The
Minor Prophets Bible Study XI: Malachi
May 10, 2012
BMC- Malachi
Opening Question: Where do you go for answers?
Background
Call:
No true call. See 1:1 for oracle/word of the Lord
When:
Between 500 and 450 BCE (White 66)
Where:
Jerusalem
To Whom: People
of an undistinguished priesthood and poor worship habits (White 66)
Characteristics: (What do you notice about the style of
the book)
-
Malachi means “my messenger.”
-
Relies quite heavily on the question and answer
format (Harris 191, NIB 849-850). Malachi also makes use of narrative reports
of dispute (HBC 783) and the ‘Thus says the Lord…’ formula (NIB 849).
Relationship with Kings & Others:
-
Artaxeres I (HCSB 1428)
Important Events:
-
538 BCE Cyrus issued a decree that exiled Jews in
Babylon could return to rebuild (50,000 did)
-
515BCE the temple was completed
-
548BCE Ezra visited
-
445 BCE Nehemiah became governor for 12 years.
Outline: (Sweeney
pg. 207)
I.
Superscription
(1:1)
II.
Body of the Book:
Parenetic Address Proper (1:2-3:24)
a. First disputation: YHWH loves the people (1:2-5)
b. Second disputation: People and Priests have Mishandled
Cultic Matters (1:6-2:16)
c. Third disputation: Justice will be done on the Day of
YHWH (2:17-3:5)
d. Fourth disputation: Call for proper treatment of
YHWH’s tithes (3:6-12)
e. Fifth disputation: YHWH’s justice will be realized on
Day of YHWH (3:13-21) [alt. 3:6-4:3]
f. Concluding summation: observe YHWH’s Torah (3:22-24)
[alt. 4:4-6]
Observations
by Chapter: (Note observations
make or questions you have as you read the book.)
Malachi 1: The Lord loves the people. Shows love through contrast with Esau, God
desires respect and honor, People of other nations honor God when Judah does
not
Malachi 2: Priests need to do their part, God’s purpose
for His covenant was to bring peace, God’s people are breaking the covenant,
God hates divorce
Malachi 3: Promise of a messenger to come, Time
of purifying to come, statements against sinful ways, God does not change,
people cheated God of tithes and offerings, people have said terrible things
against God
Malachi 4: The day of judgment is coming, God’s
people will go free, Elijah is coming,
Themes/Issues:
(Note the major themes and issues
the prophet addresses.)
-
Yahweh still loves Israel (Miller 231).
-
Hope. People
went wrong and need to get back on track (Miller 231).
-
Yahweh will return to the temple (Miller 232).
-
Criticism of the temple behavior (HCSB 1428).
-
“God is displeased with the lack of piety in the community
gathered around the temple and God is about to send a messenger who will
reunite and purify all of Israel” (HCSB 1428)
-
How to please God (Harris 191)
-
True worship was needed (Miller 232)
-
Stronger faith needed (White 66-67)
-
Priests to straighten up (von Rad 254)
So What? (Having read the prophet, what do his words have to
teach us today?)
-
Future can
look bright. Makes us ask how does ‘God
love us’ (NIB 856). Malachi presumes we
must reconcile with God and family (NIB 871).
No comments:
Post a Comment