In God's Word by Mike Mills, Jun 14th

June 14, 2016 - Lessons from Malachi, the last of the Old Testament Prophets.

Malachi was the last of the messengers of God to the Israelites of the Old Testament. His ministry was in the 4th century before Christ, about 430 years before the birth of Jesus.

His message came directly from God as his book shows that through it's verses. While it is only 4 chapters and 55 verses, 47 of them are spoken by the Lord. The highest percentage of any book of the Bible. In the first verse he credits the Lord as he says; "The burden of the "word of the Lord" to Israel by Malachi."

Both Haggai and Zechariah had told the Israelites that if they would build the temple that great prosperity would come to the nation of Israel. They built the temple but were expecting material or worldly gain. God intended great spiritual gain through their worship in the temple.

Since they misunderstood, they became discouraged when they didn't become rich in the world and their worship became only a ritual, formal ceremonies and they began to defile the alter of God with unfit offerings. They even got to the point of only offering to God the animals which the Roman Governor had rejected as payment of taxes. 

Just as with so many today, the absence of God's blessings are seen as His unconcern and not our own sins.

The time from Genesis to Malachi is about 1500 years, Malachi demonstrates that there had been few improvements in the lives of the people during that time. They still were ignoring the Word of the Lord, they were still living for their own selfish interests and desires, and they were still as unconcerned about God's coming judgement as were those before the flood. As is said, there is; "Nothing new under the sun."

The Israelites of Malachi's day had much the same problems as America today. Religious problems were that they did not honor God, they prayed for God's grace even as they were insulting Him through their lack of reverence and lack of worship.

They had social problems, idolatry was rampant; "For Judah has profaned the Lord's holy institution which He loves: he has married the daughter of a foreign God." (Mal 2:11) Even while they were deep into idolatry, they would still go to God's alter and cry and pray, to no avail. Worship of worldly gods brings debasement upon society, until they would return to God they would suffer. Wake up America, it's the same for us...

Their moral problems were rampant; adultery, lying, idolatry, stealing, pridefulness, lack of reverence for God, cold-heartedness, lack of respect for parents. Do these things should familiar to you? Moral decay is always the result of the loss of a close relationship with God.

Through Malachi, God gives us hope when He speaks of His faithful; "They shall be Mine says the Lord of Hosts, on the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him. Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him." (Malachi 3:17-18)

May the Lord bless you and keep you. Please feel welcome to join us any Wednesday evening for Bible study. For more info call 936-615-1427.