Leupold, H C Exposition of Zechariah Luck, G Coleman Zechariah Everyman’s Bible Commentary Meyer, F B The Prophet of Hope: Studies in Zechariah Unger, Merrill F Zechariah MALACHI: WILL A MAN ROB GOD? The book of Malachi contains the Lord’s last recorded words of Old Testament times In many respects it is a sad book, because it reveals what little progress—if any—Israel had made since the nation was born fteen hundred years earlier (Gen 12) Dark and distressing as this is, however, the sun of God’s grace arises out of its pages; so, when the reader has arrived at the last verses, there is no question but that in the end the day of glory will come for a repentant Israel, as well as for all believers I BACKGROUND A THE MAN MALACHI The Bible furnishes virtually no biographical information about Malachi He was a prophet of God (1:1); a contemporary of Nehemiah His name is an abbreviated form of the Hebrew Malachiah, which means “messenger of Jehovah.” It is interesting that the word “messenger” appears three times in this short book (read 2:7; 3:1.) B THE BOOK OF MALACHI Date Malachi probably wrote his book around the time of Nehemiah’s visit to Babylon, in 433 B.C (Neh 13:6) See Chart 57 In support of this view are these facts: a) The Temple project had already been completed, and Mosaic sacrifices were being offered (Mai 1:7-10; 3:1,8) See Chart 57 for the date when the Temple was completed b) A Persian governor, not Nehemiah, was ruling the Jews at the time Read 1:8.13 c) The sins denounced by Malachi were the same sins that Nehemiah dealt with during his second term.14 For example: laxity and corruption of priests (Mai 1:6— 2:9; Neh 13:1-9) mixed marriages (Mai 2:10-16; Neh 13:2328) neglect of tithes (Mai 3:7-12; Neh 13:1013) In the words of G Campbell Morgan, “The failures of the people that angered Nehemiah, inspired the message of Malachi.”15 (Since Nehemiah and Malachi were contemporaries, it would be very enlightening to study their two books together.) Occasion and message When Malachi wrote his book, the Jews as a nation had been back in the land of Canaan for about one hundred years Prophets like Haggai and Zechariah had predicted that God’s blessings would be given to the people in days to come, especially in “the day of the LORD.” “But several decades had passed and these prophecies of hope were still unful lled The days had become increasingly drab and dreary It was a period of disappointment, disillusionment, and discouragement, of blasted hopes and abroken hearts.”16 The Jews’ faith and worship were eroding, and their daily lives showed it In this backslidden condition they were hypercritical of God’s ways That God would even speak with them is evidence of His long-suffering and mercy The main subjects of Malachi’s message were the love of God, the sin of the priests ... they were hypercritical of God’s ways That God would even speak with them is evidence of His long-suffering and mercy The main subjects of Malachi’s message were the love of God, the sin of the. .. 2:10-16; Neh 13:2328) neglect of tithes (Mai 3:7-12; Neh 13:1013) In the words of G Campbell Morgan, ? ?The failures of the people that angered Nehemiah, inspired the message of Malachi.”15 (Since Nehemiah... blessings would be given to the people in days to come, especially in ? ?the day of the LORD.” “But several decades had passed and these prophecies of hope were still unful lled The days had become increasingly