Malachi

[wolfpurplemoon]

God showed his love for Jacob's people by being very nasty to Esau (must be an in comparison type of thing), and by being fussy about the animals that are sacrificed to him, blind and lame ones won't do at all.

Divorce and violence are both equally abhorrent to God, he never does quite get his priorities straight.

God tells his people to look forward to the day when he will burn all arrogant evildoers and those who respect him will walk on their ashes, he says that a prophet will come to encourage everyone to return to God so he doesn't have to strike the earth with judgement.

And that's the end of the Old Testament.

Comments

[michael amerson (from livejournal.com)]

I just came across your blog today and I am so excited for you to start reading the Gospels!

[zteccc.livejournal.com]

The name Malachi is assumed to be an abbreviation for "Messenger of Yahweh". The book was written approximately 445BC, but there are no hard date references in the book. Still from context, it is after the temple has been rebuilt, but before Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem.

God loves Israel and chose it, not Edom (the other line from Abraham) to be the one that the Messiah comes from.
The priests are not obeying the rules set up for them. God isn't pleased with this. At the time, the priests were taking the choice offerings and saving them for themselves and substituting a lesser animal for sacrifice.

God continues with a message against the priests who were deceitful and lazy about the performance of their duties.
Malachi then berates the priests who have worshiped other idols, committed adultery, etc.

It didn't take long for those who returned from exile to fall back into some bad habits.

On the day of the Lord (apocalyptic), God will purify the priesthood (removing those who are not truly honoring God with their hearts). God will judge all and will condemn those who have sin.
God challenges the people, obey his commands, follow the covenant and see if things get better.
Those who were faithful to God are to be protected and rewarded.

The Day of Judgment is coming, those who are sinful will be destroyed. Those who are faithful will be healthy and young.
Elijah will return to prophecy again before the Day of the Lord.
The last verse of Malachi speaks of Jesus who will teach love for each other.

Sin is sin, so yes, violence and adultery (and even little white lies) are equally egregious. Human beings want to rank sin, but God sees it all as sin.

[the1andonlycj.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on finishing the OT. I haven't been able to follow lately--been too busy--but I'm glad you're still on track.

[wolfpurplemoon]

Thanks, I can't quite believe I've been at this for 9 months!