Themes+of+Malachi

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=Overarching Theme =

This article focuses on the major theological themes of Malachi and shows how these themes are unveiled as the book unfolds. At the center of Malachi’s message to Israel lies the covenant.[|[i]] Three specific covenants are mentioned in this book: the covenant with Levi (Mal. 2:8), the covenant of the fathers, and the covenant of marriage (Mal. 2:10-16). Malachi proclaims that God’s love towards Israel is founded on the covenant (Mal. 1:2-5) and the Lord’s judgment is the consequence for breaking these covenant relationships.[|[ii]] The Lord repeatedly referred to His covenant with Israel—reminding them of their unfaithfulness to their love/marriage relationship with Him. The overarching theme of Malachi is God directs His people. Three underlying themes stem from this idea: 1. The Lord truly loves Israel (Mal. 1:2-5), 2. God will come to judge those who have violated the covenant (Mal. 3:1-5; 4:1), but 3. He will also bless and restore those who repent (Mal. 3:6-12; 4:2). God’s love encompasses the book. However, there is a major problem. Even after hearing the message of the former prophets, Israel was still content in their complacency. They believed that a relationship with God could be preserved by formal ritual alone, regardless of how they lived.[|[iii]]

=Underlying Themes =

God’s Love for Israel
God’s love for Israel is evident throughout the entire Old Testament, but it is especially emphasized in the opening verses of the book (Mal. 1:2-5). The Lord proclaims His love for Israel, but Israel questions, “How have you loved us?” (Mal. 1:2). The Lord reminds His people of how He was faithful to resolve tensions between Jacob and Esau (Mal. 1:3).[|[iv]] Edom may rebuild its wall, but the Lord is powerful enough to demolish them once again. The Edomites are “a people always under the wrath of the Lord,” (Mal. 1:4), while the Israelites are favored by God. Not only is God’s love implicit in the opening verses, but it is evident throughout the entire book of Malachi. The Lord declares that He will never change; therefore, the sons of Jacob [the Israelites] will forever experience the Love of the Lord (Mal. 3:6) as long as they seek repentance. The book ends with a call to fulfill the obligations of the covenant as expressed in the law (Mal. 4:4). The Lord, who initiated the covenant, is the central figure and chief spokesman. Out of a total of 55 verses, Yahweh addresses the Israelites 47 times in the first person.[|[v]] Malachi presents a vivid encounter between God and His people.

Judgment on Israel
The second theme deals with God’s judgment of His people. In a penetrating rebuke of both priests (Mal. 1:6-2:9) and people (Mal. 2:10-16), Malachi reminds the Israelites that the Lord’s return is near and it includes judgment as a means of refining, purifying, and purging (Mal. 3:2-3). God always begins His judgment on those in a leadership role or position of power.[|[vi]] First, Malachi rebukes the priests, for they show no respect towards God. Malachi writes, “ ‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?’ says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests who despise my name” (Mal. 1:6). The priests thought that this love relationship could be maintained by formal ritual alone, no matter how they lived.[|[vii]] The Lord not only desires outward obedience of the law, but He requires an inward commitment as well (Joel 2:12-13). The priests demonstrate contempt for God’s altar[|[viii]]; they have offered the Lord defiled food—blind, lame, and diseased animals (Mal. 1:6-14). The Lord is not pleased by their hypocritical worship. In verses 10 and 11, the Lord continues with a condemning request and finally a condemnation of hypocritical worship in verses 12-14. Not only are the priests contempt of God’s altar, but they are contempt for God’s glory (Mal. 2:1-3) and for God’s law (Mal. 2:4-9).[|[ix]] This leads to great judgment. Secondly, Malachi rebukes the people (Mal. 2:10-16). Malachi speaks of abominable marriages and abominable divorces; he declares, “Judah has been unfaithful. A detestable thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the Lord loves…” (Mal. 2:11). The Israelites are violating the marriage covenant; they are divorcing their native-born wives in order to take up with foreign wives who worshiped idols.[|[x]] These men are committing hateful and hurtful acts against the women that they should be protecting (Mal. 2:16). The Lord is not delighted; however, along with judgment, the Lord offers hope and rescue to those who seek repentance.

Blessing and Restoration for the Repentant Heart
The third and final underlying theme is that God is faithful to offer blessing and restoration in replace of judgment, but only to those who seek true forgiveness (Mal. 3:6-12; 4:2). Israel has wearied the Lord by doing evil in His sight; however, Yahweh still prepares the way for the “messenger of the covenant” (Mal. 2:17-3:5). Malachi poses a challenge to repent. He did not, however, simply warn Israel to repent in the present because of past sins; moreover, he presented a vision of hope for the future.[|[xi]] Prophets before Malachi portrayed a picture of Israel in a glorious and powerful state, but during the time of Malachi, the nation still lived under foreign overlordship.[|[xii]] Therefore, Malachi wanted to remind God’s people that the future held something more magnificent in store—a day when God will intercede in the affairs of men and women, ultimately bringing triumph to those who remain faithful to His law or condemnation to those who reject Him.[|[xiii]] The day is coming when all those who are arrogant and evil will become like chaff set on fire, while those who are righteous and fear God will “rise with healing in its wings” and trample the wicked (Mal. 4:1-3). There is a great and terrible day approaching (Mal. 4:5)—great for the faithful and repentant, yet terrible for the evil and unrepentant. The righteous will be restored and receive many blessings.

=Overview = = =

Malachi is a short, yet powerful book of the Old Testament. It is overflowing with evidence and illustration of God’s love and direction. In a penetrating rebuke of both priests and people, the prophet reminds them that the Lord is coming. Malachi assaults the corruption, wickedness, and false security by directing his judgments at their hypocrisy, infidelity, compromise, divorce, false worship, and arrogance.[|[xiv]] He also reminds them that God loves His children, and He has promised to bless and restore them in the time to come.

[|[i]] T. Longman and R. B. Dillard, //An introduction to the Old Testament// (Zondervan, 2006), http://books.google.com/books?id=6XJ3PwAACAAJ. [|[ii]] Ibid. [iii] J. G. Baldwin, //Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi: an introduction and commentary// (Inter-varsity Press, 1972), http://books.google.com/books?id=3XNKAAAAIAAJ. [iv] P. A. Verhoef, //The books of Haggai and Malachi// (W.B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1987), []. [v] R. A. Taylor and E. R. Clendenen, //Haggai, Malachi// (Broadman & Holman, 2004), []. [vi] K. L. Barker and D. W. Burdick, //The NIV study Bible, New International Version// (Zondervan Bible Publishers, 1985), http://books.google.com/books?id=RHcQAQAAIAAJ. [vii] Baldwin, //Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi: an introduction and commentary//. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[viii] J. MacArthur, //MacArthur Study Bible-NASB// (Thomas Nelson, 2006), []. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[ix] Ibid. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[x] T. Longman and R. B. Dillard, //An introduction to the Old Testament// (Zondervan, 2006), []. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[xi] E. H. Merrill, //Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi: an exegetical commentary// (Moody, 1994), []. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[xii] Longman and Dillard, //An introduction to the Old Testament//. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[xiii] Ibid   <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[xiv]  Barker and Burdick, //The NIV study Bible, New International Version//.

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