(2) In Malachi 1:8, the word ‘Governor’ is used (Strong’s No: 06346). It is the translation of ‘Pechah’. ‘Pechah’ was a Persian title given to Persian administrators of Judah after 538 B.C (Ezra 5:36, Daniel 3:2). Even the Jewish administrators appointed by Persia like Zerubbabel and Nehemiah were given the same title (Haggai 1:1,14; 2:2, Nehemiah 5:14; 12:26). Henceforth, we can construe from it that the book of Malachi must have been written after 538 B.C i.e. after the Babylonian exile. Because, it was only after the Babylonian exile that Judah was under Persian rule. Another clue is given by the fact that the book of Malachi talks about the temple and its rituals (Malachi 1:6-14; 2:7-9,13). This makes it clear that Malachi must have been written after the construction of the second temple. The temple built by Solomon was destroyed by Babylon in 587 B.C (2 Kings 25:9). As we know, the people of Judah went into exile after that. They returned only in 538 B.C as per the order of King Cyrus who had defeated Babylon. On return they built the temple again by 515 B.C after facing many troubles (See Grace – Blossom 07:September 08, para 02). Hence, since the book of Malachi mentions about the temple and temple rituals, it must have been written in a period when the temple was standing, therefore, only after 515 B.C. In fact, book of Malachi condemns the carelessness and unfaithfulness of the Jewish people. It is highly improbable that the people would have become such insensitive spiritually, right after the construction of the temple. So, it is reasonable to conclude that Malachi was written many years after the construction of the second temple. It is interesting to note that Malachi shares many similarities with the book of Nehemiah. They both condemn similar transgressions on the part of the Jewish people – carelessness of the priests (Malachi 1:6 – Nehemiah 13:4-9), Failure to pay Tithes (Malachi 3:7-12 – Nehemiah 13:10-13), Mixed marriages (Malachi 2:11 – Nehemiah 13:23-27). So, some biblical scholars have concluded that the prophesies of Malachi must have been written between the years 445 B.C – 420 B.C, the period in which Nehemiah lived. If that is true, Malachi obtains the privilege of being the last Old Testament prophet. After the Babylonian exile only three prophets rose among the people. They were Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi (Haggai prophesied in 520 B.C – See Grace – Blossom 07:September 08).
(3) Verses 1,2 – God reveals his words to Israelites through Malachi. Israelites think that God does not love them. Judah was under Persian rule when this prophecy was written. The Davidic monarchy had ceased to exist long ago. Hence, it was natural that many Israelites were displeased with God and questioned his love. But, God says that he loves them. As evidence, he says ‘I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated’. Esau and Jacob were twins (Genesis 25:24). Even though Esau was the elder one, God chose Jacob, the father of the Israelites even from his birth. Writing about this, Paul says that Jacob was not chosen because of his good deeds, but because of God’s purpose in election (Romans 9:10-13). Indeed, he chose Jacob even before he was born. Citing this, God reminds the Israelites that he had loved them from the beginning not due to their goodness but due to His grace. Truly, God has chosen us also in the same way (Romans 8:29,20). That is why Paul says that God set him ‘apart from mother’s womb’ (Galatians 1:15). Hence, we too must never forget the love God has shown us. As warned by Peter difficult trials will most definitely befall us (1 Peter 4:12). We should not question God’s love on such occasions. In fact, many of the troubles of the Israelites were the result of their own mistakes. In the same way, we should not blame God for the many trials we bring on ourselves due to our own fleshly desires. Writing about this, James says that God does not tempt anyone and ‘each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed’ (James 1:13,14). Hence, we should never forget that it is our fleshly failings that are behind many of our trials.
(4) Verses 3,4,5 – God refers to the destruction of the descendants of Esau i.e. the Edomites as an indication for his love for Israel. Edomites were constantly at odds with the Israelites (Numbers 20:14-21, Amos 1:11). Moreover, Edomites helped Babylon when it destroyed Judah in 587 B.C (Psalms 137:7,8, see Grace – Blossom 02:March 08, paras 2,3). We have seen in an issue of Grace about God’s prophesies through Prophet Obadiah about the coming destruction of Edom recorded (See Grace – Blossom 02). When Malachi was writing this prophesy Edom had been destroyed by Babylon. Mount Seir, the homeland of Edomites, had become a waste land. God says that even though the remaining Edomites planned to rebuild the ruins, Edom will never flourish again. He says that his ‘wrath’ will always remain with them. The reason for God to refer to the destruction of the Edomites is to make the Israelites understand how much he loves them. The Edomites were being punished for their enmity towards His beloved Israel. This showed his great love for Israel. God says that when the Israelites see the full extent of his punishment on Edom they will glorify Him. As prophesied here by Malachi, Edom ceased to exist as an independent nation and disappeared from history. Some Israelites would have glorified God seeing that. However, only after seeing the final destruction of all the gentiles including the Edomites in the coming war of Armageddon, will Israel as a nation return to God. Even the people of the world will come to know Yahweh as the true God only after this final destruction which will be followed by the establishment of the Kingdom of God in earth (See Grace – Blossom 02:March 08, paras 10,11 & Blossom 12:February 09, para 09).
(5) Verses 6,7,8 – A son honours his father through his deeds. A servant honours his master through his obedience. But the Israelites were disobedient and thereby failed to honour God. Love is the basis of a son’s obedience whereas fear is the basis of a servant’s obedience. Thus the people of Israel had neither love nor fear towards Yahweh. That is why their priests displayed contempt for Yahweh’s name due to lack of love towards Him but fearlessly asked ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ They placed defiled food on God’s holy altar and still had the courage to ask God ‘How have we defiled you?’ They were contemptible towards Lord’s Table without any fear of God’s judgement. Moreover, they brought blind and crippled animals as sacrifices and even justified doing so. A sacrificial animal should be blameless as per the tenets of the Law covenant (Leviticus 22:22). But, since blemished animals were comparatively less useful for their owners many preferred giving them as sacrifices instead of healthier ones. And the priests, who ought to uphold the Law, did not condemn this behaviour. May be they thought that if they implemented the provisions of the Law strictly, the number of sacrifices would come down (since people would be reluctant to sacrifice healthier animals) leading to a reduction in the benefits they received from the sacrificial system. Truly, when we love someone we will not present them damaged goods. In the same way, we will not dare to give imperfect gifts to someone we fear. Hence, it is clear that even the priests who are supposed to uphold the Law did not have any fear or love towards Yahweh. God dares them to give those imperfect gifts to their Persian Governor who will neither be pleased nor will he accept them. Even we tend to give only our spare time or left over money for God’s work. At the same time, we are very careful with regards to our dealings with our worldly superiors, be it in work place or anywhere else. None of us will be careless regarding a work assigned to us by our superior at work. But how many of us show the same sincerity and commitment towards the work of preaching the Gospel, a command given to us by our spiritual master, Jesus Christ. Hence, let us not be like those unfaithful priests. Let us give first and full priority to God’s work (See Grace – Blossom 25:February 10, para 07).
(6) Verses 9,10 – The priests think that if they prayed to God to be gracious, he will forgive all their faults. But God says that as long as their offerings are insincere, he will never accept them. God was very angry. He asks one of them to shut the temple and stop giving useless sacrifices. Great must have been the extent of their sin that God went to the extent of asking them to close down the temple.
(7) Verses 11,12 – After having spoken about the faults of the Israelites till now, God goes on to warn them with a prophesy. The Israelites and their priests were defiling God’s name and were refusing to honour him. But God’s name is about to become ‘great among the nations’ in the coming kingdom of God (Psalms 22:27). Unlike the impure offerings of the Israelites, ‘pure offerings’ will be offered in the coming kingdom of God. The people of Israel who were disobedient to God in Malachi’s time will be ashamed then. In fact, Israelites of Malachi’s time will be a bad example to the people who will rise in God’s kingdom. By defiling God’s table and being disobedient they were profaning the mighty name of God which is about to become great among the nations. We too are worshipping the same mighty God. We should never forget what a privilege it is to follow Yahweh. We should be careful that our behaviour anywhere over anything does not bring dishonour to Yahweh’s glorious name.
(8) Verses 13,14 – The Israelites of that day considered it as ‘a burden’ to offer sacrifices to God. That is why they offered injured or crippled or diseased animals. But God says that he will never accept them. He says that someone who has a perfect animal in his flock but sacrifices a blemished one will be cursed. Many times we may also feel that our spiritual life is being a burden to us. It is wrong and short sighted to feel so. Even though the Israelites were asked to offer many sacrifices, God had given them many blessings as well. In the same way, we have also been blessed abundantly by Him. Truly, when the whole world is running after worthless goals, it is a great blessing for us to run towards an eternal goal. Hence, we who know the future glory that is awaiting us should consider it as a honour to serve God rather than as a burden. Moreover if we have the ability and potential to serve God in a better way than we are doing right now, we should go for it and not settle for a lesser way like those Israelites, who offered blemished animals despite having good ones. James also says that anyone who knows the good he has to do and does not do it, is sinning (James 4:17). We should undertake Gospel works with utmost conviction.
(9) Chapter 2: Verses 1,2 – God admonishes the priests of Israel. He warns them that if they do not listen to him and honour his name, he will curse them and their blessings. In fact, he tells them that he has already cursed them. And if they do not repent those curses will increase in magnitude. For the Israelites, their blessings depended on their obedience to God’s Laws. Only if God blessed them, their harvests were good. Hence, whenever cursed by God, their land produced little and their daily life was affected. Even though God cursed the priests in these verses, their disobedience affected the entire nation. When the harvest was bad, naturally the share of the priests also came down.
(10) Verse 3,4 – God says that he will rebuke the descendants of the erring priests. He will throw on their faces the ‘offal’ i.e. the remains of their imperfect sacrifices. Just as the offal would be thrown out, the descendants of the priests would also be thrown out. God goes on to give the reason for it. The covenant with Levi entitled his descendants to be priests. But, since many of them were being disobedient, God warns them that he would throw them away like the offal. The priests should listen to God’s warning and repent. Only then their descendants will remain as priests and God’s covenant with Levi will ‘continue’. Otherwise, the priests would realize their mistakes only when the warnings came true. By then it would be too late. The covenant with Levi would have been thrown out.
(11) Verse 5,6,7 – In these verses, God explains the pureness of His covenant with Levi. It was a covenant of life and peace. Truly, whenever the priests 
were diligent in their duties, the whole of Israel was filled with life and peace. Levi revered God and gave glory to His name. He preached only true instructions and ‘nothing false was found on his lips’. He had peace with God and by his uprightness he turned many away from sin. Every priest must be like him. Every priest must preserve true ‘knowledge’ because rest of the Israelites sought instructions from them. Therefore, the priest was a messenger of God. Hence they must lead a life worthy of that high privilege. The Church of Christ is also a representative of God in this dark world of Satan. Hence, we too must live worthy lives such that the people of the world see us as good examples.
(12) Verse 8,9 – But the priests of Malachi’s time transgressed their holy covenant. Instead of being the messengers of God they turned away from him and the true instruction was not in their lips. This caused many to stumble. They violated the holy covenant God had with Levi. Since they did not follow the ways of God and were partial in the matters of the Law, God had caused them to be despised and humiliated before all people. Generally, the priests were highly respected by the people of Israel because they held an exalted role in the Jewish system. But when they lived unworthy of that respect by exhibiting partiality in return for worldly wealth and lost their integrity, it was natural for the people to despise them. Even today people despise corrupt officers.
(13) Our study of Malachi has yielded many fruitful spiritual lessons. Just as God had chosen Israel even before birth he has also chosen us from our mother’s womb. Hence, unlike Israelites who doubted God’s love we should always be confident that God loves us greatly. We also saw that the Israelites did not have any love or fear towards God. God rebukes them for that. This too is a lesson for us. If we lack in love, we cannot serve God with enthusiasm. If we lack Godly fear, we will become careless regarding Gospel works. Only God’s wrath will remain. Moreover, the priests of Israel misused their exalted positions and caused many to stumble. God’s curse fell on them. We should not be like them. We should be like lights in this dark world. This applies especially to the elders and others who hold responsible positions in the church. They should be careful that their behaviour does not cause anyone to stumble. Finally, we also saw that the Israelites were defiling the mighty name of God which is about to be glorified by all nations in the coming kingdom of God. We hence should always try to honour and glorify God’s name. Let all praise and glory be to God.
– To be continued in the next issue –