Scripture Reading: Mal. 1:1-14; Mal. 2; 3:1-4
In this message we will begin to consider the prophecy of Malachi. The book of Malachi is the concluding word of the Old Testament.
Malachi 1:1 is the introductory word.
The name Malachi in Hebrew means “My messenger,” signifying that Malachi was a messenger of God to minister the word of Jehovah to His people Israel.
The time of Malachi’s ministry was about 400 B.C., at Nehemiah’s time.
The place of his ministry was Jerusalem.
The object of his ministry was the returned Israelites.
The subject of his ministry is Jehovah’s dealing with the sons of Levi (the priests among Israel) and with the sons of Jacob (the people of Israel).
The central thought of the prophecy of Malachi is the correcting of the priests among Israel for the coming of Christ as the Messenger of God and the advising of the people of Israel for the appearing of Christ as the Sun of righteousness.
In Malachi Christ is revealed in His first coming as the Messenger of God (3:1-3) and in His second coming as the Angel of the covenant (3:1) and as the Sun of righteousness (4:1-3).
The book of Malachi has four sections: the introductory word (1:1); Jehovah’s love for Jacob (1:2-5); Jehovah’s dealing with the sons of Levi (1:6—3:4); and Jehovah’s dealing with the sons of Jacob (3:5—4:6).
Malachi 1:2-5 speaks of Jehovah’s love for Jacob.
In verses 2b and 3a Jehovah utters a very frank word related to Jacob and Esau. He says, “I loved Jacob; but Esau I hated.”
Jehovah goes on to say that Edom (the country of Esau) would be called the territory of wickedness and the people with whom Jehovah is indignant forever (vv. 3b-4). Both the place and the people were displeasing to God.
Verse 5 says, “Your eyes will see it, and you yourselves will say, Jehovah is magnified over the territory of Israel.” Here “over the territory of Israel” means outside this territory. Even though the nation of Edom has been condemned and the people of Edom are the object of God’s indignation, yet even in Edom, outside Israel, Jehovah will be magnified.
In 1:6—3:4 we have Jehovah’s dealing with the sons of Levi, that is, His dealing with the priests.
Malachi 1:6-14 is a word regarding the degradation of the priests.
The degradation of the priests was seen first in their despising Jehovah’s name and His table (vv. 6-7, 12-13a). They cared neither for Jehovah’s name nor for the enjoyment of His table.
The priests presented to Jehovah blemished offerings, offerings that were blind, lame, or sick (v. 8). They brought what was stolen, lame, and sick and offered it as a sacrifice (v. 13b). Thus, Jehovah said, “Cursed be the deceiver who has in his flock a male, and when he makes a vow, he offers what is blemished to the Lord” (v. 14a).
Jehovah did not have any joy in receiving their blemished offerings. On the contrary, He abhorred them (vv. 9-10).
In verses 11 and 14b we have a word concerning the greatness of Jehovah’s name among the nations. In verse 11 He said that His name would be great among the nations, and in verse 14b He declared that His name was feared among the nations.
The priests broke Jehovah’s commandment and they corrupted Jehovah’s covenant. This brought Jehovah’s curse to them (2:1-9).
Verses 10 through 12 speak of the treachery of Judah (actually the priests, who lived in Judah and served in Jerusalem) among the brothers and their profaneness toward Jehovah.
In verses 13 through 17 we see Jehovah’s hatred of the treachery of man (mainly referring to the priests) toward his wife.
Verses 13 and 14 indicate that the treachery of a priest toward his wife damages his priesthood. Probably some of the mistreated wives came and wept at the altar (vv. 13a, 14). Because of this, Jehovah no longer regarded the sacrifices or received them with pleasure from the priests’ hands (v. 13b). Here we see a very important matter. If a servant of the Lord cannot have a proper life with his wife, his service will be annulled.
Every young person must consider his or her marriage very carefully. All the brothers and sisters are priests. If we cannot live well with our spouse, how can we serve the church? If our married life is improper, our priesthood will be finished; it will be brought to nothing.
In verse 15 Malachi goes on to say that in marriage God has made the husband and wife one in order to produce “the seed of God,” that is, godly children.
Jehovah hates divorce; and the one who divorces his wife behaves in violence (v. 16). In the sight of God, divorce is a violent act.
According to verse 17, the priests wearied Jehovah with their words. They wearied Him by saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of Jehovah, and He delights in them; or, Where is the God of justice?” Such words were wrongful accusations.
Jehovah’s dealing with the sons of Levi is to refine and purify the priests by His coming as the Messenger of Jehovah (3:1-4).
This prophecy has a threefold fulfillment.
First, this prophecy was fulfilled in the coming of the prophet Malachi, the type of Christ as the coming One.
Second, this prophecy was fulfilled in the first coming of Christ with John the Baptist as His forerunner (Matt. 11:7-13). In His first coming, Christ came as a Messenger and even as the message sent by God to adjust, refine, and purify the priests. In the Gospels the Lord Jesus frequently rebuked the priests.
Third, this prophecy will be fulfilled in the second coming of Christ with Elijah as His forerunner (Isa. 40:3-5, 9-11; Matt. 17:11; Rev. 11:3-4).
Christ will come suddenly as the Angel of the covenant, whom the people of Israel seek and whom the people of Israel desire (Mal. 3:1; Hag. 2:7a).
Christ’s coming suddenly as the Angel of the covenant will be to execute upon Israel the covenant that He enacted through His death (Matt. 26:28). He came in the sense of an Angel to serve God in forming the new testament. When He established His table on the night in which He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus told us that He was enacting the new covenant: “This cup is the new covenant established in My blood” (Luke 22:20). Thus He formed the new testament, in which God is obligated to dispense Himself into our being to be our life, our life law, and our everything as our content. Although the Lord Jesus enacted the new covenant nearly two thousand years ago, generally speaking the Jewish people have not benefitted by it. Instead, the benefit has gone to the Gentiles. However, when Christ comes back, He will come as the Angel of the covenant to execute His covenant over the repentant and believing Jews. At that time they will become beneficiaries of the new covenant.
Christ will come also to refine and purify the sons of Levi, mainly the priests, like a refiner’s fire and like fuller’s soap that they may offer to God the proper sacrifice (Mal. 3:2-4). In the millennium the repentant Jews who are regenerated through the new covenant will be the priests to take care of all the nations. For this they will need much refining and purifying. Therefore, in His second coming Christ will renew, sanctify, and transform Israel to be His refined and purified priests.
