Malachi

Lately, I've been reading the book of Malachi. I know it's considered a minor book of the Bible, but it has some major things to say! I love that "Malachi" means "my messenger". If he had a blog back then, I wonder if he would have called it something like, oh maybe, "Messages Delivered." 

It was a hard message that he had to deliver. His prophetic words were the last ones given by God before the 400 year silent period (before the coming of Christ), and he had the difficult job of addressing the sins of his people.

The Israelites were back in their homeland but in less favorable conditions than they would have liked. Coming out of exile in Babylon, they returned to widespread destruction and were facing an economic crisis. Despite their complaints, Malachi addressed the symptoms that diagnosed their spiritual sickness:

1) Apathetic service (they were offering blind, sick, and polluted sacrifices)

2) Broken relationships (they were breaking covenant with their spouses)

3) Failing to obey God's commands (they were robbing God of the tithes and forsaking the Sabbath)

Ultimately, their illness had a terminal effect on their worship of God. I wonder, do you notice any of these symptoms in our society today or even in your own heart. What about the ones below that the Apostle Paul warned us about in 1 Timothy 3:1-5 that would take place during the last days?

* loving self                          * loving money                  * boastful            
* prideful                              * abusive                          * disobedient to parents 
* ungrateful                          * unholy                            * without love   
* unforgiving                        * slanderous                      * without self-control

* brutal                                * not loving good               * betraying       * rash or reckless                  * conceited                        * loving pleasure rather than God   * religious but denying the power of God

 

If you checked any of these symptoms indicating a spiritual illness, know that Malachi's message ends with hope for you too. The prescription? Repent and honor God, who is a Great Physician standing ready to heal.  And, He promises you will feel so much better!  "But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall." Malachi 4:2