THE MESSAGE OF MALACHI
Dr. David L. Cooper
Biblical Research Monthly
September 1954

The book of Malachi is the last one in the Old Testament. Malachi was the last of the Old Testament prophets. His ministry lay in the post-Exile Period, after the ministries of Haggai and Zechariah. Many abuses and evils had arisen in Israel after the passing away of these two men of God. Then the Lord raised up another servant, Malachi, to deliver the final message to the Jewish nation. The word, Malachi, means "my messenger." Indeed, he was God's messenger for that day in the truest sense of the term.

Proof of God's Love for Israel

Israel constantly complained that God did not love him. But in Malachi 1:1-5 God gave the proof of His love. He did it by showing the way that He had dealt with Israel, contrasting it with the way in which He had dealt with Esau—the Edomites. On account of the covenant that God had made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, He conferred special blessings and favors on the Jewish people, their descendants. They did not deserve these special favors; but because of the election of Israel by God to be the channel of world-blessing, the Lord therefore gave special concessions to them in order to prepare them and to equip them for their world mission.

In contrast with the way that God had dealt with Israel, the prophet showed how God had dealt with the descendants of Esau. Their land was desolate. It had become a wilderness, since it was under the judgment of God, whereas Israel's country was not. Thus the prophet proved his thesis, namely, that God loved Israel.

God's Rebuke of the Priesthood

In Malachi 1:6—2:9 the Lord, through the prophet, rebuked the priesthood of Israel especially, upon whom He had conferred such wonderful favors.

Of all the people of Israel the tribe of Levi had been chosen to minister in spiritual things—a high and exalted privilege indeed. Not realizing the advantages and grave responsibilities that went along with their official office, the priesthood constantly polluted the house of God and the services by going contrary to the expressed will of God as given in the law of Moses.

The situation had grown so very much worse that finally the prophet, speaking for God, exclaimed: "10 Oh that there were one among you that would shut the doors, that ye might not kindle fire on mine alter in vain! I have no pleasure in you, saith Jehovah of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand" (1:10). Isaiah, before Malachi, had expressed similar thoughts, but in different words. God does not want any hypocritical, false worship rendered to Him.

The prophet explained why (vs. 11) he wished that someone would close the Temple so that no worship could be offered there: "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 Gentiles, saith Jehovah of hosts." This is a prediction that people from among all nations would come to the Lord and worship Him. This reminds one of Isaiah 65:1, which is a prediction that, after Israel had acted as he had and had polluted himself, developing a self-righteous attitude, God would receive those among the Gentiles who would come to Him, longing to serve Him faithfully. Thus Malachi struck the same note as did Isaiah. These prophecies, of course, are forecasts of the Christian Dispensation and the set-up that obtains now.

In chapter 2:1-9 the prophet again reprimanded the nation for acting as it was doing. The Lord threatened that He would send a curse upon them and change all their blessings into curses. The priests, who should have been holy and sincere in their worship and service to God, would not take their position in life seriously. There was but one thing that God could do, which was to let the curse fall upon them (2:1-3). The prophet (vss. 5,6) looked back to the time of the selection of the tribe of Levi to its high and holy position. At that time they walked in the truth of God's Word and endeavored to fulfill the duties of their office. It was their privilege to conduct the services of the house of God and to assist in every way the people in a spiritual manner. (For the duties of the Levites, see Deuteronomy 33:10,11.)

Divorce of Israelitish Wives and Remarriage to Heathen Wives Condemned

In 2:10-16 Malachi condemned the Jews for divorcing their rightful wives and remarrying heathen woman. This was the outgrowth of the people's embracing idolatry and being influenced by the worship of the idols of the heathen women whom they married. The background of the rebuke for this is found in the Book of Nehemiah. Thus in this section the prophet was condemning the idolatrous practices that were brought in by these foreign wives and was also condemning the matter of divorce and remarriage.

The Sudden Coming of Messiah and the Purging of the Nation

The next topic to be discussed by the prophet is found in 2:17-3:6. In this passage the promise of the longed-for Messiah is given. His coming will be preceded by a herald. An examination of this prediction shows that it is the second coming of Christ, the Hebrew Messiah, that is here foretold. When He came the first time, He played the role of the herald of truth and finally laid down His life for the sins of the world. But the coming of which Malachi here speaks is His coming suddenly, and His purifying, or cleansing, the nation as with fuller's soap. When the nation is thus purified, then "shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto Jehovah, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years." Israel's offerings will be acceptable to Jehovah.

Rebuke of the Nation for Withholding Tithes and Offerings

The matter of tithes and offerings is discussed in Malachi 3:7-12. God had given implicit instructions as to what should be done, and how Israel should worship Him, and how the services should be supported by the freewill offerings and tithes of His People. Notwithstanding the plain instructions of the Almighty, Israel was withholding that which was rightfully the Lord's. The Lord was blessing the people, and yet they were withholding much that God required of them.

The prophet challenged the people to do as God had commanded them and assured them that, if they would in the right spirit bring their offering and sacrifices to the Lord, He would open the windows of heaven and pour out such a blessing that they would not be able to receive it.

This passage is applied so very frequently to the church. Individual Christians are urged to bring their tithes and offering into the local church in fulfilment of this passage. This is a misinterpretation of God's Word. The Lord does not ask people to tithe. All that we have belongs to God. We should not ask ourselves, How much of our money shall we give to God? Rather, we should ask, How much of God's money, which He has entrusted to us, shall we keep for our own needs?

Let us not wrest the Scriptures and force upon them a meaning that they do not normally have.

The Purging of the Nation and the Rewarding of the Righteous

In the next section of the Book of Malachi (3:13-4:3) we see two classes of people who constitute the Jewish nation. First, those who are conscientious and sincere and whose soul pants for the Lord as the hart pants for the water brook. These gather together for study, meditation, and prayer. They are, of course, in the minority. There are the others in the nation who are bold and blatant in their sins. These are pursuing their own courses.

There is to be a separation between these two groups. The nation will be purged of those in the latter class. This is set forth especially in chapter 4. There will be a purging of all the proud and the wicked from the nation. Then Israel will offer the sacrifices of God in purity and in truth.

The Coming of Elijah that Prophet

In 3:1ff is the promise, as we have just seen, of the coming of the Messenger of the Covenant who is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, the Hebrew Messiah and Saviour of the world. He is preceded by a herald who announces His soon coming. In 4:4-6, the last three verses of chapter 4, we find the prediction of the coming of Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord. He comes to perform a special ministry of restoring the family relations in Israel in order that Messiah may not have to come and pronounce a curse upon the earth. Elijah the prophet will return before the Tribulation begins, and he will perform the work that is here foretold of Him.