My Servants The Prophets Major Lessons From Selected

My Servants The Prophets Major Lessons From Selected Minor Prophets Lesson 22 – The Prophecy Of Malachi …

My Servants The Prophets Major Lessons From Selected Minor Prophets My Servants The Prophets Lesson 22 – The Prophecy Of Malachi Major Lessons From Selected Minor Prophets

My Servants The Prophets Major Lessons From Selected Minor Prophets Lesson 22 – The Prophecy Of Malachi Outline: § God’s unfailing love for Israel 1: 1 -5 § Condemnation of the priests 1: 6 – 2: 9 § Condemnation of the people 2: 10 – 4: 3 § Final exhortation…“Elijah is coming!!” 4: 4 -6

My Servants The Prophets Major Lessons From Selected Minor Prophets Lesson 22 – The Prophecy Of Malachi Condemnation Of The People 2: 10 – 4: 3 § Re: sins of M/D/R 2: 10 -16 § Re: skeptical words toward God 2: 17 [Pause to answer this question 3: 1 -6] § Re: improper tithing 3: 7 -12 § Re: arrogance spoken against God 3: 13 -15 § God will indeed judge His people 3: 16 – 4: 3

My Servants The Prophets Major Lessons From Selected Minor Prophets Lesson 22 – The Prophecy Of Malachi Condemnation Of The People 2: 10 – 4: 3 § Re: sins of M/D/R 2: 10 -16 § God’s initial complaint re: this sin vv. 10 -11 a (“treacherously” and “abomination”… “profane the sanctuary”) § Pertinent passages on this subject Ex 34: 16 1 Kings 11: 1 -2 § Other related passages in the “Exilic Period” Neh 13: 23 -27 Ezra 9 -10

My Servants The Prophets Major Lessons From Selected Minor Prophets Lesson 22 – The Prophecy Of Malachi Condemnation Of The People 2: 10 – 4: 3 § Re: sins of M/D/R 2: 10 -16 § This sin also created another condition…the altar was “covered with tears” v. 13 § The tears of the put-away wives… the “wives of their youth” and “companions” and “wives by covenant” v. 14 cp. 1 Pet 3: 7 § The one who had so acted would not have a “remnant of the Spirit” v. 15 (be Spirit led)

My Servants The Prophets Major Lessons From Selected Minor Prophets Lesson 22 – The Prophecy Of Malachi Condemnation Of The People 2: 10 – 4: 3 § Re: sins of M/D/R 2: 10 -16 § How did God feel about these actions among the remnant? v. 16 cp. Mt 19: 6 § Thought question: why do you think there is an exception in the law of Christ? Mt 19: 9

My Servants The Prophets Major Lessons From Selected Minor Prophets Lesson 22 – The Prophecy Of Malachi Condemnation Of The People 2: 10 – 4: 3 § Re: skeptical words toward God 2: 17 § § God’s accusation v. 17 a The people’s objection v. 17 b God’s proof v. 17 c Their wearisome words questioned God’s moral control of the world…that He “delights in evildoers” or “where is the God of justice? ” Psa 37, 73

My Servants The Prophets Major Lessons From Selected Minor Prophets Lesson 22 – The Prophecy Of Malachi Condemnation Of The People 2: 10 – 4: 3 § God answers their skeptical accusations 3: 1 -6 § “Where is the God of justice? ” 2: 17 b § “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me” v. 1 a § Reference is to John the Baptist Mt 11: 10 -14 § Another “Messenger” is mentioned…this is the Messiah Himself whose coming will be to cleanse, purge, etc. vv. 1 b-3 a Zech 13: 9 Mt 3: 10 -12

My Servants The Prophets Major Lessons From Selected Minor Prophets Lesson 22 – The Prophecy Of Malachi Condemnation Of The People 2: 10 – 4: 3 § God answers their skeptical accusations 3: 1 -6 § Judgment would begin with the priests v. 3 b § The results will be acceptable offerings by “new” priests v. 4 1 Pet 2: 5, 9 Heb 13: 15 -16 § His coming will be to judge all manner of sin v. 5 § Jehovah and the principles by which He operates do not change…but His mercy & compassion also will not consume man by His wrath v. 6

My Servants The Prophets Major Lessons From Selected Minor Prophets Lesson 22 – The Prophecy Of Malachi Condemnation Of The People 2: 10 – 4: 3 § Re: improper tithing 3: 7 -12 § God implored them to return to Him v. 7 a § The people seemed unaware of their need to return v. 7 b § God further proves His charge by condemning them of robbing Him v. 8 a § The people were guilty of such “robbery” in that they had not tithed properly v. 8 b Num 18

My Servants The Prophets Major Lessons From Selected Minor Prophets Lesson 22 – The Prophecy Of Malachi Condemnation Of The People 2: 10 – 4: 3 § Re: improper tithing 3: 7 -12 § Instead of a blessing, they were cursed v. 9 § Therefore, God encouraged them to “…bring the whole tithe…” v. 10 a § They would see just how much God would bless them…these blessings would be too numerous and wonderful for them to imagine vv. 10 b-12 § Can man still “rob” God today? ?

My Servants The Prophets Major Lessons From Selected Minor Prophets Lesson 22 – The Prophecy Of Malachi Condemnation Of The People 2: 10 – 4: 3 § Re: arrogance spoken against God 3: 13 -15 § God again accuses…the people object v. 13 § The remnant had accused God of having no moral control over the world…it was no longer beneficial to serve Jehovah v. 14 Psa 37, 73 § Possibly a description of conditions in post-exilic Jerusalem? § They said evil-doers escape God’s judgment v. 15

My Servants The Prophets Major Lessons From Selected Minor Prophets Lesson 22 – The Prophecy Of Malachi Condemnation Of The People 2: 10 – 4: 3 § God will indeed judge His people 3: 16 – 4: 3 § This answers the previous question 3: 15 § God has a “book of remembrance” 3: 16 a § Those who see the value of serving God will be spared His terrifying judgment 3: 16 b-18 § Judgment always serves as a “final vindication” that God’s way is indeed the best way to live Rom 12: 2

My Servants The Prophets Major Lessons From Selected Minor Prophets Lesson 22 – The Prophecy Of Malachi Condemnation Of The People 2: 10 – 4: 3 § God will indeed judge His people 3: 16 – 4: 3 § This coming “day of judgment” is described 4: 1 § By contrast, those who fear Jehovah’s name will have nothing to worry about 4: 2 -3 § The “judgment” under consideration appears to be the final judgment 2 Thess 1: 9

My Servants The Prophets Major Lessons From Selected Minor Prophets Lesson 22 – The Prophecy Of Malachi Final Exhortation: Elijah Is Coming! 4: 4 -6 § The people were encouraged to remember their covenant – the Law of Moses v. 4 § Before this “day of judgment” would occur, God would send Elijah (John the Baptist) v. 5 Lk 1: 17 Mt 17: 12 § His mission would be to “…turn the hearts of the fathers to the children” v. 6 (prepare the way for the Messiah)

My Servants The Prophets Major Lessons From Selected Minor Prophets Lesson 22 – The Prophecy Of Malachi Final Exhortation: Elijah Is Coming! 4: 4 -6 § These were the final words spoken under the covenant of Moses § Nothing more would be said for 400+ years until John the Baptist (“Elijah”) came to prepare the way for the Messiah § A fitting ending for both Malachi’s prophecy and the Old Testament

My Servants The Prophets Major Lessons From Selected Minor Prophets Lesson 22 – The Prophecy Of Malachi 1) God is Father & Master. . . therefore, He deserves our obedient honor & respect. 2) If our worship isn’t in harmony with our covenant, God would just say “Close the doors” rather than us continuing to offer unauthorized worship. 3) God views marriage as a life-long covenant that shouldn’t be broken.

My Servants The Prophets Major Lessons From Selected Minor Prophets Lesson 22 – The Prophecy Of Malachi 4) God’s unfailing love for man has always been the driving force behind His actions. 5) Apathy toward serving God should never be found among us. Major overall lesson from studying The Minor Prophets. . . 1 Peter 1: 10 -12

My Servants The Prophets Major Lessons From Selected Minor Prophets Lesson 22 – The Prophecy Of Malachi …