1 The burden of the word of
the LORD to Israel by Malachi. (Mal 1:1)
Each book of the Holy Bible occupies a special place and serves a special
purpose. The Book of Malachi is certainly no different. Malachi signals the
close of the Old Testament that has proven such a trial for the people of God
in keeping the Law. The book was written during the sixth centuries BC after
the exile in Babylon. Two other post-exilic prophets wrote during this period –
Haggai and Zechariah. I have read the accounts of a number of
pseudo-theologians who attempt to raise doubts of the authorship of Malachi and
thereby prove their lack of faith and belief in the very words of Holy Scripture;
for the leading verse tells us frankly that the author is MALICHI! God indicts
Israel of evil in fourteen accusations and ten denials of Israel. Israel has
been hypercritical of even the justice of God. Malachi, as God’s prophet,
mentions five messengers: 1) Malachi himself as “my messenger” in vs. 1:1; 2)
The true priest in vs. 2:7; 3) John the Baptist in vs. 3:1; 4) The Messiah vs.
3:1-3; and )5 Elijah in vs. 4:4-5. Malachi also castigates the priest
whose sins have displeased God and departed from the truth: 1) Departed
out of the way; 2) Caused many to stumble at the Law; 3) Corrupted the
covenants of Levi; (all vs. 8) 4) Did not keep God’s ways - vs.9. and, 5) Were
partial in the administration of the Law with respect of persons. Nothing much
has changed in our day, has it?
An overriding purpose that is clearly intended in this Book is to warn
post-exilic Israel that God will not long tolerate the same apostasy that had
led to their exile to Babylon in the first place. Now that they have returned,
God expects a change in character from those carried away captive years
earlier.
Malachi, being the 39th Book of the Bible is the last
of the Old Testament under which Israel has attempted, with futility, to live
according to the Law of God. It is no coincidence that the last word of the
Book of Malachi is the word CURSE! For as many as are of the works of the
law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth
not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that
no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The
just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that
doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of
the law, being made a curse for us:” (Gal 3:10-13a) The greater promise
and Star of Malachi is that of the Coming of Christ, the Messiah!
The Lord has forever born a burden for the people of His making. But no man can
truly bear a burden for God as He is All-Powerful and not needing a burden
bearer. The BURDEN of which Malachi speaks is the burden of the Lord for us
that is revealed in His written Word and in Himself as the incarnate Christ. “Behold,
I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He
saith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the
LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their
lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not
profit this people at all, saith the LORD. And when this people, or the
prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the LORD?
thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the
LORD. And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall
say, The burden of the LORD, I will even punish that man and his house.”
(Jer 23:31-34) How often do we hear the false prophets shout from their pulpits
their “burdens for the Lord” to extort money from the people and to sheer the
lambs clan of their wool? The Lord has born OUR burdens and has suffered many
stripes for us. But the false prophet does not mention the true burden of the
Lord, but of his own lust for wealth and power.
Malachi speaks both of the justice of God and also the mercy. If justice were
to be discounted, there could be no mercy. We deserve justice but, because of
the suffering of Christ, we may obtain mercy.
Four days hence we shall take up the detailed devotion of Malachi. If you read
ahead, you may dig out more gems of beauty than I am able to find. If we search
together, we shall receive the multiplied reward of a thousand eyes of witness.
