III APPLICATIONS Are the kinds of sins committed by the priests of Malachi’s time being committed by Christian leaders today? How can lay Christians deal with such a problem? Does the principle of tithes and o erings (3:8) apply to today? If so, how? For background of Old Testament origins of the tithe, read Leviticus 27:30-33; Numbers 18:20-32; Deuteronomy 14:22-29 Verses on o erings include Exodus 30:13; Leviticus 7:14; Numbers 15:19-21 A classic New Testament passage on Christian giving is Corinthians 8-9 The last verses of the Old Testament are about obeying God’s commandments What is the Christian’s relationship to God’s laws, such as the Ten Commandments? Are the commands of the New Testament essentially laws of God? Does God keep “records” of a Christian’s daily walk? (See Mai 3:16; Cor 5:9-10.) The commands of Malachi about everyday living are timeless Ponder the suggestions made by W Graham Scroggie Malachi’s message is eminently necessary and appropriate today, for these abuses have their equivalents in the modern Church How prevalent is “a form of godliness,” the powers being denied; how weak are multitudes of Christians with regard to great moral questions; how frequent is alliance in marriage of saved and unsaved; and how shamefully lax are Christians in the matter of giving of their substance for the maintenance of God’s work To this situation Malachi still speaks.19 IV THE INTERTESTAMENTAL PERIOD The four hundred years between the days of Malachi and the advent of Christ are known as the intertestamental period They are called the “four hundred silent years” because God did not cause any Scripture to be written during this time It was a crucial era, for this is when God was preparing the world for the coming of His Son as Saviour and Lord (read Gal 4:4) With the help of outside sources, study the religious, political, social, and secular preparations which were involved.20Such a study will enhance your appreciation and understanding of the two Testaments and of the connections between the two V TEN KEY SUBJECTS OF OLD TESTAMENT REVEALED TRUTH Now that you have completed your survey of the books of the Old Testament, it would be very helpful to review the main teachings of this part of God’s Scripture What revealed truths stand out to you? Compare your re ections with the following list of subjects: person and works of God origins of the human race and the ... understanding of the two Testaments and of the connections between the two V TEN KEY SUBJECTS OF OLD TESTAMENT REVEALED TRUTH Now that you have completed your survey of the books of the Old Testament, ... in the matter of giving of their substance for the maintenance of God’s work To this situation Malachi still speaks.19 IV THE INTERTESTAMENTAL PERIOD The four hundred years between the days of. .. such as the Ten Commandments? Are the commands of the New Testament essentially laws of God? Does God keep “records” of a Christian’s daily walk? (See Mai 3:16; Cor 5:9-10.) The commands of Malachi