’s balance this up. The apostle Paul cites that case of Esau as a warning to us so that we do not fail if you like, the grace of God. All who are Abrahams seed by being in Christ have obtained the birthright; and are entitled to the blessing of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that people should serve them; and nations should bow down to them; and that they should be lords over their brethren. But if for some temporary advantage we should barter it away, then we have placed ourselves precisely in Esau’s position. God is merciful; but he is also jealous; and will by no means clear the guilty. If his children sell their birthright to the world for anything that it can tempt them with, then all of the privileges that go with that birthright will disappear as well.

In conclusion tonight we have started our journey into the book of Malachi. It is a hard hitting book that will challenge each and every one of us. It will splay you open and reveal you for what you really are. Hopefully in all of us there will be a resolve to rededicate and renew our relationship with God but more than anything else I want you to keep at the forefront of your mind the Love that God has for you. The very first thing that God wants us to consider before anything else is the love that he has for us. Other parts of the book will contain accusations against us but these need to be viewed against the backdrop of our Fathers unfailing love and his desire to develop each one us on our journey to His kingdom. So as we conclude there is nothing better that we could finish with than Roman 8:35-39

Rom 8:35-39
(35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
(36) As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
(37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
(38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
(39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Who?

End of Study One.
 

Purity

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Comments and notes:

The messengers of Yahweh:

As the true messenger Mal 1:1
As the true priest Mal 2:7
As John the Baptist Mal 3:1
As the messiah Mal 3:1-3
As Elijah Mal 4:5