MALACHI—NOTE ON MALACHI 3:1 Apparently Israel was repeating the
error of Amos’s listeners (Amos 5:18). They supposed that the
Lord’s coming would be only for blessing. They did not realize that
the Lord’s coming would also be for judgment. He would come to be a
“witness” against all evildoers, inclu... [ Continue Reading ]
MALACHI—NOTE ON MALACHI 3:2 When the Lord comes, he will purify some
sinners (vv. Malachi 3:2) and judge others (v. Malachi 3:5). The
purifying will be thorough and severe, as if it were done with a
REFINER’S FIRE and FULLERS’ SOAP (compare Hebrews 12:7). The heat
of the refiner’s fire helped separa... [ Continue Reading ]
MALACHI 3:6 Fifth Dispute: How Shall We Repent? Can a Man Rob God?
Malachi returns to the subject of Israel’s offerings, which he first
addressed in the second dispute (Malachi 1:6). When Israel returned
from exile, they neglected to offer their tithes (see Nehemiah 13:10).
Crop failure and disease... [ Continue Reading ]
MALACHI—NOTE ON MALACHI 3:8 YOU ARE ROBBING ME. The people were not
giving to God the offerings that rightly belonged to him.
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MALACHI—NOTE ON MALACHI 3:10 God promises that if his people
faithfully present their FULL TITHE, then the desperately needed rain
will come (v. Malachi 3:10). Crop failure will cease (v. Malachi
3:11), and the promise to Abraham that ALL NATIONS WILL CALL YOU
BLESSED (v. Malachi 3:12; Psalms 72:17)... [ Continue Reading ]
MALACHI—NOTE ON MALACHI 3:13 Sixth Dispute: How Have We Spoken
against God? This section echoes the first dispute. Here the focus is
on God’s own people. Some embrace the covenant, and some do not.
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MALACHI—NOTE ON MALACHI 3:16 In sharp contrast to the people in vv.
Malachi 3:13, a second group is now mentioned: THOSE WHO FEARED THE
LORD AND ESTEEMED HIS NAME. Just as the Lord heard the insults of the
first group, so he hears the faithful conversation of the second. A
BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE is wri... [ Continue Reading ]
MALACHI—NOTE ON MALACHI 3:17 The Lord promises that, for those
faithful believers listed in the “book of remembrance” (Malachi
3:16), a day is coming when God will say, THEY SHALL BE MINE, his
TREASURED POSSESSION (Malachi 3:17; compare Exodus 19:5). God will
spare them AS A MAN SPARES HIS SON WHO S... [ Continue Reading ]