Malaquias 1
Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
Malaquias 1
Wiersbe: Someone said to Dr. Arno C. Gaebelein, the gifted Hebrew Christian leader of a generation ago, “I have a serious problem with Malachi 1:3, where God says, ‘Esau I have hated.’ ” Dr. Gaebelein replied, “I have a greater problem with Malachi 1:2, where God says, ‘Jacob, I have loved.’ ” We certainly can’t explain the love and grace of God, nor do we have to, but we can experience God’s grace and love as trust Christ and walk with Him. The Lord is even willing to be “the God of Jacob.” But - A term of contrast should always prompt us to pause and ponder the passage in the power of the Spirit. In this context we find that this is one of the more striking contrasts in Scripture! I have hated Esau - Remember that Scripture uses terms of contrast to highlight differences, in this case, God's hatred of Esau highlights his love for Jacob and his descendants. Notice that the context goes on to clearly outline the ways Jehovah "hated Esau" - laid waste Esau's hill country, gave his inheritance to the jackals, God will tear down what they build up (v4), they will be given over to wickedness (v4), they will experience God's anger forever (v4). I have made his mountains a desolation and appointed his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness - God now reminds Israel of what had He had done and will do to Esau, clear evidence that underscores the continuance of His original choice of Israel over Esau. Piper reasons that God explained His love using this striking contrast ... • To humble Israel. • To take away Israel's presumption. • To remove every ground of boasting in themselves. • To cut the nerve of pride that boasts over Esau as though their salvation were owing to anything in themselves. • To put to naught the cavalier sense of self-reliance that lets them dally enter God's presence as though they were an equal partner in this affair. • To make them tremble with tears of joy that you belong to God. Scofield offers this explanation of Jehovah's hatred of Esau... The statement that God loved Jacob but hated Esau, must be taken as relative rather than absolute. Special blessings were promised to Esau and his descendants (Gen 27:38-40). However, the spiritual insight of Jacob was far greater, and Jacob was the one through whom the promised seed was to come. The comparison of the good things done for Jacob with those done for Esau is like the difference between loving and hating. Compare Luke 14:26, the statement that if a man does not hate his father and mother he cannot be a disciple of Christ. Love for father and mother is commanded in the Scripture (See Mt 19:19, Pr 30:17). No Christian can hate his father and mother. What is meant is that his love for Christ should be so great that, in comparison, the love for father and mother would seem almost like hate. Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Wiersbe writes... The statement that God loved Jacob but hated Esau has troubled some people. Paul quoted it in Ro 9:10-13 to prove God’s electing grace for both Israel and all who trust Jesus Christ for salvation. But the verb “hate” must not be defined as a positive expression of the wrath of God. God’s love for Jacob was so great that, in comparison, His actions toward Esau looked like hatred....Our love for Christ may occasionally move us to do things that appear like hatred to those whom we love.... While He was still speaking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 47 And someone said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You.” 48 But He answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold, My mother and My brothers! 50 “For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.” (Mt 12:46-50) Paul uses this passage in his letter to the Romans writing... And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; 11 for though the twins were not yet born, and had not done anything good or bad, in order that God’s purpose according to His choice might stand, not because of works, but because of Him who calls, 12 it was said to her, “THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER.” 13 Just as it is written, “JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.” 14 What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! (Ro 9:10-13-note, Ro 9:14-note) Malachi 1:4 Though Edom says, "We have been beaten down, but we will return and build up the ruins"; thus says the LORD of hosts, "They may build, but I will tear down; and men will call them the wicked territory, and the people toward whom the LORD is indignant forever.": (but: Isa 9:9,10 Jas 4:13-16) (build: Job 9:4 12:14 34:29 Ps 127:1 Pr 21:30 Isa 10:4,15,16 La 3:37 Mt 12:30) (border: Jer 31:17 Eze 11:10 Am 6:2) (The people: Mal 1:3 Ps 137:7 Isa 11:14 34:5,10 63:1-6 La 4:21,22 Eze 25:14 35:9) NLT - And Esau's descendants in Edom may say, "We have been shattered, but we will rebuild the ruins." But this is what the LORD Almighty says: "They may try to rebuild, but I will demolish them again! Their country will be known as 'The Land of Wickedness,' and their people will be called 'The People with Whom the LORD Is Forever Angry.' Edom - The land of Esau, and used as a synonym (metonym) for Jacob's brother Esau. Though Edom says - God emphasizes the distinction between Jacob (loved) and Esau (hated). Edom may return and build up but God will tear down. Not only that, He would be indignant toward Esau forever. Yes, He had disciplined His chosen people but would never be "indignant forever" with them. That's how much and how long and how freely He had chosen to love Israel. LORD of hosts - The transliterated Name is Jehovah Sabaoth or LORD of armies. This Name of God is heavily concentrated in the Book of Malachi occurring 24 times (in every chapter) out of total of 239 uses in the OT (almost 10% in this small book). LORD of hosts in Malachi - Mal 1:4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14; 2:2, 4, 7, 8, 12, 16; 3:1, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, 17; 4:1, 3 LORD of hosts - 239x in the OT - 1Sa 1:3, 11; 4:4; 15:2; 17:45; 2Sa 6:2, 18; 7:8, 26f; 1Kgs 18:15; 2Kgs 3:14; 1Chr 11:9; 17:7, 24; Ps 24:10; 46:7, 11; 48:8; 84:1, 3, 12; Isa 1:9; 2:12; 5:7, 9, 16, 24; 6:3, 5; 8:13, 18; 9:7, 13, 19; 10:26; 13:4, 13; 14:22ff, 27; 17:3; 18:7; 19:12, 16ff, 20, 25; 21:10; 22:14, 25; 23:9; 24:23; 25:6; 28:5, 29; 29:6; 31:4f; 37:16, 32; 39:5; 44:6; 45:13; 47:4; 48:2; 51:15; 54:5; Jer 6:6, 9; 7:3, 21; 8:3; 9:7, 15, 17; 10:16; 11:17, 20, 22; 16:9; 19:3, 11, 15; 20:12; 23:15f, 36; 25:8, 27ff, 32; 26:18; 27:4, 18f, 21; 28:2, 14; 29:4, 8, 17, 21, 25; 30:8; 31:23, 35; 32:14f, 18; 33:11f; 35:13, 18f; 39:16; 42:15, 18; 43:10; 44:2, 11, 25; 46:18, 25; 48:1, 15; 49:7, 26, 35; 50:18, 33f; 51:5, 14, 19, 33, 57f; Mic 4:4; Nah 2:13; 3:5; Hab 2:13; Zeph 2:9f; Hag 1:2, 5, 7, 9, 14; 2:4, 6ff, 11, 23; Zech 1:3f, 6, 12, 14, 16f; 2:8f, 11; 3:7, 9f; 4:6, 9; 5:4; 6:12, 15; 7:3f, 9, 12f; 8:1ff, 6f, 9, 11, 14, 18ff; 9:15; 10:3; 12:5; 13:2, 7; 14:16f, 21; Mal 1:4, 6, 8ff, 13f; 2:2, 4, 7f, 12, 16; 3:1, 5, 7, 10ff, 14, 17; 4:1, 3 R L Alden comments that This anti-Edom theme recurs in the prophets (cf. Isa 11:14; 34:5-6; Jer 49:7-22; Ezek 25:12-14; 35:15; Joel 3:19; Amos 1:11; and all of Obadiah). Of all the enemies of Israel, Edom was perhaps the most long-lived and consistent one. The enmity began with Amalek, an Edomite (Ex17:8–16), and continued through the Exodus (Nu 14:44-45), into the period of the Judges (Jdg 3:12–13), and to the time of Saul (1Sa15:1–3) and David (1Sa 27:8). Moreover, the enemies mentioned by Ezra (Ezra 4:7) and Nehemiah (Neh 4:7) probably included Edomites (Amalekites), and this special curse directed at them would be an oblique kind of encouragement to the Israelites. (Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary OT 7 Volume Set: Books: Zondervan Publishing or computer version) Malachi 1:5 Your eyes will see this and you will say, "The LORD be magnified beyond the border of Israel!": (your: Dt 4:3 11:7 Jos 24:7 1Sa 12:16 2Ch 29:8 Lk 10:23,24)(The Lord: Ps 35:26,27 Ps 58:10,11 Ps 83:17,18 Eze 38:16,23 39:21,22) Luke 10:23 And turning to the disciples, He said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see, 24 for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them.” Your eyes will see this - See what? The doom of Edom (Esau). When they see it, Israel will magnify the name of Jehovah. In the context of Malachi and the sins of the priests and people, this declaration by Israel would seem to describe a future time, one that ultimately will be fulfilled when Messiah returns to defeat Israel's enemies and save a faithful remnant. Allan Ross writes... God declares that they will see (Ed: actually declare) the greatness of God, even beyond the land. This word anticipates the themes in this book that speak of the blessings on Israel, the salvation of the Gentiles, and the coming of the Lord to destroy all the wicked. Clearly, not everyone in Malachi’s day would see all of this--they would see bits of it. But true to the prophetic style, “you” refers to the people of God in general, and not just the immediate audience. Likewise in Matthew 24 and 25, the “Olivet Discourse,” Jesus gives the signs of His coming to the disciples in the form of “when you see ….” But some of what He described lay off in the future. Baldwin alludes to a future fulfillment writing... Malachi therefore expects to see a ‘conversion’ away from apathy to new conviction, and it may well be that he expected an eschatological event which would demonstrate once and for all the universal dominion of the Lord. (Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi: An Introduction and Commentary) John MacArthur also alludes to a future fulfillment... Though the Edomites would attempt to rebuild their ruins, God would negate their efforts. Israel, on the other hand, is restored; and though complete restoration has been delayed, it will come and the nation will bear witness to God’s gracious rulership, both within as well as beyond her borders (cf. Ge 12:3; Mal 1:11, cp Ro 11:26, 27-note). (MacArthur Study Bible) GREAT IS THE LORD! The LORD be magnified - "Great is the LORD" (ESV, NAB, NIV), "The LORD is great" (CSB). The NET Bible renders it as a prayer ("May the LORD be magnified) from the lips of those who will see God's work, especially His faithfulness to fulfill His Word. The glorious duty of magnifying the LORD, of "making" Him great (see Spurgeon's comments below on Ps 34:3 on this seemingly "impossible" act!) is rightly recorded as the very first question and answer in the Westminster Shorter Catechism... Q. 1. What is the chief end of man? A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God,[1Co 10:31, 1Cor 6:20, Isa 60:21, Rev 4:11] and to enjoy him forever.[Ps 73:25-28, Ps 16:5-11, Ps 144:15, Isa 12:2, Php 4:4, Rev 21:3-4] Comment: It is important to note that we are to magnify and glorify Jehovah, not just with our lips but even more importantly with our lives (1Cor 6:20, Isa 60:21), lest our praise be hypocritical, which was God's accusation of the priests and people in Israel. I Magnified (01431)(gadal) is a verb meaning to become great or to make great and refers not to numbers but only to being great in size, importance etc. Below are some other uses of gadal in the context of magnifying the LORD. Ps 104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, Thou art very great; Thou art clothed with splendor and majesty, Spurgeon makes the point: the wonder expressed does not refer to the creation and its greatness, but to Jehovah himself. It is not "the universe is very great!" but "THOU art very great." Many stay at the creature, and so become idolatrous in spirit; to pass onward to the Creator himself is true wisdom. Ps 34:3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together.
Malaquias 1
Wiersbe observes that the priests instead of living exemplary lives, were guilty of breaking the very Law they were supposed to obey and teach. The way they were serving the Lord was a disgrace to His Name. Contrast the words of Job after he was stripped of earthly possessions and children... And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the Name of the LORD. (Job 1:21) Now that is real honoring and respecting of the LORD, in short real worship, which was quite the opposite of what the priests of Israel were doing! Name (08034)(shem) is what specifically identifies a person, place or thing and thus is one's name, renown, fame (Ezek 16:14), reputation (Ge 11:4, 2Sa 8:13), a good name equates with good character (Ec 7:1). "The Name" is a title of God (Lev 24:16). There is an interesting combination of the Hebrew word "yad" (hand) and "shem" used to refer to a memorial or monument. Thus in Isaiah 56:5 the passage reads "I will set up within My temple and My walls a monument" which is transliterated by two Hebrew words, Yad Wasem (Yad Vashem) (Wikipedia) which has been taken as the modern name of the memorial in Israel that honors the victims of the Holocaust. God's Name is a key word in Malachi and refers to His character, His attributes, His reputation - 10x in 7v = Mal 1:6, Mal 1:11, Mal 1:14, Mal 2:2, Mal 2:5, Mal 3:16, Mal 4:2 But you say, 'How have we despised Your Name? - They don't seem to have a clue what they have done. They are totally blinded to spiritual truth! Their heart is cold, calloused, insensitive. God will help open their eyes in the next verse! ><>><>><> Meaning And Purpose - When our daughter was 3 years old, my wife and I introduced her to the “fine art” of dishwashing. It amuses me that many preschoolers want to wash dishes but parents refuse to let them. Then, when they become teenagers and no longer desire to clean plates, parents insist that they do. The real issue, of course, is not doing dishes. Rather, it has to do with loving, honoring, and obeying God. As children love, honor, and obey their parents (Ephesians 6:1-3), they are showing respect for God. And when they do, they find meaning and purpose in their lives. We are living in a world in which teen suicide is a disturbing reality. Why such despair? Too many young people have not found a reason for living. They don’t know the joy of a relationship with God. In Malachi 1:6, God had to remind His people that He was their Father, because their behavior reflected that they had forgotten their relationship to Him. Not only had they forgotten that God was their Father but also that He was their Master, and they had failed to serve Him. We can all live meaningful and purposeful lives. How? By knowing God as our heavenly Father, and obeying Him as our Master and Lord. —— by Albert Lee Grant us, Father, hearts that love You, Hearts that serve You day by day; Help us find in You our purpose For the things we do and say. —Fitzhugh Knowing God gives meaning to life; Obeying God gives purpose to life. Malachi 1:7 "You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, 'How have we defiled You?' In that you say, 'The table of the LORD is to be despised.': (defiled: Lev 2:11, 21:6 Dt 15:21) (altar: Mal 1:12 1Sa 2:15-17 Eze 41:22 1Co 10:21 11:21,22,27-32) HOW TO DESPISE THE NAME OF THE LORD Presenting defiled food - God now explains how the priests were despising His Name. His charge is that Israel offered a "polluted" or profane sacrifice. They wanted a form of religion but not the reality of relationship with Jehovah. Isn't this always the danger of "religion"? They are willing to make some offering, but not their best offering. They are glad to do something for God, but it must cost them nothing. In some of Paul's last words he warned Timothy that in these last days there would be those who would be... holding (present tense = as their lifestyle, their habitual practice) to a form (outward show without internal change) of godliness, although they have have denied its power (dunamis); and avoid (present imperative = command to continually avoid) such men as these. (2Ti 3:5-note) Table - a synonym for God's altar. The picture of a table "has overtones of covenant imagery in which a feast shared by the covenant partners was an important element" (cf Ex 24:11)(NET Notes) How have we defiled you? - They fail to acknowledge their guilt before God. How does this apply to NT believers (priests - 1Pe 2:9)? Matthew
Malaquias 1
Wiersbe notes that one reason is that... these (OT) sacrifices pointed to (were pictures of) the (NT sacrifice of the) Lamb of God who would one day die for the sins of the world (Jn 1:29; Heb. 10:1-14), and if they were imperfect, how could they typify the Perfect Sacrifice, the (sinless) Son of God? Matthew
Malaquias 1
Wiersbe writes... Malachi told these disobedience priests that it would be better to close the doors of the temple and stop the sacrifices altogether than to continue practicing such hypocrisy. Better there were no religion at all than a religion that fails to give God the very best. If our concept of God is so low that we think He’s pleased with cheap halfhearted worship, then we don’t know the God of the Bible. In fact, a God who encourages us to do less than our best is a God who isn’t worthy of worship. Did you ever "play church” as a child? That's innocent fun when we are children, but we are not innocent of offending God if we do it as adults! We always need to check ourselves to make sure that we are not playing church presently!
Malaquias 1
Wiersbe applies this section to our lives asking... What does this say to professed Christians who spend hundreds of dollars annually, perhaps thousands, on gifts for themselves, their family, and their friends, but give God a dollar a week when the offering plate is passed? Our offerings to God are an indication of what’s in our hearts, for “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Mt 6:21). People who claim to love the Lord and His work can easily prove it with their checkbooks! Giving is a grace (2Cor 8:1, 6–9), and if we’ve experienced the grace of God, we’ll have no problem giving generously to the Lord who has given so much to us. How can we ask God to be gracious to us and answer prayer (Mal 1:9) if we’ve not practiced “grace giving” ourselves? Pulpit Commentary... A fact narrated to me by the late Rev. Dr. Leifchild some years ago affords a striking illustration of the discrepancy between profession and practice in religion. He told me that there was an old lady in his Church, very wealthy, and very loud in her professions, and apparently very enthusiastic in her devotions, but whose contributions for religious purposes were of the most niggardly kind. One Sunday, in singing a hymn with which they closed the service of the Lord’s Supper, she being near to the table, he observed her as the deacons were going round, according to their custom, collecting subscriptions for the poor. It so happened that the verse they were singing at the time the deacon came to her with the plate was— Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small: Love so amazing, so Divine, Demands my heart, my life, my all. No one in the whole congregation seemed more hearty in shouting out those words with his voice than she. Meanwhile the deacon held the plate right under her eye, but she let it pass without enriching it by even a copper. (The Reverence Due to God) ><>><>><> Trouble at the Top - Leadership has its privileges, but more important—it comes with huge responsibilities. Through the years, I’ve observed the lives of many Christian leaders. I’ve noticed that they don’t always demonstrate godly traits. Sometimes there can be trouble at the top. When God removes His hand of blessing because a leader engages in ungodly activity, everyone suffers. That’s why it’s so important for every Christian in a leadership position to strive daily to keep his heart attuned to God and His Word. In Israel in 450BC, there arose some leadership issues that God dealt with directly. Apparently the priests who were supposed to be serving God weren’t. They had stopped honoring the Lord, and they were offering defiled sacrifices (Malachi 1:7-8). Those actions caused God to remove His blessing from the priests. He could not accept their sacrifices (Mal 1:10). Imagine the difficulties this brought on the people. Are you a leader? At home? At work? At church? Stay close to God. Give Him the glory and honor due His name. Obey His Word. Worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Don’t risk losing the Lord’s blessing by causing trouble at the top. — by Dave Branon They truly lead who lead by love And humbly serve the Lord; Their lives will bear the Spirit's fruit And magnify His Word. —D. De Haan Follow the leader who follows Christ. Malachi 1:11 "For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations," says the LORD of hosts.: (For from: Ps 50:1 Ps 113:3 Isa 45:6 Isa 59:19 Zec 8:7) (My name: Mal 1:14 Ps 22:27-31 67:2 72:11-17 98:1-3 Isa 11:9,10 Isa 45:22,23 Isa 49:6,7,22,23 Isa 54:1-3,5 Isa 60:1-11,16-22 Isa 66:19,20 Am 9:12 Mic 5:4 Zep 3:9 Zec 8:20-23 Mt 6:9,10 28:19 Ac 15:17,18 Rev 11:15 15:4)(and in: Isa 24:14-16 42:10-12 Zep 2:11 Jn 4:21-23 Ac 10:30-35 Ro 15:9-11,16 1Ti 2:8 Rev 8:3) (Offering: Ps 141:2 Isa 60:6 Lk 1:10 Ro 12:1 Php 4:18 Heb 13:15,16 Rev 5:8 8:3,4) (For My: Isa 66:19,20) GOD'S FAME FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET AMEN! For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations (Gentiles)...every place - Note that the NAS, KJV, ESV, NET, NIV translate this passage using the future tense ("will be great...will be great") whereas the NAB, NJB, YLT translate it using the present tense as "My Name is great", but that would hardly seem to be the actual case in the world at the time of Malachi's writing (circa 450BC). This passage states that all day long and everywhere, from the Rising (east) to setting (west), from morning until evening from the east to the west God's Name will be great. WHEN WILL MALACHI 1:11 BE FULFILLED? This verse has given rise to two interpretations as to when it will be fulfilled, a present and/or a future fulfillment. Perhaps C H Spurgeon has the most reasonable interpretation for he sees both a present and a future fulfillment of God's Name being great among the nations... At the first proclamation of the Gospel the Name of the Lord was glorious throughout the whole earth; shall it not be much more so ere the end shall be? Comment: So if God's Name is great today (even when used in vain...it is still great!), there is coming a day when it will be even greater, for the world will see that He alone is God and there is no other (cf the universal, unanimous declaration that "Jesus Christ is Lord" = Php 2:9-11-note) And so some commentators see Malachi 1:11 as fulfilled in our present day, pointing out that the Gentile nations recognize God's Name more than does Israel. And yet is "incense...offered" in every place to God's Name? Yes, the nations know about Him but do they truly reverence His great Name (as indicated by offering incense to Him)? Another view sees this as a declaration by the LORD of hosts of a future time when His Name will be great among the nations...in every place. So when will His Name be great throughout the world in the future? This clearly refers to the coming Millennial Kingdom of the Messiah, and recalls several similar OT prophecies.. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for (term of explanation - Always ask "What's it explaining?") the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea (Speaks of Messiah's worldwide Millennial Kingdom). 10 Then it will come about in that day that the nations will resort to the root of Jesse, Who will stand as a signal for the peoples; and His resting place will be glorious (Refers to Messiah's Temple in Jerusalem). (Isa 11:9-10-note) So (At the Second Coming of Jesus) they will fear the name of the LORD from the west and His glory from the rising of the sun (Where? It rises in the East = thus Isaiah is describing the Messiah's worldwide fame and acclaim), for (term of explanation - Always ask "What's it explaining?") He (Messiah) will come like (introduces a simile) a rushing stream (KJV = "come in like a flood" = a powerful picture of Messiah's power), which the wind of the LORD drives. (Isa 59:19) A C Gaebelein comments that Malachi 1:11 "is a prophecy. Is it fulfilled today, during this age? We think not; it refers to the millennial age." John