Daily reading

Today’s reading is: Mal. 2:10-4:6

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Malachi Chapter Two

(Outline continues from yesterday)

  1. Following the fecal forewarning, the Lord’s oracle/burden returns to describing Israel’s rebellion (Mal. 2:10-12).
    1. Israel does not have the capacity to understand that their spiritual adultery and physical adultery placed a barrier between them and the Lord (Mal. 2:13-14,17).
    2. The Lord God of Israel reminded Israel that their marriage covenants were spiritually binding, and a reflection of His national covenant with them (Mal. 2:15-16).

Malachi Chapter Three

  1. The Lord’s oracle/burden continues with a promise of a coming messenger, expanding Isaiah’s prophecy of the one who will “clear the way” (Mal. 3:1 cf. Isa. 40:3).
    1. Mal. 3:1a is quoted in the Gospels with reference to John the Baptist (Matt. 11:10; Mk. 1:2; Lk. 7:27).
    2. Mal. 3:1b is never quoted in the Gospels, and is not fulfilled by 1st Advent.  It is fulfilled by the 2nd Advent of Jesus Christ (Zech. 13:9; Dan. 12:10).
    3. The forerunner’s work, and the Lord’s refining work are the only means by which Israel will ever again be pleasing to the Lord and enjoy His blessings in the land (Mal. 3:4-6).
    4. In light of the coming wrath, the Lord appeals for Israel to return to Him (Mal. 3:7a), but Israel lacked the capacity to understand how such a return would be accomplished (Mal. 3:7b).
  2. The Lord rebuked Israel for their robbery of His tithes & offerings (Mal. 3:8-12).
    1. Israel lacked the capacity to give to the Lord either their required tithes or their freewill offerings.
    2. Israel failed to have faith in the Lord’s provision and His reward for their faithful giving.
    3. Believers are forbidden to test the Lord (Deut. 6:16) except in this one area (Mal. 3:10).
    4. Israel failed to recognize that their difficult financial circumstances were the result of their lack of grace capacity (Mal. 3:11).
  3. The Lord’s oracle/burden continues with a rebuke for their rebellion against him (Mal. 3:13a).
    1. Yet again, Israel lacks the capacity to understand how their mental attitude is one of open rebellion (Mal. 3:13b).
    2. The Lord spells it out for them (Mal. 3:14-15).
  4. The Lord is keeping track of those who are humbled by the rebuke He sends, and their names are recorded in a Divine diary (Mal. 3:16-18).

Malachi Chapter Four

  1. The Book of Malachi closes with a view of the 2nd Advent of Jesus Christ (Mal. 4:1-3; Isa. 30:26; 60:1).
  2. The coming Day is a day which should prompt believers to live in a Godly manner (Mal. 4:4; 2nd Pet. 3:11).
  3. The forerunner is specifically identified as Elijah the prophet (Mal. 4:5-6).
    1. His work of “clearing the way” (Mal. 3:1; Isa. 40:3) is a moral work of working in the hearts of Israel (Mal. 4:6a).
    2. Gabriel declared that John the Baptist would be the fulfillment of the Mal. 4:5 Elijah prophecy (Luke 1:17,76).
    3. Jesus Christ declared John the Baptist to be the fulfillment of the Mal. 3:1 forerunner and Mal. 4:5 Elijah prophecies (Matt. 11:10,14).
    4. Jesus Christ also declared that although Elijah came, he is coming yet again (Matt. 17:10-13).
  4. The Old Testament closes with the Lord expressing a desire to not “come and smite the land with a curse” (Mal. 4:6).
    1. This was the last given Divine statement of the Old Testament, and must have grown on the minds of Israel through 400 years of silence.
    2. Matthew, Mark, & Luke focused on the Baptist as the forerunner (Matt. 11:10; Mk. 1:2; Lk. 7:27).
    3. John focused on the grace that came not to smite, but to save (Jn. 3:17; 12:47).