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This is a podcast sharing thoughts and insights for the accompanying the daily reading schedule for the book, Reading the Bible Cover to Cover in 365 Days.
Welcome to Day 365 of Reading the Bible Cover to Cover in 365 Days!
Congratulations on reading the entirety of the Bible. After completing this study, I hope you have new insights into how the Old and New Testaments are deeply intertwined. There is still more to learn about the Lord. I pray you will continue in God’s Word and draw closer to Him daily. Thank You for taking this journey with me! May God bless you in all ways.
Commentary on the Book of Malachi
Let us pray:
O Lord, thank You for showing us more about You through Your Word. We praise You, Father. We praise Your holy name, for You are greatly to be praised. Continue to draw us closer to You, Lord. Help us find the message You have for us today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
We read the book of Malachi today!
Malachi prophesied to the people after the rebuilding of the temple was complete. It was now 100 years after the people returned from exile. As we will see, the people backslid and were not giving God their best. The priests offered unclean sacrifices, intermarried with other nations, and their belief in Almighty God waned.
Before Malachi pointed out the sins, God told them He loved them. Verse 2 says, “I have loved you, says the Lord.” He also told them He chose them. He chose Jacob over Esau. He loves Jacob [Israel] and opposes Esau’s descendants, the Edomites. Even though the Edomites try to raise themselves again, the Lord brings them down. The Israelites will see God’s power when He comes against the Edomites, and they will praise Him. May He give us a heart to praise Him continually.
In verse 6, the Lord asks why they don’t honor Him. The priests don’t understand how they are dishonoring God. Verse 7 tells us why, “By offering polluted food upon My altar.” The priests weren’t aware of their sins. They offered animals that were blind, sick, and lame as sacrifices unto God. We have read God’s precise instructions about what and how to sacrifice, but these priests didn’t follow His instructions. It’s an excellent time to search our hearts for ways we have not followed God’s instructions. Maybe there is something we are tasked to do, but we do it reluctantly, not whole-heartedly, or without integrity. May God show us if there are sins we are unaware of so that we can correct our behavior.
Verse 10 tells us that God would rather close the church doors than watch the priests continue offering sacrifices.
Verse 11 says, “For from the rising of the sun to its setting My name shall be great among the nations, and in every place incense shall be offered to My name, and indeed a pure offering; for My name shall be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.” Yes, God’s name is to be praised. He desires that we praise Him from sunup to sundown.
Chapter 2 is addressed to the priests. God said if they didn’t change and give Him glory, He would curse their blessings. He would prevent a good harvest and spread dung from the animals on their faces. This would have been detestable to them. These priests neglected to serve God under the covenant He made with Levi. These priests were responsible for knowing God’s law, and the people depended on them to do things according to the law. Verse 8 says, “But you have turned aside out of the way; you have caused many to stumble by your instruction [in the law]; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi [with Me], says the Lord of hosts.” So, the Lord put a spirit of hate in the people’s hearts for the priests. May we seek knowledge, understanding, and godly wisdom through prayer and reading God’s Word so we can serve Him as He asks of us.
Another accusation brought against the priests was divorce. They divorced their wives and married foreign women. Verses 14-16 address God’s view of divorce. He said He hates divorce and marital separation. His advice and wisdom is, “Therefore keep a watch upon your spirit [that it may be controlled by My Spirit], that you deal not treacherously and faithlessly [with your marriage mate].” May we seek God’s wisdom in this area and surrender our spirit to His.
Chapter 3 is full of God’s promises. First, He promises to send a messenger before the Lord comes. This messenger is John the Baptist. Luke 1:13-17 is referenced here and is the story about when the angel Gabriel went to Zechariah to tell him he would have a son. I encourage you to read the verses referenced because God shows us that His plans always come to pass. Then God tells them He is sending the Messiah to them. Verse 3 says He will be the refiner and purifier, and “He will purify the priests….that they may offer to the Lord offerings in righteousness.” Jesus still refines and purifies us today. We can praise God that He sent His Son so that we may be made pure in His eyes. Then God said, “For I am the Lord. I do not change; that is why you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.” God is the same yesterday, today, and will be tomorrow. He loves us, and His love for us will never change.
God accuses them of robbing Him. The people didn’t bring their tithes to the Lord. He told them to test Him and see how He will “open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” He tells them He will bless them so much that all the other nations will call them blessed. May we give the Lord all that is due Him and receive His promised blessings.
The people are accused of wondering what good it is to serve God. They wondered because they saw the evil and arrogant people thriving when they were not. Even when evil people tested God, they were not punished. It must not have seemed fair. We may feel similarly when we see greedy, arrogant, and prideful people prospering. But God’s judgment will not escape them. God says those who revere and worship Him are His, “and He will publicly recognize and openly declare them to be My jewels (My special possession, My peculiar treasure). And I will spare them, as a man spares his son who serves him.” May we be God’s jewels and special possessions today and in the last days.
Chapter 4 tells us that the evil and arrogant will be burned up. Our promise is in verse 2, which says, “But unto you who revere and worshipfully fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings and His beams, and you shall go forth and gambol like calves [released] from the stall and leap for joy.” One day we will leap for joy. May we be strong in the Lord, lean on Him, rely on Him, and worship Him. May we believe He sent His Son to die for our sins, and we are saved. And may His will be done.
Let us pray:
O Lord, thank You for leading us to read Your Word and learn more about You and Your heart. Father, help us continue to draw closer to You. Put a song of praise in our hearts and grant us a reverent spirit to worship You. Keep us Yours, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.