A Work in Progress Bible Commentary
By: Chip CrushMALACHI
The book of Malachi is the concluding entry of the Old Testament.
One author says, tongue in cheek, that this book is the only Biblical
text to be written by an Italian – Mah-LAH-Chee. The name Malachi was not
likely a person’s name at the time of writing, between 450-400 BC, so many
scholars point to the word’s meaning as “my messenger” and consider the
author to be Ezra. The book was certainly written in the same time frame
as that of Ezra and Nehemiah, who made their way to Jerusalem in 458 BC and
445 BC respectively.
Malachi is included in the Christian Bible as the last of 12 minor prophets,
and while most English translations include the 4 chapters of the Latin Vulgate,
the original Hebrew and Greek translations include the text of our chapter 4 in
with chapter 3. The writing is noteworthy particularly for its conversational
style of disputational dialog. The author records a series of six hypothetical
arguments between God and the people of Israel. It was a difficult period in history,
as the people of the southern kingdom (Judah) had returned from exile in Babylon
to the promised land, but no promises had been fulfilled yet, at least from their
nearsighted perspective. The outlook was bleak, the people were tired, and their
weariness left them cynical toward God and in spiritual despair. Tom Schreiner said
it would have been like mile 18-19 of running a 26.2-mile marathon, where you’re well
over half-way, but the end is not even close, and there are no fans around you
cheering you on.
Malachi serves as a spiritual wake-up call to remind and encourage the people (and
especially the leaders / priests) to faithful obedience to God. Let’s take a look.
CHAPTER 1
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