Malachi

Although the thoughts on this aren’t completely settled, it’s likely Malachi was written in the middle of the 5th century BC. Since we last met Israel/Judah in the time of Amos, Israel was exiled by the Assyrians in the 8th century BC. Although Judah was ransacked, they weren’t exiled. Subsequently, though, Judah is attacked by… Read more: Malachi | Introduction

Malachi starts off with an argument. God says he loves Israel, they aren’t buying it. God responds by reminding them that they are His chosen people, descendants of Jacob, as compared to Esau and his descendants. One thing to clear up, this Jacob I loved and Esau I hated business shouldn’t be read as God’s… Read more: Malachi | Chapter 1

In chapter 2, the discussion with the priests continues and moves into both the consequences of all of this as well as the underlying issue – the breaking of a covenant and the lack of faithfulness. God has always made covenants with his people, they do this, he’ll do that. He will be their God,… Read more: Malachi | Chapter 2

I’m going to cheat on these chapters a bit because I think 2:17 is really the start of the next protest. These fellas are wearing the Lord out with their words (their arguments, their bad logic, their blind gas-bagging around, etc.). And, in the same format as the previous disputes, they rebut and ask in… Read more: Malachi | Chapter 3

Where the last chapter ended on a positive note, with the identification that there are indeed groups of people who do fear the Lord, the end of Malachi carries that out with a final reminder to be faithful to what God had commanded and to anticipate the justice that they are asking for (although without… Read more: Malachi | Chapter 4