MALACHI 1
Bible Study Notes Rev. Betsy Perkins
Does God Really Love Us?
- Have you ever questioned God’s love for you? What happened to make you doubt God’s love?
- Remind yourself of some of the ways God has shown His love for you. Share it with the group.
Malachi, the Prophet (1:1):
- Who is the message of this book for?
- Who is the author of this book and what are we told about him?
The heading of this book of prophesy tells us next to nothing about the person who wrote it. There is no further information about the author or about the date it was written contained in the book. In fact, we aren’t even sure the author’s name is ‘Malachi’ because that word simply means ‘my messenger’, as it is translated in 3:1, and the word ‘Malachi’ is not found anywhere else in the Bible as a name. Most biblical scholars agree that this book was written sometime after the temple was rebuilt in 516 BC. Because of the similarities between the problems Malachi addresses and the concerns of Ezra and Nehemiah, the most likely time frame is between 450-430 BC, when Nehemiah was governor of Judah.
- From the books of Ezra and Nehemiah we know that after the Temple was completed in 516 BC further reconstruction of the city of Jerusalem stopped. Sixty years on, the city walls still lay in ruins. The city gates had burned and were useless. When word of this gets to Jews who had remained in Persia, both Ezra and Nehemiah are upset and determined to help. Ezra visits in 458 BC and initiates some spiritual reforms. Nehemiah becomes governor in 445 BC and serves for 12 years, during which time he oversees the rebuilding of the city walls and gates. However, after he returns to Persia, things deteriorate once again. Nehemiah has to return yet again. It is believed that this is the time frame when Malachi was called by God to expose the sins of the people and urge them to repent and return to faithfulness. Malachi writes in a conversational style where a statement of truth is made, the people put forth their objection, and God answers them.
Israel Doubts God’s Love (1:2-5):
- How do the Israelites respond to God’s declaration of love? What does their response tell us about their hearts?
- Jesus pointed to Deuteronomy 6:4-5 as the most important commandment. What is it?
- What is the first sin that the “angel of the church” mentions in Revelation 2:4? Why is that sin so serious? How does it form the basis for all other sin?
- As evidence of His love, God points to the contrast between the Israelites (descendants of Jacob) and the Edomites (descendants of Esau). Who were Jacob and Esau? How had Esau regarded his birthright to his father Isaac’s blessing and inheritance (see Genesis 25:34)? What was God’s promise to Jacob in Genesis 28:13-15?
- In the Hebrew language, the words ‘love’ and ‘hate’ were not necessarily opposites, but sometimes used to contrast levels of feeling or priority. Can what Jesus says in Luke 14:26 help us in understanding what God says about Jacob and Esau?
- How had the descendants of Jacob fared over the centuries compared to the descendants of Esau? What does this show? Does this seem fair to you?
- Both Israel and Edom were conquered in Babylonian invasions, but Edom initially allied themselves with Babylon and helped destroy Jerusalem. What do we learn of Edom’s attitude toward their defeat in verse 4?
- How did God show His love to the people of Israel after their defeat and the destruction of Jerusalem?
- What name for God is used in Malachi 1:4? Watch for it to appear again – Malachi will use that name 24 times in the 4 chapters of his book! What is he trying to say by using that name for God?
- As final evidence of His love, God points to the opportunity the Israelites have to witness to the people around them about God’s goodness (verse 5). Do you think they will be able to do this with the attitude reflected in verse 2?
When God brought His remnant back to the land, He wanted to bless them and once again manifest His glory through them, but they failed to trust Him and obey His law. Though they had been chastened by God and ruined by Babylon, and though they had lost the esteem of the Gentile nations around them, the Jews could have made a new beginning and witnessed to the Gentiles of the grace and mercy of God. Instead, they lapsed into the sins that Malachi attacks in his book, and they gave but a weak witness to the other nations. They missed their opportunity to glorify God. ~ Warren Wiersbe
- How can you use your trials as an opportunity to glorify God and witness to others? How can the attitudes of your heart toward God affect the message you share?
No More of This So-Called Worship! (1:6-14):
- Who is this message directed toward? What hard truth is God exposing about them?
- God speaks of “my name” in verses 6, 11 and 14. What is God referring to when He says that?
- How do the priests respond to the accusation that they are showing contempt for God?
- The Law of Moses is very specific about the quality of an offering or sacrifice given to God – read Leviticus 1:3, 2:1, 3:1, 22:20. Why should there be no defect or disease in the offering?
- What evidence does Malachi give to prove their disrespect of God? Why would the priests have deliberately disobeyed God’s Law in this way? (read Wiersbe, pg.179)
- We no longer practice animal sacrifice in the worship of God, but are there still ways in which an offering someone brings to church could be defiled or defective? What kind of offerings today might be offensive or disrespectful to God?
Our offerings to God are an indication of what’s in our hearts, “for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Mt.6:21). People who claim to love the Lord and His work can easily prove it with their checkbooks! Giving is a grace (2Cor.8:1,6-9), and if we’ve experienced the grace of God, we’ll have no problem giving generously to the Lord who has given so much to us. How can we ask God to be gracious to us and answer our prayers (Malachi 1:9) if we’ve not practiced “grace giving” ourselves? ~ Warren Wiersbe
- What does God suggest (vs.10) would be better than continuing with the current state of worship?
If our concept of God is so low that we think He’s pleased with cheap, halfhearted worship, then we don’t know the God of the Bible. In fact, a God who encourages us to do less than our best is a God who isn’t worthy of worship. ~ Warren Wiersbe
- What more do we learn about the priests’ attitudes toward their jobs in verse 13? Have you ever felt that worship and service has become tiresome? Or known people who felt that way?
- Are there things that you need to change or improve in your worship and service practices? Are there things our congregation needs to change or improve in our worship and ministry?
- Again, God looks ahead to the day when all people of all nations will worship Him. Read Revelation 7:9-10. What is God’s plan to fulfill that prophesy?
In light of this passage and our discussion, what one truth about God and about yourself stand out as something to “take to heart” this week?
Are there steps you will take, by God’s grace, to more fully apply it to your life?
Resources: NIV Zondervan Study Bible, 2015
J. Gordon McConville, Exploring the Old Testament: A Guide to the Prophets, Volume 4, 2002
Dr. Larry Crabb, 66 Love Letters, 2009
Warren Wiersbe, Be Amazed: Restoring an Attitude of Wonder and Worship, 1996
Tim Mackie, The Bible Project, How to Read Malachi (RightNowMedia)
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