INTRODUCTION TO MALACHI
Malachi's name means 'my messenger.' He was a great prophet who spoke God's message to the people of Israel around 440 B.C. This was about 100 years after the first exiles had returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity. That generation flourished spiritually under the ministries of Haggai and Zechariah. God had fulfilled his promise through Jeremiah that the people would return to Jerusalem and Judah after 70 years in Babylon. With great spiritual fervor the temple of God had been rebuilt. Against this backdrop of fulfillment and with eager expectation, the Israelites hoped the Lord would also fulfill his promise to shake the nations (Haggai 2:6-8), restore Israel's glory, and bring about an earthly messianic kingdom.
As time passed and a new generation came, the Israelites became cynical, worldly and cold in their relationship with God. They lost hope that God would keep his promises. They complained about God.
Malachi addresses these complaints in the form of six disputations. Malachi reminds the people that God loves them and that God is to be honored in every way, from their offerings and tithes (1:8,13; 4:9,10), to faithfulness to their spouses (2:14-16), to their obligations to love their neighbors as themselves (3:5).
Malachi looks forward to the coming of the Messiah (3:1-3) and the day of the Lord when the wicked would be judged and righteousness restored. May our hope in Jesus' second coming and our reverence for God in daily life be strengthened through our study of Malachi.

1. The Lord declares his love (1-5)

Malachi's prophecy starts as all prophesy should-with the direct word of the Lord. The Lord proclaimed his love for his people. But people in Malachi's time doubted the Lord's love for them. They asked how he had loved them. The Lord had demonstrated his love for his people in his choosing Jacob over his twin brother Esau. Much later, the Lord punished Esau for his sin and pride. We cannot always understand the Lord's ways. But when he proclaims his love, we can be sure we are loved.

2. 'My name will be feared…' (6-14)

The people doubted God's love because they held the Lord in contempt. They held him in contempt by their offerings, which were lame and diseased. They offered to the Lord sacrificial offerings they wouldn't have offered to their governors! The Lord doesn't want offerings. He wants our hearts. When we come to the Lord with a contrite heart, he accepts us, even if we make a heart offering that is worth only a fraction of a penny (Mk 12:41-44) He is worthy of our love and honor and devotion and fear, because he is our great king. His name should be feared by all nations.


Application: Father, Thank you for your love. Bless us to love, honor and fear you as our great king.
One Word: The Lord is our great king.