03.39. Malachi
Walking Thru The Bible
MALACHI
These last three prophets in the Old Testament are from the period following the Babylonian captivity which we often call the "Restoration Period" or post-exilic period. The common message of these prophets was: return to the right ways of the Lord. Haggai and Zechariah were particularly concerned with the rebuilding of the temple which had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians nearly 70 years before. The people had been tending to their personal affairs and neglecting the temple and other spiritual responsibilities.
MALACHI
Malachi was the last writing prophet to serve God under the Law of Moses. The material within the book parallels the situation described in Nehemiah 13:1-31. Nehemiah had served as governor during the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and a few years following. He had returned to Persia to serve the king and in Nehemiah 13:1-31 he has returned to serve as governor a second time. The sins dealt with in Malachi are those found in Nehemiah 13:1-31 and thus Malachi may be dated about 433 BC. Background: The priests were lax and wicked, offerings were being neglected, divorce was common, and justice was being perverted. Malachi’s intense love for God and the people of God moved him to speak with great urgency in the streets and market places. Malachi uses a "question-answer" method of preaching. Malachi challenged the apathy and disloyalty of the people. Poverty and hard times had come. The people were questioning the love of God because of their difficulties and the prophet placed the blame where it really belonged. It was the sin of the people--not the lack of divine love--which was at the root of the problems (cf. Isaiah 59:1-2). Outline of Malachi: The book opens with an affirmation of the love of God for his people (Malachi 1:1-5) and shows how that love has been spurned (Malachi 1:6-14, Malachi 2:1-9). A specific rebuke of the people of Malachi’s day for their widespread profanation of marriage is given (Malachi 2:10-16). Finally, the prophet looks forward to the coming of the Messiah. A Major Message From Malachi:
One of problems besetting the people of Malachi’s day is a major problem of our society as well. It is the heartache of unjustified divorce and remarriage. Both the Old and New Testaments allow divorce and remarriage in one extreme case, Deuteronomy 24:1-4; Matthew 5:32; Matthew 19:9. A problem in Malachi’s day was that some had married unlawfully to start with and needed to put away those wives (Ezra 10:10-12; Nehemiah 13:23-31; Deuteronomy 7:3-4). Another problem was some men were beginning to cast aside their lawful wives, and such had to be dealt with also, Malachi 2:14-15. God’s severe attitude toward all such tampering with a divine institution is evident in the statement of the prophets (Malachi 2:16). A Bag With Holes
"Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes." (Haggai 1:6)
Introduction:
1. The historical background to Haggai (Cf. Malachi 1:1-14).
2. An overview of Haggai’s work and results.
a.Sixteen years of wasted efforts and fruitless labors. b.Like sand castles by the sea. (1 Corinthians 3:13).
3. Am I building on a foundation of wood, hay and stubble? Am I putting into a bag with holes?
4. When is life a bag of holes where all efforts are wasted?
I. LIFE WITHOUT CHRIST IS A BAG OF HOLES.
1.In Christ we have all spiritual blessings, Ephesians 1:3. 2.Every life outside of Christ is a bag with holes, Psalms 127:1 II.LIFE’S EDUCATION WITHOUT GOD IS A BAG WITH HOLES
1.What price is too great to pay for the safety, welfare and education of our children? Romans 1:16; Psalms 119:104 2.How Solomon saw it -- (1 Kings 4:29-34; Ecclesiastes 1:18) III.LIFE WITHOUT GOD’S KINGDOM FIRST IS A BAG WITH HOLES
1.How those of Haggai’s day lived -- Malachi 1:1-14 vs. 2 Samuel 7:2 2.Jesus’s declaration in Matthew 6:33 IV.LIFE WITHOUT LAYING UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN IS A BAG WITH HOLES 1.Alexander the Great -- 1 Timothy 6:7 2.Church at Laodicea -- Revelation 3:17 (Abe Lincoln comment) 3.How can we lay up treasures? 4.In Christ we are rich. James 2:5; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 Timothy 6:17-18; 1 Peter 1:3-4; 1 Timothy 6:6; Colossians 3:16.
Conclusion:
1.A place where our labor is not in vain! (Revelation 14:13; Hebrews 6:10) 2.David’s observation of prosperity. Psalms 73:17-19. Prosperity without God is putting into a bag with holes.