In the Fall of 2021, the Adult Sunday School class at Oakridge began working our way through the book of Malachi. What follows are the notes developed for, used in, and clarified by our weekly morning studies. Recordings of the sessions are also provided.

EXPOSITIONAL NOTES

Oracle #2: Dishonouring God’s Name (1:6–2:9)

While the first message ended with a declaration of God’s greatness, the second addresses Israel’s failure to recognize God’s greatness. Reference to God’s “name” is explicitly made eight times in this section (1:6 [x2], 11 [x3], 14; 2:2, 5) pointing to Israel’s prideful dismissing of his associated reputation and character (Ezek 36:19–24) in spite of his love for them (vv. 2–5).

A. The Disobedience of the Priests (1:6–14)

v. 6 “A son honours … my respect?,” Yahweh is reasoning from the lesser to the infinitely greater, i.e., if human fathers and masters get respect and honour, how can the holy Lord of hosts not receive the same (see Isa 1:2)?

“O priests,” Upon returning from Babylon, it was the priests’ duty to teach the people God’s covenant and turn their hearts back to God (Neh 9:38–10:39; Ezra 6:16–22; 7:10), but they were failing in this job 

For our consideration: How important is it that leaders exemplify the qualities God requires for leadership (in the home and in the church)? What risk is there when we rush to place or become leaders?

vv. 7–8 “Defiled food,” Defective animals (v. 8) were being sacrificed to God (“food of their God,” Lev 21:6), an act forbidden by the law (Lev 22:17–33; Deut 15:19–23) and something not even a human—probably Persian—“governor” would accept

“Table of the Lord,” i.e., the altar (v. 12; Ezek 41:22; 44:16), as the priests and their families ate from the sacrifices offered thereon; The juxtaposition of “my altar” and “your governor” reveals Israel’s loyalty confusion 

v. 10 “Shut the gates,” There’s urgency in the need for what’s happening in the temple to cease; “Nor will I accept,” To God, no worship is preferable to contemptible and hypocritical worship (Isa 1:11–15)

For our consideration: God has not been silent on how he is to be worshipped. How should this change the way we structure our corporate worship today? Are there elements that must be included when God’s people worship together? Are there elements that must not be included?

v. 11 “Incense … grain,” Acceptable offerings of foreigners, i.e., “the nations,” (Isa 56:6–7; 60:7); There may also be echoes here of the third commandment (Ex 20:7)

Notice the future tense and certainty of global worship declared here by God; this is looking forward to the coming kingdom

v. 13 “Sniff at it,” Idiomatic for belittling or thinking lowly of (Hag 1:9; compare with Eli’s sons in 1 Sam 2:15–17)

v. 14 “Vows it,” This is a voluntary act, making its lack of fulfillment worse (Lev 22:18–23); “But sacrifices a blemished animal,” This attempt at religious sleight of hand doesn’t fool the “great King”

For our consideration: How do we approach the act of worship (Rom 12:1–2)? Do we ever catch ourselves being tempted to give him left-overs?

B. A Warning for the Priests (2:1–9)

v. 2 “Curse your blessings,” i.e., dry up the supply from which the priests received their portions

Remember that divine blessing for obedience and cursing for disobedience are fundamental OT themes (Deut 27:15–26; 28:15–68; Psa 1); The priests, those who were supposed to represent God’s people before God, guard the covenant, and lead the people in the pursuit of holiness, had, in Malachi’s day, abandoned obedience and, thus, were leading the people down the same road

v. 3 “Offspring,” Could refer to the descendants of the priests, i.e., they would be removed from the priesthood, or the seed of what was offered to God, i.e., a reference to mass draught which would directly effect those in Levi’s tribe 

“Refuse,” That which is normally burned outside the camp (Exo 29:14) is used as a graphic image to describe the level of disgrace unfaithful priests deserved; Essentially, God is telling them that if they despise their priestly office to the point their actions make it seem they do, then he will make them so unclean they’ll be forced to leave the camp all together

vv. 4–6 “With Levi,” The priestly arrangement with Levi (Num 1:50; 3:44–48; 18:8–24; Deut 33:8–11) was one of mutual responsibility—reverent worship direct to God in exchange for life and peace from God (v. 5)

vv. 7–9 “For the lips of a priest,” One of the main functions of the Levitical priesthood was to teach Israel (Lev 10:9–11; Deut 33:10; Ezra 7:10; Hos 4:6), but the current group had failed to faithfully carry out this task; “Partiality in instruction,” Christians are warned against this same wrong in Jas 2:1–13

For our consideration: Are we doing what we’re called to do in the manner we’re called to do it? Are there times that Christians today exercise too much liberty in how we carry out our divinely mandated tasks?