You have said, 'It is useless to serve God; what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, and that we have walked as mourners before the LORD of hosts?
Malachi 3:14
One of the most grotesque proofs of our fallen natures is the power of self-deception that blinds us to our own evil, and arrogantly blames God for the consequences of that evil.
Malachi's prophetic word to Israel was written in response to their endless whining and blaming.
Through a self-imposed delusion, they believed God was obligated to bless and prosper every element of their lives simply because they performed a list of religious rituals.
They blamed God for a lack of love, while at the same time, dishonored Him in every way possible. Rather than offer to God valuable sacrifices, they offered ones that were almost worthless: blind, lame animals and defiled food (1:2-12).
The people willingly chose to be misled by the false teachings of the priests who justified their sins (2:7-9).
From idolatry to the mistreatment of their wives, it was all justified by the leaders of the Temple (2:10-17). And, added to this, in their own way they "robbed" God. The tithes and offerings were not brought to the Temple as He had commanded (3:8-9).
Yet as the consequences of their self-deceived, loveless hearts began to fall upon them, they blamed Him rather than take personal responsibility.
We really haven't changed much over these many centuries. We can only thank God that He actually does love us and is faithful to bring His light upon our self-destructive path. He sends us warnings through prophets such as Malachi (1:1); John the Baptist (3:1), and of course, Jesus Christ Himself (3:2-3, 4:16).
All these warnings promise judgment or blessing. For those who cling to their sin and delusion, judgment is what they will reap. Yet for the repentant, blessing is ready to be poured out. Therefore, we are all called to "now entreat God's favor, that He may be gracious to us" (1:9).
For those who will faithfully and obediently bring their tithes and offerings, they are called upon to "try Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it" (3:10).
Let us have the courage to live in God's light, for it is our only hope to face ourselves, our self-deception and our sin so that He may remove its cancer and replace it with the riches of His grace.
Malachi 1:1-4:6
1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
Israel Beloved of God
2 "I have loved you," says the LORD.
"Yet you say, 'In what way have You loved us?'
Was not Esau Jacob's brother?"
Was not Esau Jacob's brother?"
Says the LORD.
"Yet Jacob I have loved;
3 But Esau I have hated,
And laid waste his mountains and his heritage
For the jackals of the wilderness."
And laid waste his mountains and his heritage
For the jackals of the wilderness."
4 Even though Edom has said,
"We have been impoverished,
But we will return and build the desolate places,"
But we will return and build the desolate places,"
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
"They may build, but I will throw down;
They shall be called the Territory of Wickedness,
And the people against whom the LORD will have indignation forever.
They shall be called the Territory of Wickedness,
And the people against whom the LORD will have indignation forever.
5 Your eyes shall see,
And you shall say,
'The LORD is magnified beyond the border of Israel.'
Polluted Offerings
And you shall say,
'The LORD is magnified beyond the border of Israel.'
Polluted Offerings
6 "A son honors his father,
And a servant his master.
If then I am the Father,
Where is My honor?
And if I am a Master,
Where is My reverence?
Says the LORD of hosts
To you priests who despise My name.
Yet you say, 'In what way have we despised Your name?'
And a servant his master.
If then I am the Father,
Where is My honor?
And if I am a Master,
Where is My reverence?
Says the LORD of hosts
To you priests who despise My name.
Yet you say, 'In what way have we despised Your name?'
7 "You offer defiled food on My altar,
But say,
'In what way have we defiled You?'
By saying,
'The table of the LORD is contemptible.'
But say,
'In what way have we defiled You?'
By saying,
'The table of the LORD is contemptible.'
8 And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice,
Is it not evil?
And when you offer the lame and sick,
Is it not evil?
Offer it then to your governor!
Would he be pleased with you?
Would he accept you favorably?"
Is it not evil?
And when you offer the lame and sick,
Is it not evil?
Offer it then to your governor!
Would he be pleased with you?
Would he accept you favorably?"
Says the LORD of hosts.
9 "But now entreat God's favor,
That He may be gracious to us.
Whilethis is being done by your hands,
Will He accept you favorably?"
That He may be gracious to us.
Whilethis is being done by your hands,
Will He accept you favorably?"
Says the LORD of hosts.
10 "Who is there even among you who would shut the doors,
So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain?
I have no pleasure in you,"
So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain?
I have no pleasure in you,"
Says the LORD of hosts,
"Nor will I accept an offering from your hands.
11 For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down,
My name shall be great among the Gentiles;
In every place incense shall be offered to My name,
And a pure offering;
For My name shall be great among the nations,"
My name shall be great among the Gentiles;
In every place incense shall be offered to My name,
And a pure offering;
For My name shall be great among the nations,"
Says the LORD of hosts.
12 "But you profane it,
In that you say,
'The table of the LORD is defiled;
And its fruit, its food, is contemptible.'
In that you say,
'The table of the LORD is defiled;
And its fruit, its food, is contemptible.'
13 You also say,
'Oh, what a weariness!'
And you sneer at it,"
'Oh, what a weariness!'
And you sneer at it,"
Says the LORD of hosts.
"And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick;
Thus you bring an offering!
Should I accept this from your hand?"
Says the LORD.
Thus you bring an offering!
Should I accept this from your hand?"
Says the LORD.
14 "But cursed be the deceiver
Who has in his flock a male,
And takes a vow,
But sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished—
For I am a great King,"
Who has in his flock a male,
And takes a vow,
But sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished—
For I am a great King,"
Says the LORD of hosts,
"And My name is to be feared among the nations.
Malachi 2Corrupt Priests
1 "And now, O priests, this commandment is for you.
2 If you will not hear,
And if you will not take it to heart,
To give glory to My name,"
And if you will not take it to heart,
To give glory to My name,"
Says the LORD of hosts,
"I will send a curse upon you,
And I will curse your blessings.
Yes, I have cursed them already,
Because you do not take it to heart.
And I will curse your blessings.
Yes, I have cursed them already,
Because you do not take it to heart.
3 "Behold, I will rebuke your descendants
And spread refuse on your faces,
The refuse of your solemn feasts;
And one will take you away with it.
And spread refuse on your faces,
The refuse of your solemn feasts;
And one will take you away with it.
4 Then you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you,
That My covenant with Levi may continue,"
Says the LORD of hosts.
That My covenant with Levi may continue,"
Says the LORD of hosts.
5 "My covenant was with him, one of life and peace,
And I gave them to him that he might fear Me;
So he feared Me
And was reverent before My name.
And I gave them to him that he might fear Me;
So he feared Me
And was reverent before My name.
6 The law of truth was in his mouth,
And injustice was not found on his lips.
He walked with Me in peace and equity,
And turned many away from iniquity.
And injustice was not found on his lips.
He walked with Me in peace and equity,
And turned many away from iniquity.
7 "For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge,
And people should seek the law from his mouth;
For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
And people should seek the law from his mouth;
For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
8 But you have departed from the way;
You have caused many to stumble at the law.
You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,"
You have caused many to stumble at the law.
You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,"
Says the LORD of hosts.
9 "Therefore I also have made you contemptible and base
Before all the people,
Because you have not kept My ways
But have shown partiality in the law."
Before all the people,
Because you have not kept My ways
But have shown partiality in the law."
Treachery of Infidelity
10 Have we not all one Father?
Has not one God created us?
Why do we deal treacherously with one another
By profaning the covenant of the fathers?
Has not one God created us?
Why do we deal treacherously with one another
By profaning the covenant of the fathers?
11 Judah has dealt treacherously,
And an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem,
For Judah has profaned
The LORD's holy institution which He loves:
He has married the daughter of a foreign god.
And an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem,
For Judah has profaned
The LORD's holy institution which He loves:
He has married the daughter of a foreign god.
12 May the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob
The man who does this, being awake and aware,
Yet who brings an offering to the LORD of hosts!
The man who does this, being awake and aware,
Yet who brings an offering to the LORD of hosts!
13 And this is the second thing you do:
You cover the altar of the LORD with tears,
With weeping and crying;
So He does not regard the offering anymore,
Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands.
You cover the altar of the LORD with tears,
With weeping and crying;
So He does not regard the offering anymore,
Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands.
14 Yet you say, "For what reason?"
Because the LORD has been witness
Between you and the wife of your youth,
With whom you have dealt treacherously;
Yet she is your companion
And your wife by covenant.
Because the LORD has been witness
Between you and the wife of your youth,
With whom you have dealt treacherously;
Yet she is your companion
And your wife by covenant.
15 But did He not make them one,
Having a remnant of the Spirit?
And why one?
He seeks godly offspring.
Therefore take heed to your spirit,
And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.
Having a remnant of the Spirit?
And why one?
He seeks godly offspring.
Therefore take heed to your spirit,
And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.
16 "For the LORD God of Israel says
That He hates divorce,
For it covers one's garment with violence,"
That He hates divorce,
For it covers one's garment with violence,"
Says the LORD of hosts.
"Therefore take heed to your spirit,
That you do not deal treacherously."
That you do not deal treacherously."
17 You have wearied the LORD with your words;
Yet you say,
Yet you say,
"In what way have we wearied Him?"
In that you say,
"Everyone who does evil
Is good in the sight of the LORD,
And He delights in them,"
Is good in the sight of the LORD,
And He delights in them,"
Or, "Where is the God of justice?"
Malachi 3The Coming Messenger
1 "Behold, I send My messenger,
And he will prepare the way before Me.
And the Lord, whom you seek,
Will suddenly come to His temple,
Even the Messenger of the covenant,
In whom you delight.
Behold, He is coming,"
And he will prepare the way before Me.
And the Lord, whom you seek,
Will suddenly come to His temple,
Even the Messenger of the covenant,
In whom you delight.
Behold, He is coming,"
Says the LORD of hosts.
2 "But who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears?
For He is like a refiner's fire
And like launderers' soap.
And who can stand when He appears?
For He is like a refiner's fire
And like launderers' soap.
3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;
He will purify the sons of Levi,
And purge them as gold and silver,
That they may offer to the LORD
An offering in righteousness.
He will purify the sons of Levi,
And purge them as gold and silver,
That they may offer to the LORD
An offering in righteousness.
4 "Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem
Will be pleasant to the LORD,
As in the days of old,
As in former years.
Will be pleasant to the LORD,
As in the days of old,
As in former years.
5 And I will come near you for judgment;
I will be a swift witness
Against sorcerers,
Against adulterers,
Against perjurers,
Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans,
And against those who turn away an alien—
Because they do not fear Me,"
I will be a swift witness
Against sorcerers,
Against adulterers,
Against perjurers,
Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans,
And against those who turn away an alien—
Because they do not fear Me,"
Says the LORD of hosts.
6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change;
Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
7 Yet from the days of your fathers
You have gone away from My ordinances
And have not kept them.
Return to Me, and I will return to you,"
You have gone away from My ordinances
And have not kept them.
Return to Me, and I will return to you,"
Says the LORD of hosts.
"But you said,
'In what way shall we return?'
'In what way shall we return?'
Do Not Rob God
8 "Will a man rob God?
Yet you have robbed Me!
But you say,
'In what way have we robbed You?'
In tithes and offerings.
Yet you have robbed Me!
But you say,
'In what way have we robbed You?'
In tithes and offerings.
9 You are cursed with a curse,
For you have robbed Me,
Even this whole nation.
For you have robbed Me,
Even this whole nation.
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,"
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,"
Says the LORD of hosts,
"If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.
11 "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,"
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,"
Says the LORD of hosts;
12 And all nations will call you blessed,
For you will be a delightful land,"
Says the LORD of hosts.
For you will be a delightful land,"
Says the LORD of hosts.
The People Complain Harshly
13 "Your words have been harsh against Me,"
Says the LORD,
"Yet you say,
'What have we spoken against You?'
Says the LORD,
"Yet you say,
'What have we spoken against You?'
14 You have said,
'It is useless to serve God;
What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance,
And that we have walked as mourners
Before the LORD of hosts?
'It is useless to serve God;
What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance,
And that we have walked as mourners
Before the LORD of hosts?
15 So now we call the proud blessed,
For those who do wickedness are raised up;
They even tempt God and go free.'"
For those who do wickedness are raised up;
They even tempt God and go free.'"
A Book of Remembrance
16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another,
And the LORD listened and heard them;
So a book of remembrance was written before Him
For those who fear the LORD
And who meditate on His name.
And the LORD listened and heard them;
So a book of remembrance was written before Him
For those who fear the LORD
And who meditate on His name.
17 "They shall be Mine," says the LORD of hosts,
"On the day that I make them My jewels.
And I will spare them
As a man spares his own son who serves him."
"On the day that I make them My jewels.
And I will spare them
As a man spares his own son who serves him."
18 Then you shall again discern
Between the righteous and the wicked,
Between one who serves God
And one who does not serve Him.
Between the righteous and the wicked,
Between one who serves God
And one who does not serve Him.
Malachi 4The Great Day of God
1 "For behold, the day is coming,
Burning like an oven,
And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble.
And the day which is coming shall burn them up,"
Burning like an oven,
And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble.
And the day which is coming shall burn them up,"
Says the LORD of hosts,
"That will leave them neither root nor branch.
2 But to you who fear My name
The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
With healing in His wings;
And you shall go out
And grow fat like stall-fed calves.
The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
With healing in His wings;
And you shall go out
And grow fat like stall-fed calves.
3 You shall trample the wicked,
For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet
On the day that I do this,"
For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet
On the day that I do this,"
Says the LORD of hosts.
4 "Remember the Law of Moses, My servant,
Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel,
With the statutes and judgments.
Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel,
With the statutes and judgments.
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
6 And he will turn
The hearts of the fathers to the children,
And the hearts of the children to their fathers,
Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse."
The hearts of the fathers to the children,
And the hearts of the children to their fathers,
Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse."
Malachi 1:1-4:6
v.1 The burden of the word of the Lord – This phrase refers to the prophecy of this book; not because the content holds bad news, but because of the weightiness of the word of the Lord from God's prophet.
v. 2 in what way have you loved us? – This is declaring Israel's ungrateful hearts towards God.
Yet Jacob I have loved – The nation of Israel (the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) was full of ingratitude, though God had blessed and given them privilege and prosperity.
v. 3 but Esau I have hated – At first glance this verse sounds contrary to the nature of God. The book of 1 John says that God is love, so how could He hate Esau? The word hate in this verse is used to contrast the superior lot given to Jacob and his posterity. Compare the word hate in Gen. 29:30-31 in regard to Jacobs's first wife Leah. The emphasis is on Jacob favoring Rachael, his second wife, not despising Leah. Comparatively speaking, Jacob was given more grace or unmerited favor from the Lord.
And laid waste his mountains and heritage – Esau's descendants were called the Edomites. The Edomites were completely destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar five years after the captivity of the Jews.
v. 4 we will return – This is a prophecy declaring that Edom would never rebuild no matter how hard they tried, for the Lord had judged their wickedness. In contrast, the Jews who were punished by God through the hand of the Chaldeans would be restored.
v. 5 Your eyes shall see – Even though Israel was judged and punished, they were not utterly destroyed as the Edomites and they would rejoice in God's kindness and magnify Him.
v. 6 Where is My honor? – This question is directed towards the priest meaning: why do you not respect me?
In what way have we despised Your name? – Not only did Israel fail to see God's love, the priests failed to see their own guilt.
v. 7 The table of the Lord is contemptible – The priests were offering blind, lame, or sick animals at the altar, and cheapening the sacrifices. The sacrifice was supposed to be without blemish, a shadow of the perfect sacrifice to come—Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the whole world.
v. 8 Offer it then to your governor – Israel's earthly governor who was a mere man would be insulted if offered this kind of animal to eat. They would not dream of insulting the governor, yet the priests offered these sick animals to the Lord without the slightest hesitation.
v. 9 but now entreat God's favor – This is not a call of repentance, but rather the prophet is asking: Do you think God is actually going to be pleased with what you are offering and reward you while you blatantly disrespect Him and His great love and mercy towards you? Conversely, God is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
v. 10 who is there even among you – There was not one honest priest.
Shut the doors, kindle fire – These were duties that the priests were not willing to do unless they received payment for them, otherwise they felt they were working in vain.
v. 11 From the rising of the sun to its going down – from East to West, or everywhere the sun hits the earth
My name shall be great among the nations – Although the priests of Israel had hearts of ingratitude and disrespect towards God, He reminds them that there will be people from every nation who will love Him from a pure heart and glorify Him for His great love and mercy.
v. 12 profane – Meaning to pollute or defile. The priests accepted spoiled fruit offerings from the people for the altar of God. They were more concerned with offending the people than offending God with offerings of worship that defiled the altar.
v. 13 Oh, what a weariness – Or hardship. The priests resented their prescribed acts of worship.
the stolen, the lame and the sick – The priests were offering sacrifices from the people of Israel with blemish, as opposed to a pure sacrifice of worship from a pure heart and attitude.
v. 14 Cursed be the deceiver – See the account of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1.
who has in his flock a male – The prescribed animal for sacrifice was a male lamb without blemish.
Feared – stood in awe of, had reverence for
Malachi 2 v. 2 I will send a curse – In other words, I will not be good to you.
curse your blessings – Those things which Israel already had been blessed with would no longer bless them.
v. 3 rebuke your descendants – The KJV renders this, "I will corrupt your seed, " meaning that the work of Israel's descendants will not be fruitful. The imagery is of planting seed in the field that won't grow.
spread refuse on your faces – Expose them to great shame and rejection.
v. 4 My covenant with Levi – Levi, one of the 12 sons of Jacob, was the tribe who received the responsibility of becoming priests for the Lord and maintaining the Temple.
v. 6 The law of truth – This verse is still speaking of Levi. He had the law of Moses always in his thoughts and often directed others in following the law.
v. 9 contemptible and base – despicable, vile, and worthless
v. 11 abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem – Directly, this relates to the Jews intermarrying with women who either worshipped pagans or whose family worshipped pagans. This was expressly against God's law for them (Deut. 7:3). This is also viewed as prophecy regarding the future mistreatment and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
profaned – desecrate or make vile
v. 12 The man who does this, being awake and aware – This is the image of a man who knows better, he knows the law and has studied it.
v. 13 You cover the altar of the LORD with tears – The tears are shed by the Jewish wives, who have been put away or divorced while their husbands chase after foreign pagan women.
v. 14 the wife of your youth – In this day, Jewish men married very young, some by the age of 13.
v. 15 take heed to your spirit – Be careful with your affections, and make sure they only go to your wife.
v. 16 it covers one's garment with violence – The violence in this verse is the divorcing of their wives, and the garment is the request for permission to divorce that the Israelites asked for from Moses (Deut. 24:1, Ps. 73:6).
v. 17 Is good in the sight of the LORD, And He delights in them – The Jews had twisted God's mercy to the point that they looked at those who did evil and how prosperous they were and mistakenly thought that God approved of them because He had not sent judgment upon them.
Malachi 3 v. 1 My messenger – This speaks of John the Baptist, who came to prepare the people for Jesus Christ (Matt. 3:3, 11:10; Mark 1:2, 3; Luke 1:76; 3:4; 7:26, 27; Johh 1:23).
And the Lord…will suddenly come to His temple – This is the Messiah, who the Jews were expecting from prophecy in Daniel (Dan. 9:24). Note the pronoun used with "temple"—the temple is His, meaning the Messiah's.
Messenger of the covenant – This also refers to the Messiah, who came in fulfillment of the Covenant with Israel and Abraham as well as to establish the New Covenant (Is. 63:9).
v. 2 who can endure the day of His coming? – This verse speaks straight to the heart of Jesus' ministry while on Earth. He did not come in the method they were expecting; they thought the Messiah would be an political savior who would rule as king over Israel. But Christ showed the religious leaders their own hypocrisy and self-idolatry, sought to forgive sins, heal the sick, injured, and lame, and care for those that society had forgotten.
like a refiner's fire – Refers to the process by which a believer in Jesus Christ becomes more Christ-like. As we seek to know Christ and follow Him, we will encounter trials that serve to refine our faith and rid any impurities (or sinful tendencies) from our lives.
like launderers' soap – which washes things that are dirty and makes them clean
v. 3 He will purify the sons of Levi – Refers to Christ cleansing the Temple, within the priesthood, for the priests had become incredibly corrupt. Some of the Temple priests did recognize Jesus as Messiah and became His followers (Acts 6:7).
purge them as gold and silver – Gold and silver are valuable things, therefore time is taken in the purification process to make them free from blemish or impurity. Likewise, Jesus sees us as valuable treasure and takes the time to make us like Him.
offering in righteousness – The sacrifices that were being performed under the Law of Moses by the corrupt priests were no longer acceptable to the Lord (Mal. 1:7-14). Those whom Christ refines will be made righteous through their faith in Him, thereby making their offerings to the Lord acceptable in His eyes.
v. 5 I will come near you for judgment – This is a response to the question of the Israelites in Malachi 2:17, where they are showing asking where the God of judgment is. The judgment spoken of here refers to the coming destruction of Jerusalem.
a swift witness – God will not only judge their sin, but serve as witness to it as well, so there will be no delay in carrying out their sentence.
sorcerers – those who practice witchcraft
perjurers – those who testify falsely against their fellow Israelites
those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans – This seems to be common behavior for this time period; to take advantage of those who can least afford it.
those who turn away an alien – or turn away a stranger
they do not fear Me – A lack of reverence for the Lord was at the root of all of these sins the Israelites were charged with. They no longer feared the Lord's judgment if they did not follow the law as it had been given to them.
v. 6 For I am the LORD, I do not change – Although the Lord had withheld His judgment upon them and had given the Jews time to return to Him and repent their wicked ways, that did not mean He wasn't going to judge them. The Old Covenant was still in place and the Jews were required to observe the law.
Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob – God will continue to uphold the covenant He made with Abraham because He still loves His people. His longsuffering is not tolerance or acceptance of their sin, but gives them time to repent on their own and return to His ways (Lam. 3:22, Rom. 2:4-10).
v. 7 ordinances – the Laws of Moses
v. 8 Yet you have robbed Me! – This verse refers to Israel's failure to submit their tithes to the Lord as they were commanded to do (Lev. 27:30-33).
v. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse – This was a designated room within the Temple for the tithes to be brought to (1 Chron. 26:20, Neh. 10:38; 13:5, 12).
try Me now in this – Giving to God will never result in a shortage, but in His abundant blessing in our lives.
v. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes – Devourer here refers to locusts, who could decimate a crop in a matter of minutes. God will protect the hard work and labor of those who give first to Him.
v. 16 a book of remembrance was written before Him – This is a reference to the record books that were kept by the kings of the land at this time (Es. 6:1). The Lord does not need a book to remember, for there is no forgetfulness in God.
v. 17 My jewels – This is better rendered, "My proper treasure" or what is God's and is prized by God.
Malachi 4 v. 1 the day is coming – This refers primarily to the coming destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, but also refers to the coming judgment of man on the last day.
stubble – or chaff
v. 2 The Sun of Righteousness shall arise – Jesus Christ
With healing – Jesus came to heal the sickness that afflicted all of God's people.
v. 4 Horeb – Mt. Sinai, where Moses received the 10 Commandments
v. 5 I will send you Elijah the prophet – This refers to John the Baptist, who came in the spirit of Elijah (Luke 1:17).
Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD – The coming of Christ. Not the second coming, but the first.
"You have said, 'It is useless to serve God; what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, and that we have walked as mourners before the LORD of hosts?'" –Malachi 3:14
This world that we live in, Lord, is full of those who do evil to the helpless in society yet prosper and grow rich. It can be hard to see that there is justice in this world.
But You, Lord, know that no matter how this world appears to us, Your longsuffering and patience is because You do not wish to see any of us perish. Help us to see the truth and to share You with those who do not yet know You.
| Missions Prayer I am never more aware that I am a vital part of the Body of Christ than when I join my heart and mind with others in prayer for the needs presented through missions—this blessing is mine even as my body is failing and my physical world is shrinking. I think the Lord has crafted this time of life for prayer and has led me to it. | Prayer Points
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