Chapter 4 - An Examination of the End Times (Continued)
Book of Malachi
The last book in the Old Testament was written by Malachi, a name that means “my messenger,” making some to believe it is a title instead of a name. With the Temple now rebuilt and life in Jerusalem starting to settle down, the people began to again wander away from God. Malachi calls for them to repent. The oracle given to Malachi opens with a reminder of the love God has for His people (see Malachi 1:1-5). He then sternly criticizes the priesthood for being corrupt (see Malachi 1:6-2:9). We read that the people have profaned their covenant with God by marrying Gentiles and being unfaithful to their wives (see Malachi 2:10-16). With the people becoming disillusioned towards God, thinking He is an unfair and unjust God, He responds with, “You have wearied the LORD with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?” (Malachi 2:17) The problem of the wicked prospering has been an issue among God’s people for a long time (see Job 24:22-24; 27:13-23; Psalm 73:16-20; Ecclesiastes 8:12-13; Jeremiah 12:7-17; Habakkuk 2:3; 3:2-19) and is still a problem in many peoples’ minds today, often creating a barrier that prevents them from accepting Jesus.
The oracle continues with God announcing the coming of a future messenger that will prepare for His arrival (referring to John the Baptist, see Matthew 11:10; Mark 1:2; Luke 7:27) and the arrival of another messenger, the messenger of the covenant (Jesus). God is telling His people that the one they were seeking, the promised Messiah was indeed coming (see Malachi 3:1). But then warns about the coming judgment, after which they will be refined. During the judgment, God will move against sorcerers, adulterers, those that swear falsely, those who oppress workers in their wages, and those who oppress widows and the fatherless. After judgment the refining will be complete, then their offerings will be righteousness before God (see Malachi 3:2-5). The days of judgment and refining that leads to restoration is a yet-future event.
God reminds them that He never changes, His promises remain true, therefore the lineage of the children of Jacob will not end. Typically, in the Bible when we read about God changing a name, such as Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah or Saul to Paul, later references almost always use their new name. This is not the case with Jacob (and to a lessor extent, Simon-Peter), we will at times, like here, see the text refer to him as Jacob. Some believe that when that occurs, it is reflecting his thinking or behavior. When he is walking with God, the text refers to him as Israel, when he is thinking like a human, the text refers to him as Jacob. In this passage the reference is referring to the children of Jacob, not Israel, as they have turned away from God (see Malachi 3:6).
God tells them that their disobedience has been going on for several generations, He pleads for them to come back to Him. Knowing that they don’t think they have been disobedient, God anticipates their response, “But you say, ‘How shall we return?’” (Malachi 37b) God then explains how they have been disobedient, “Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.” (Malachi 3:8-9) Due to their ignoring the law requiring a tithing and giving (see Leviticus chapter 27, see also Genesis 14:20; 28:22; Numbers 18:21; Deuteronomy 14:28) they are being cursed for robbing God. Deuteronomy 6:16 tells us that we are not to test God (Jesus quoted this verse when being tempted by the devil, see Matthew 4:7; Luke 4:12). Yet, here in Malachi, God instructs His people to, “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” (Malachi 3:10) This is the only time God allows someone to test Him, as He promises an abundant return. He also promises that He will guard their crops from insects and prevent the fruit from falling off before harvesting. All nations will then see that they are truly blessed by God (see Malachi 3:11-12). God tells them that they have spoken words against Him, saying that it is vain to serve God. That there is no profit in following His ways, seeing that the arrogant get blessed and evildoers prosper and get away with testing God. He reminds them that those who truly believe and follow God will be written in the book of remembrance. Then when the day of judgment comes they will be spared and they will be His treasured possession. At that time they will see the difference between the righteous and the wicked (see Malachi 3:13-18).
God then describes the day of judgment, the heat will be intense as the arrogant and all the evildoers will be set ablaze and become stubble, fully consumed (see Malachi 4:1). For those that who fear the name of God, “the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.” (Malachi 4:2b) and go out leaping with joy, all while treading on the ashes of the wicked (see Malachi 4:2-3).
Before closing the oracle, God reminds His people the importance in keeping the law He gave to Moses at Horeb (Mount Sinai) for all of Israel. In the last words of the Old Testament, God promises to send Elijah before the great and awesome day the LORD comes as, “His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.” (Malachi 4:6, NLT) Elijah will come back to preach so that they will follow God, otherwise He will destroy their land (see Malachi 4:5-6). There is debate regarding the return of Elijah. Some believe that John the Baptist fulfilled this prophecy as Jesus Himself said that John the Baptist was Elijah, but then gave an odd stipulation, “if you are willing to accept it,” (see Matthew 11:14). John himself testified that he was not Elijah (see John 1:21-23). Later Jesus said, “Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him” (Matthew 17:12b). Perhaps John the Baptist did represent Elijah with a message for all to turn to God, that the kingdom of God was at hand, but the people of Israel rejected Him. Just as they rejected Jesus. And as a result they lost their land which did lay barren for many years. But then at a time yet-future, God will send Elijah to teach and preach before the great and awesome day of Jesus’ return (see Revelation 11:1-13). This prophecy may have dual fulfillments.