Do We Christians Do This?

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

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I have a number of articles in-progress that are in the que waiting to be finished. Funny how even as busy as I have been, I’ve found time to start several articles, but not finish them yet. They are coming and I’m sure everyone is waiting with baited breath (joking). In reality, I write because I love to write and the entire writing process helps me flesh out my thoughts. If no one read anything, I’d still benefit from writing articles because of how the process helps me put things into perspective.

Recently, I began teaching on the book of Malachi to our Sunday evening Bible study group. We had just finished up Zechariah and I wanted something that would only go several weeks to take us into the summer season. We would take the summer off and come back this fall with another book. I’m leaning toward teaching on Ezekiel.

As with any biblical book, we can go as in-depth as we like, but I try to give overviews and pick out important points. Sometimes, it’s important to go into the original languages to more thoroughly flesh out meaning. In fact, it’s very important to do that and a good example of that is Dane Ortlund’s book Gentle and Lowly. My wife and I have begun reading that together and I’ve found it fascinating already. He has taken the time to flesh out the use and meaning of the word “humble” or “humility” as used by Jesus in the Gospels (and Paul and Peter). Even though I’ve taken both Greek and Hebrew, I’m not even close to being an expert in each. Going more deeply into the original languages can often tend to more fully bring the actual meaning to the surface. I plan on offering a review of his book here once I’ve finished reading through it.

So with Malachi, I’m doing an overview and digging into some points as I go. What I have found is fascinating to me. I think it is fairly easy for Christians to read through portions of the Old Testament and think that not much applies directly to us. We see an emphasis on the Mosaic Law and sacrificial system instituted under his leadership. Well, Christians today do not have to deal with that same sacrificial system because of Jesus and His full, complete and final sacrifice He offered to the Father on Calvary’s cross. Because of that, we tend to read the Old Testament as a way of life that is no longer valid. While that is certainly true, we probably should not always be so quick to push things aside. Malachi speaks to the condition of the Israelites just prior to the 400 year silence between the testaments.

At the same time, I am beginning to wonder and ask myself if I am guilty to any degree of taking the same approach and attitude toward God that those ancient Israelites did in the book of Malachi? I need to be very truthful in my relationship with God in Jesus. Without that, I may not take an honest approach to God concerning my relationship with Him. I think if given the chance, the message in Malachi, while written to Jewish people over 2,500 years ago, is very much applicable to Christians and Christendom today. Are you brave enough to allow Malachi’s message to pierce your heart if necessary?

Malachi deals with prophecy and is the 39th or last book of the Old Testament. The name Malachi (Mal’akiy), literally means “My Messenger” and this name only appears once in the entire book in Malachi 1:1.

It is possible that Malachi might be a title, rather than the prophet’s actual name, but I like to think it’s his name. He talked to and wrote to the nation Israel and his message was exactly what God wanted the Israelites to know. There are no warnings to other nations within Malachi.

The book dates to roughly 500 – 400 BC, probably before return of Ezra to Jerusalem (460 BC), and possibly at beginning of Nehemiah’s second term as gov (435 BC). Remember that fact. Nehemiah was the governor at the time.

Malachi is God’s final prophetic word to Israel just before 400 years of silence between the testaments. God seemed to be done with Israel during this period. There were no prophets, no revelations via dreams. God has seemingly removed His hand from that nation, until John the Baptist came on the scene as the next prophet. As we know, John paved the way for Jesus, the Messiah.

During the time of Malachi, Israel is on a slow, consistent spiritual slide away from God. In fact, it may have been a fairly quick and deliberate slide away from God.

Throughout the Old Testament, Israel is seen in varying stages:

• Hosea sees Israel as the unfaithful wife
• Ezekiel portrays Israel as blatantly sinful with no sign of repentance

By the time of Malachi, Israel had literally become numb toward God, having gotten to that point by deliberately and continually moving from faithful and obedient to becoming full faithless and disobedient. They eventually became bitter toward God. Can you imagine that? They actually harbored animosity and bitterness toward the God who had rescued them from Egypt and many troubles after that.

Malachi was written while Israel remained under Babylon’s control. Though allowed to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple, Babylon still controlled Israelites and then later the Medes-Persians.

Rather than turning to God in faith, the Israelites became bitter, disobedient and utterly faithless. They blamed God for their troubles rather than the reality of their own faithlessness. This is often true of people who are “angry” with God while at the same time saying He does not exist. The fact that they are angry with God is proof enough that they actually do believe God exists. They’re simply angry because things didn’t go their way, but won’t/can’t admit that.

The book of Malachi has three main messages, each one directed at a particular group within Israel:

1. Priesthood
2. Men of the nation
3. Israel in its entirety

God covered everything here. He left no one out. Because men were the heads of the home, by telling them God’s thoughts, they and their house became responsible for that knowledge. The priests set the tone for worship. The men of the nation, as leaders, also participated in ensuring that their families understood what God expected. All of Israel was held accountable for their faith or lack of it where God was concerned.

In the book of Malachi, there are a total of three messages. Each message is composed of two oracles equaling six total. Each pair of messages mirrors the other and each oracle is comprised of specific accusations against Israel. Throughout, God charges Israel with error. Each time, Israelites respond in disbelief and doubt. God’s charges include improper sacrifices, rampant divorce, pagan intermarriage, and spiritual irreverence.

How many times have we read about those problems with Israel throughout the Old Testament? It’s mentioned in the New Testament numerous times as well by numerous writers.

Malachi’s messages focus on God’s faithfulness to Israel in spite of their continual unfaithfulness. Israel continues to disobey God, yet blame Him for their failures and consequences that result from their disobedience.

In spite of Israel’s continued failure, God promises to send messengers who will prepare the way for the Messiah. Imagine that? Ultimately, God will ensure that the following things happen:

• The priesthood will be purified
• All nations will glorify God, and
• The wicked will be forever defeated

It seems that these things will ultimately occur in the Millennial Kingdom after Jesus returns to this earth physically. He will ensure that the priesthood is purified, that all nations will glorify God and that the wicked will forever be defeated. Matthew 24 and 25 speak of His return and the events (including judgment of the nations), afterwards.

There are key verses from each of the four chapters of Malachi, which we will highlight as we go over them. In Malachi 1, the first of the prophet’s three message includes all of chapter 1 through chapter 2, verse nine. The message is presented as a dialogue between God and Israel. God’s messenger (Malachi), accuses Israel of sinning grievously. Israel responds with incredulity: How have we sinned?! It’s a bit ridiculous to realize just how out of touch Israel was with its own failures at that time.

But I wonder, am I ever guilty of doing the same thing? Am I ever blind to the reality of my sins while incredulously asking God what can He possibly mean if the Spirit takes the time to point them out to me?

God tells Israel He “has loved them” (1:2). He has protected and cared for Israel. Israel dares to ask, “How have you loved us?”

By way of example, Malachi includes reference to the fate of the nation of Edom, noting that Esau produced Edom, while Jacob produced Israel. Ultimately, God destroyed Esau/Edom due to that nation’s many sins (Obadiah; Malachi 1:3-4). Though Israel had been persecuted and scattered, God continued to protect them and keep them alive and even prospered them when they obeyed.

In essence, God showed more favor toward Israel versus Edom (“Jacob have I loved; Esau have I hated”), because of the fact that Esau hated his birthright. He was willing to cast it aside for a bowl of soup. It meant nothing to him because of his overpowering hunger. Yet, in those days, the birthright was everything for the first born son.

Malachi 1:6-7 informs us how priests had been disloyal to God and even hated Him by their actions, the thoughts and attitudes of their hearts and their approach to God (or lack of it). Priests had been told specifically (through Moses):

• What type of animals to sacrifice
• The necessary condition of those animals
• The proper attitude priests were supposed to have especially during sacrifice – (though it became bitter and lazy – Malachi 1:13)

Instead of having the correct attitude, which including gratefulness, priests simply didn’t care. They often used unqualified animals in sacrifice; animals that were “imperfect” or impure from diseases, etc. Though no government official would accept the animals for himself (and the priests would never consider giving them as a gift to a government official like Nehemiah), God was supposed to eagerly accept whatever was offered to Him and be grateful apparently.

The truth is that this approach to God by the priests and the people of Israel was very atheistic. It’s as if they did not really believe God existed. All the miracles recorded by Moses and other writers throughout the Old Testament were very far away from Malachi’s Israel. It wasn’t real to them and they did nothing to cultivate a reality.

The whole sacrificial system and approach to God had become very wearisome to them. It was nothing more than ritual and it was ritual they had come to hate. Since it was God who had appointed that system, it was clearly His fault, so they blamed Him.

The impure/imperfect animals chosen as sacrifices to God were a major insult to Him. God responded by rejecting Israel’s worship. God preferred the priests brought no sacrifices at all (Malachi 1:10). The sin of bringing God apathetic, selfish, or profane worship is worse than offering no worship at all. God ultimately tells Israel He will be worshiped purely by the “unclean” Gentiles. This was a major slap in the face to Israel who knew themselves to be the “chosen” of God.

But here’s a question for us: do we bring God our best? Do we worship Him with all our heart? Sometimes, I will confess, I’m at church and I don’t feel like singing. I go through the motions. Yet, my heart should willingly reach out to God in song and praise because of all that He has done for me.

Verses 13 and 14 demonstrate the general apathy of Israel. They simply did not care because the sacrificial system seemed overwhelming and burdensome to them. It had become a “had to” system and it bothered them so they groaned and complained. Priests knew what they were supposed to do. They knew of the correct sacrifices, and the right way to teach the people, but they saw it as too much trouble (Malachi 1:13). Men routinely make promises to God that they don’t keep for selfish reasons (Malachi 1:14). God takes no pleasure in that.

In spite of Israel’s continued waywardness, God’s condemnation, His mercy is evident. The penalty for profaning God’s holiness, in the Old Testament, is death (Numbers 18:32). Despite Israel’s disregard for Him, God continues reaching out to His people, for their own benefit. This has been and continues to be Israel’s way of living even today. They ignore God, yet continue to make demands of Him. They live in a state of spiritual blindness to this day, but one day, God will awaken the hearts of the final remnant.

Do Christians do any of this today? If so we need to check ourselves and repent of our sin. As Dane Ortlund tells us, Jesus stands there, not with a finger pointing at us, but with open arms wanting to embrace us. Where are you in your walk with Him?

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

Source: https://studygrowknowblog.com/2025/05/05/do-we-christians-do-this/