Question:
What was Malachi’s message and what was the response of the people to that message?
Answer:
Malachi’s message was one of rebuke to the nation of Israel, because they would not respond to God, no matter what He had done for them. He starts out in chapter 1:1,2, “The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi. I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us?”
Chapter 1:6-8 says, “A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.” That is the way that they had treated God.
So judgment was going to fall upon them. Chapter 2:1,2 says, “And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.”
Malachi prophecies of the Lord’s coming, and of John the Baptist who will go before Him. He prophecies that the people will not be ready for the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, when He comes. And he was right, the nation did reject their Messiah. Chapter 3:1,2 says, “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap.”
Are you saved and ready for the Lord? How about your family? The place to live our faith starts in the home. Malachi said in chapter 4:5,6 says, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall TURN THE HEART OF THE FATHERS TO THE CHILDREN, AND THE HEART OF THE CHILDREN TO THEIR FATHERS, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”