Prophecies of Malachi - Mr. Kiran Solomon

The book of Malachi is an anonymous writing. The name ‘Malachi’ is apparently one attached to the book by an editor, owing its origin to: ‘See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me’ (Mal 3:1). It is a very unlikely for a parent to name a child in this manner. It might be an abbreviation of ‘Malachiah,’ in which case, the translation would be ‘Yahweh is a messenger,’ which clearly is an improbable meaning. As the name stands, it can only mean ‘My Messenger’.

The author loves his country. He never entertains the possibility of Yahweh failing his people at any point. The failure is all on Israel’s side. The trials and discouragements that overturn the faith of others do but cause him to strike root deeper into the love and power of God. He remains loyal to the old ways and the ancestral religion when others give up in despair and would exchange old faith for new.

The very vigour of the prophet’s faith shows that his religion is not on the surface and that it cannot be satisfied with mere externals. His faith is the very essence of his life and is content with nothing less than the presence of God. In this respect, he is a true successor of the great prophets. Yet he is no mere formalist or ritualist, but a man ethnically and spiritually minded to a very high degree.

He does not regard ritual as an end in itself or as an ‘opus opertum’ but as the outer and visible sign of an inner spiritual grace, the expression of faith in and devotion toward Yahweh.The texts from Malachi concerning ‘the coming messenger’ are used by the synoptic evangelists in reference to the John the Baptist. Mark 1:2 quotes Malachi 3:1, and Isaiah. 40:3. Mark’s quote from Malachi points to the eschatological dimension of Jesus’ coming to proclaim God’s reign. After the messenger who prepares the way, the background to Malachi’s prophecy is strikingly similar to our own. Therefore he has a very clear message for today.

In the present grace period, we have knowledge of God’s love which was not available during Malachi’s time. So there are even more compelling reasons for us to respect God’s love. The priests were offering to God blemished sacrifices. People were worshipping Him with their lips but denying Him in their lives. This sad state of affairs affected social and family lives.

There was a general air of scepticism and cynicism. At such time there can be only one possible remedy. People must repent and return to God with contrite hearts. Here are some key learning’s from Malachi: Divine love: God reminds his people that he had a special love for them and this was why he dealt with them as he did (Mal.1:2-5). Divine pleasure: God was far from pleased with his people for a number of reasons. His people lacked reverence for him and his house (1:6-14). They lacked sound teaching (2:7-9), they were unfaithful (2:10-16), cynical (2:17:3:14,15) and indifferent to human needs (3:8-9).

Divine promises: The message of judgement is received with the promises that God would intervene and bless. Divine remembrance: God knows all about those that are His (3:16-18), and He will vindicate them (4:2-3). God’s appointed messenger will prepare the way for the coming of the lord. The call is to repent and put matters right. When the day of the lord does come, He will vindicate the righteous. There will be turning of the table. The book voices the thought of one who remained true to the old ideas and customs at a time when those around him were rapidly losing faith and becoming desperate. At a time when faith was wavering, he met his contemporaries on their own ground, and thrilled their hearts with the assurance that the dawn of the Golden age was at hand. He also made this mighty eschatological hope operating in the betterment of the modern and religious conditions of his own day.