We’ve reached the summit of the first of two biblical mountains and find ourselves standing on the peak of the Old Testament, a peak called Malachi. This ancient prophet speaking to an ancient people about ancient problems concerning ancient laws and regulations can initially seem hugely irrelevant to modern followers of Jesus Christ. But, as our series has repeatedly demonstrated, first impressions can be deceiving.
“From the Book of Malachi readers learn that God’s standards for charity and justice far exceed those exemplified by his people after their rescue from a strange land. And through penetrating use of rhetorical questions, the Lord exposes the rationalizations of his people, particularly the stinginess of his priests.
“Sadly, not much has changed. His followers still need the reminder to stop squeezing, wrenching, grasping, and clutching. And the reminder even comes with a promise that if we devote ourselves to the Lord—to doing justice and mercy in his name—we have the hope that the sun of righteousness will arise with healing in its wings” (Glahn, Chai With Malachi, ix–x).
Mike Ackerman is a professor of New Testament and Church Planting at Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri, where he has served for ten years. During his time in ministry, Mike has taught through much of the biblical canon including the section we are talking about today, the prophetic book of Malachi. In fact, his teaching on this text, along with several other sections of Scripture, can be found on Right Now Media and YouTube.
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Josiah has served the Oakridge Bible Chapel family as one of its elders and one of its pastoral staff members since September 2018, before which he ministered as an associate pastor to a local congregation in the Canadian prairies. Josiah's desire is to be used by God to help equip the church for ministry, both while gathered (edification) and while scattered (evangelization). He is married to Patricia, and together they have five children—Jonah, Henry, Nathaniel, Josephine, and Benjamin.
- Josiah Boydhttps://oakridgebiblechapel.org/author/josiah-boyd/
- Josiah Boydhttps://oakridgebiblechapel.org/author/josiah-boyd/
- Josiah Boydhttps://oakridgebiblechapel.org/author/josiah-boyd/
- Josiah Boydhttps://oakridgebiblechapel.org/author/josiah-boyd/