Day 274

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Purging God's People

Malachi Introduction

It has been years since God restored his people to their land. But they have lapsed into the very sins that had brought about their captivity. God sends Malachi to remind his people that he loves them, but they have not returned his love. The priests have dishonored him and led his people astray. The men have married heathen. And all have hardened their hearts to persist in their sins, and they could never hope to prosper. Malachi gives them a final warning of purifying Day of the Lord after which follows 400 years of silence in the biblical record.

Of the fifty-five verses in Malachi, forty-seven are spoken by God—the highest proportion of any prophetical book. Malachi is also the only prophet who ends his book on a note of Judgment rather than hope (note the final word of the book!)—a fitting conclusion to the Old Testament because it underscores mankind's sinful condition and sets the stage for God's solution in the person Messiah.

Scripture

September 30—Malachi 1-4: God's Best Promise

Observation

Malachi marks the close of the Old Testament prophecy, and the beginning of 400 years of silence between the Old and New Testaments. Having learned little from their captivity, the people soon lapse into many of the same sins that resulted in their exile in the first place: stealing, idolatry, marriages to pagan people, abuse of the poor and calloused hearts. In a question-and-answer format, Malachi highlights Judah's hardheartedness and pronounces God's curse upon all who practice such things. It will remain for John the Baptist—the promised forerunner who would come in the power and spirit of Elijah to bring a hope-filled message: "Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the world's sin" (John 1:29).

Application

If you have learned anything from your reading of the Old Testament, hopefully it includes this insight: Religion is composed of relationships—a vertical relationship with God, and horizontal relationships with others.

Man's sinful condition is the result of breaking his vertical relationship with God and when the vertical is broken, the horizontal is our of alignment as well.

Israel in her long and colorful history failed repeatedly to learn this important principle and so the Old Testament closes with a warning of a curse to the unrepentant. The stage is set for the New Testament appearance of the One who alone can offer the way to forgiveness from sin.

Perhaps you can identify with the person who said, "My life's horizontal was fine-tuned when Jesus Christ got control of my vertical hold!" It's a thought worth taping to the corner of your TV screen and binding upon your heart as tomorrow you begin to read the New Testament.

Prayer

Thank you, Loving Father, that you always know best what we need for we know that the answer to our prayer is faith and prayer. The fullness of the Spirit always brings patience and boldness. Thank you for giving us your Holy Spirit. We want to spread the word that our obedience to your Word brings us closer to you and our Lord and Savior is waiting to receive any who desire to know you and they too can have the benefits of the Holy Spirit. Help us to spread the Word. In Jesus' name we pray! Amen!

Receive the Fullness of the Spirit!



© Odessa Mathis about my Father's business! 2020

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