Malaquias 2

Malaquias 2

THE ORACLE OF THE WORD OF JEHOVAH THROUGH MALACHI (Malachi 1:1) (Malachi means "My Messenger" or "Messenger of Jehovah") Click for EXCELLENT TIMELINE - Go to Page 42 Mal 1:6-2:9 Mal 2:10-3:15 Mal 3:16-4:3 Love of God for Israel Rejected! Rebuke of Sins of Priests: Illicit Practices Indifference Rebuke of Sins of People: Mixed Marriages Divorces Robbing God Blessing to All Who Fear Jehovah God's Wrath on the Wicked Remember the Law Promise of... Elijah, Restore Hearts Warning of... Day of the Lord PRIVILEGE OF ISRAEL POLLUTION OF ISRAEL PROMISE TO ISRAEL PAST CARE PRESENT COMPLAINT FUTURE COMING (See also Mal 3:1-6) GOD'S COMPASSION for Israel GOD'S COMPLAINT Against Israel GOD'S CONSOLATION to Righteous Remnant GOD'S CONDEMNATION of Wicked Book of Remembrance Coming of Messiah Coming of Elijah GOD'S LOVE SADLY SPURNED! GOD'S GRACE STILL OFFERED! PLACE: JERUSALEM TIME OF WRITING: Difficult to Date but... Circa 445-420BC As alluded to in the comments on Malachi 1, Israel's priest and people repeatedly failed to see their sin against God and their need to confess so that they might experience His mercy and forgiveness. As Wiersbe wisely points out "It is a dangerous thing when people argue with God and try to defend their sinful ways." ISRAEL'S REFUTATION OF THEIR SIN 1 But you say, “How hast Thou loved us?” 2 But you say, ‘How have we despised Thy name?’ 3 But you say, ‘How have we defiled Thee?’ 4 Yet you say, ‘For what reason?’ 5 Yet you say, “How have we wearied Him?” 6 But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 7 But you say, ‘How have we robbed Thee?’ 8 Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against Thee?’ Israel doesn't even reply to God's accusations by "Yes, but" but only "But!" There is no "Yes," no acknowledgement whatsoever of their guilt before a holy God. This reflects their intractably stony hearts, their immutably stiff necks, their unresponsive rebellious spirits! A sad state indeed, for a people chosen by God to be lights unto the Gentiles! David Levy outlines Malachi 1. A People Divinely Loved (Mal 1:1–5) 2. A Compromising Clergy (Mal 1:6–14) 3. The Priesthood: God’s EKG Of Israel (Mal 2:1–9) 4. The Broken Marriage Covenant (Mal 2:10–16) 5. Where Is The God Of Justice? (Mal 2:17–3:6) 6. Robbing A Righteous God (Mal 3:7–12) 7. The Two Faces Of Judah (Mal 3:13–18) 8. The Day Of The Lord Unveiled (Mal 4:1–6) (Malachi : Messenger of rebuke and renewal) John Phillips outline of Malachi 2 Disregarding God's Law (Malachi 2:1-9) God's Commandment to the Priests (Malachi 2:1-4) What He Said Specifically (Malachi 2:1) What He Said Solemnly (Malachi 2:2-3) The Thrust of the Message (Malachi 2:2a) The Threat of the Message (Malachi 2:2b-3) A Shattering Curse (Malachi 2:2b) A Shameful Corruption (Malachi 2:3) What He Said Surely (Malachi 2:4) God's Covenant with the Priests (Malachi 2:5-7) A Lesson from the Past (Malachi 2:5-6) Levi's Ordination (Malachi 2:5a) Levi's Obedience (Malachi 2:5b-6) Godly Inclination (Malachi 2:5b-6a) His Godly Influence (Malachi 2:6b) A Lesson for the Present (Malachi 2:7) God's Contempt for the Priests (Malachi 2:8-9) Their Abandonment of God (Malachi 2:8) Their Abasement by God (Malachi 2:9) Nation's Special Sins (Malachi 2:10-17) Their Detestable Ways (Malachi 2:10-13) A Denial of Brotherhood (Malachi 2:10) A Distortion of Belief (Malachi 2:11-13) Their Marriages (Malachi 2:11) Their Mockery (Malachi 2:12) Their Misery (Malachi 2:13) Their Deserted Wives (Malachi 2:14-16) What the Lord Witnessed (Malachi 2:14) What the Lord Wanted (Malachi 2:15) What the Lord Withstands (Malachi 2:16) Their Distorted Words (Malachi 2:17) Their Words Wearying to God (Malachi 2:17a) God's Words Wrested by Them (Malachi 2:17b) (Exploring the Minor Prophets) Malachi 2:1 "And now this commandment is for you, O priests.: (Mal 1:6 Jer 13:13 La 4:13 Ho 5:1) And now - NICOT comments "The prophet begins by reminding the priests that this command was especially applicable to them. With the introductory weattâ, “and now,” the prophet recapitulates what was said in the preceding passage and emphasizes the topic of his new discourse." Commandment (04687) (misvah/mitsvah) is an authoritative directive, written or verbal, issued as instruction or prescription to a subordinate from men (1Ki 2:43; Esther. 3:3; Pr 6:20; Isa 36:21; Isa 29:13 = "tradition," [= 2 words - mitsvah + iys = man] Jer. 35:18) or from God Misvah/mitsvah is probably better translated in this context "decree," since no explicit commandment is given (cf. Nah. 1:14). The decree which follows gives the consequences of the priests' disobedience. Priest (03548) (kohen - from kahan = to officiate/minister as priest) signifies an acting priest, chief ruler, chief priest, or principal officer . Besides the well-known Levitical priests and high priests, there seems to have developed non-Levitical priests (high officials). (2Sa 8:18; 20:26; 1Ki 4:5; 1Ch 18:16, 17) As noted above David Levy refers to this section as "The Priesthood: God’s EKG Of Israel (Mal 2:1–9)" In the early days e.g. in Deuteronomy, was there DIVORCE when they committed adultery? No...THERE WAS DEATH!!! But through the years instead of putting them to death, they wrote a BILL OF DIVORCEMENT (See Dt 22:12ff). So DIVORCE replaced DEATH! When this occurred the Jews then began to divorce FOR ANY CAUSE. Go to Mal 2:13. Disciple's Study Bible - Mal 2:1-9 GOD, Wrath--God's ministers bear special responsibility to teach His people. When they neglect or misuse this responsibility, they face God's disciplining wrath. Professional ministry is not a reason for pride but an opportunity for service. Mal 2:1-9 WORSHIP, Priesthood--Worship leaders have specific functions: (1) to listen to God; (2) to honor God; (3) to reverence and worship God; (4) to follow the highest moral standards; (5) to turn other people away from their sinful lives; (6) to instruct God's people; and (7) to be God's messengers.