Malachi 1:1 - 4:6

Observations

1. Prophecy: word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi(v. 1:1)
2. "I have loved you" says Lord; loved Jacob, hated Esau; Esau's land made wasteland(vv. 1:2-3)
3. Edom vows to rebuild; Lord says "they may build, I will demolish"; Israel will see Lord's greatness beyond borders(vv. 1:4-5)
4. Priests despise God's name by offering defiled, blind, lame animals on altar(vv. 1:6-8)
5. God accepts no offering from their hands; his name great among all nations; priests profane it; cheat who vows then sacrifices blemished is cursed(vv. 1:9-14)
6. Warning to priests: honor God's name or face curse; dung smeared on their faces(vv. 2:1-3)
7. God's covenant with Levi - life and peace; Levi walked uprightly, true instruction, turned many from sin; priest is messenger of Lord(vv. 2:4-7)
8. Priests turned from the way, violated Levi covenant, caused stumbling, showed partiality - made despised before people(vv. 2:8-9)

Applications

• In what areas of my faith life (prayer, giving, serving) have I been going through the motions, and how can I ask God to renew genuine devotion in my heart?

Observations

1. Judah unfaithful; married women who worship foreign gods; desecrated sanctuary Lord loves(vv. 2:10-12)
2. Men flood altar with tears but God ignores; because they divorce "wife of your youth"; God witness to marriage covenant; "do not be unfaithful"(vv. 2:13-16)
3. People wearied Lord by saying "evildoers are good in God's eyes" and "where is the God of justice?"(v. 2:17)
4. Lord sends messenger to prepare the way; Lord comes suddenly to temple; refiner's fire purifies Levites; offerings again acceptable(vv. 3:1-4)
5. Lord comes to judge sorcerers, adulterers, perjurers, oppressors; Lord does not change - that is why Jacob not destroyed(vv. 3:5-6)

Applications

• Since God calls me to wholehearted love, what relationship in my life am I neglecting, and how can I ask him to help me change that?

Observations

1. People robbing God in tithes and offerings; whole nation under curse(vv. 3:7-9)
2. "Bring whole tithe; test me" says Lord; floodgates of heaven opened; nations will call Israel blessed(vv. 3:10-12)
3. People spoke arrogantly: "futile to serve God; evildoers prosper; they get away with it"(vv. 3:13-15)
4. Faithful remnant feared Lord; scroll of remembrance written; they will be God's treasured possession; righteous and wicked distinguished(vv. 3:16-18)
5. Day coming like furnace; arrogant and evildoers burned as stubble; righteous - sun of righteousness rises with healing(vv. 4:1-3)
6. Remember law of Moses; Elijah sent before great and dreadful day; he turns hearts of parents to children or land struck with destruction(vv. 4:4-6)

Applications

• Who in my life needs to hear that God sees their faithfulness, and how can I encourage them this week?