As we come to the
last of the prophets in the Old Testament we again see his message is the burden of the word of the LORD. Malachi’s name means My Messenger (i.e. the LORD’s messenger); he speaks for God. So let us be clear, the One with the burden
for Israel is the LORD. Certainly the
prophet felt his message strongly; but it is because he is one of the people
and thus identifies strongly with them.
Malachi’s message is
in a question/answer format. He makes a
statement (e.g. v2, I have love you, says
the LORD). He anticipates the
question from the people (e.g. v2: in
what way have You loved us). Then he
gives the answer (e.g. v2b-5). In the
process he fulfills the prophetic mandate, making strong and clear calls to
repentance. And while he speaks to
Israel, the application for us will be strong and clear as well.
Like the other
so-called Minor Prophets Malachi is
privileged by the LORD to reveal some powerful Messianic prophecies, some of
which have already seen fulfillment in the First Advent but all of which have
final and complete fulfillment in the Second Advent. Of particular note is the end of the book
where Malachi, who is the last of the OT prophets, predicts the coming ministry
of John the Baptist (Elijah; 3:1 and 4:5-6) who is the next of God’s prophets.
I. God’s love for Israel, 1:2-5.
God proclaims His
great love for Israel through the way He treated Jacob (Israel) versus the way
He dealt with Esau. Paul, in Rom. 9,
uses this passage to point out God’s love for Israel and we want to be sure we
accept the point. Paul is right (of
course) that God chose Jacob over Esau before either had done any right or
wrong. At the same time we know that
Scripture also teaches that Esau got what he asked for (Heb. 12:16-17). In the story (Gen. 33:16-18) it appears Esau
lived where he wanted to live. But in
Malachi it is God’s doing. We see in
Scripture what is typical: a mysterious connection of God’s will and man’s
will.
There is a reason God
used this illustration of His love. Edom
had come under severe condemnation for the way he intended to take the land of
Israel for his own when they were taken captive. As Ezekiel put it, Esau’s ancient hatred for
Jacob resurfaced (Ezek. 35). Thus, at
this time in Israel’s history, God makes a powerful point: even when Israel was
being judged God was at her side, securing the promise to Abraham that the land
belonged Jacob. Notice the powerful end
of v5: The LORD is magnified beyond the
border of Israel. Even today we
should remember this; every nation exists to glorify God.
So the beginning
point is: GOD LOVED ISRAEL! This is the
backdrop for calling Israel to repentance.
The same is true for us. God has
loved us in Christ. That love for us is
the strong encouragement to us to no longer live for ourselves but for Him who
died for us and rose again (2 Cor. 5:14-15).
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