We have at length reached the last book of that part of the Holy Scriptures which is commonly called the Old Testament. The prophecy of Malachi does not contain a reference to the time of its utterance, but its message is exactly suited to the end position which it occupies in both the Jewish and Christian Scriptures. As the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah belong to the period of Ezra, so that of Malachi suggests the time of Nehemiah, and he is believed to be the last inspired penman of the Old, as the apostle John was of the New Testament. The Old Testament Scriptures were now complete, and we have no knowledge of subsequent prophets, if there were such, until Christ came.
The burden of the word of Jehovah to Israel by Malachi is a very solemn, searching message, but it begins with a touching expression of His heart: “I have loved you.” How unfeeling, how cold, is their answer: “Wherein hast Thou loved us?”
Thirteen hundred years had now passed since Esau and Jacob completed their spans of life and passed into eternity, but their lives now pass in review before God, as He declares “I loved Jacob, and I hated Esau,” The occasion for this sentence is found in the history of each as told in Genesis, but the children of Esau closely followed in the footsteps of then father, and God identifies them with him here. We have seen in several Scriptures, notably Obadiah’s short prophecy, the judgment of God concerning the nation which sprang from Esau; like their father, they had no regard for God (Scripture records not one as turning to Him), and they hated Jacob and his children. Yet it is only at the end of the Old Testament that God says, “And I hated Esau”; this is not the sovereignty of God (as in Romans 9), but what He felt having seen the course of one who made himself an enemy, and whose children kept up the enmity, deepened it.
Verse 3: “dragons” may be read “jackals”—wild creatures of the desert, Verse 4: “the border of wickedness” means the territory, or land, of wickedness. Verse 5 is more exactly translated “ ... ..and ye shall say, the Lord (Jehovah) is magnified beyond the border of Israel” (JND)
After speaking of His love for the children of Jacob, God in verse 6 begins to lay before them their shameful treatment of Himself; and, mark, this is after the return from the seventy years’ captivity in Babylon. Alas! the majority of the people had evidently not profited at all by the humbling God had given them, Deeper lessons must yet be put before the Jews, and fearful trials given them, before they will turn in heart to their God. The end of this book however reveals that there was a remnant at this time who really feared Him and thought upon His name, giving joy to Himself in an utterly contrary scene.
The hypocrisy and selfishness of the people, and particularly the priests, have been exposed in verses 6-10, for however men may deceive themselves and one another, God is not deceived. He declares that He has no delight in this people, and He will not accept (or be pleased with) an offering at their hand. Immediately after, however, He speaks of His determination that over this wide world, His name shall be great among the nations.
What a day that will be for this globe, when verse 11 is at length fulfilled; but it will not be accomplished through the preaching of the gospel of God’s grace which began when the Holy Spirit descended to form and indwell the “one body” of Christ, the Church, on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). (See 2 Thessalonians 2; 2 Timothy 3; Jude 14-2514And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 16These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. 17But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 20But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 24Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. (Jude 14‑25)).
Nor will that happy fruition be attained through the Jews without a national repentance which has not yet begun among them. See Psalm 51:1313Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. (Psalm 51:13); the whole of the Psalm awaits a future day for its fulfillment. The fact is that the chosen people never have given to God His due; the truth of their own history was told them by the Holy Spirit in Acts 7, speaking through the first Christian martyr.
The present position of man, and in particular of the Gentiles, who have long known of the gospel, is in no small measure comparable to that of the Jews in the days of Malachi. The profession of God throughout the so-called Christian lands is in the many linked with an attitude toward Himself that must invite His judgement. Nor can it be said that God has left the world without warning (Acts 17:30-3130And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:30‑31)). Judgment will assuredly fall, for He will not suffer the present state of things (rapidly growing worse) to continue indefinitely.
It is enough, thought the Jews of Malachi’s time, to give to God that which is of little value, and which we cannot devote to our own. advancement. Is not this also sadly true in measure of very many of God’s people—His children—in our own day? Do we not give our own wants the first place, and yield to Him altogether too often the little that remains after our comforts and our plans for this and that have been cared for to the best of our ability?