Malachi The Holy Life - Wednesday Night Class
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class began with a personal anecdote about a lip injury that sparked a prayerful transition into the study of Malachi. Richard explained that Malachi is a prophetic warning to a complacent Israel that performed half‑hearted sacrifices and withheld tithes, believing God did not love or care for them. He highlighted the church's need to recognize that God’s justice is real and that He will send a messenger—understood as John the Baptist—to prepare the way for the Lord, emphasizing purification like a silversmith’s forge. Richard then unpacked specific verses: Malachi 2:17’s question of God’s justice, Malachi 3:5’s proclamation of judgment against sorcerers, adulterers, false oath‑takers, and oppressors, and the crucial passage of Malachi 3:8‑12 where God confronts Israel’s withholding of tithes, promises to rebuke the devourer, and assures abundant blessings when the people are faithful. The central message urged believers to trust God fully, give the full tithe, and live a life of genuine obedience, so that God can pour out blessings and protect the nation’s fruitfulness.
Key Scriptures
Where is the justice of God? If God is concerned about us living at a higher standard and living a circumspect life, then what about those evil people that seem to be doing all right? Where is the justice in that?
Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, how have we robbed you in tithes and offerings? You are cursed with a curse for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse so that there may be food in the house, my house and test me now in this as the Lord of hosts. If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows... Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it may not destroy the fruits of the ground, nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes, says the Lord of hosts. And you will be a delightful land, says the Lord of hosts.
Behold, I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. The Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap.