Before Reading.
- Centering prayer— Pray for illumination, “Lord, open my heart and mind by the power of the Holy Spirit,” and remain in silence.
Reading.
- Read slowly, keeping any words or phrase that come to your mind, and mark on them.
- Close eyes and meditate on what you read.
- Take a note if you have question, inspiration.
Read Malachi 1
Overview
Corrupted sacrificial offerings.
Unidentified prophet, Malachi, with only meaning of his name, “My message,’ must have lived post-exilic time probably in the period 500-450BC. He was a Jew devoted to the temple and held a high view of the priesthood and its responsibilities in that he frequently mentioned about the covenant in his book. “Fidelity to the Lord’s covenant and its teaching was his dominant thought.
From this standpoint Malachi both condemned the priests for corrupting worship and misleading the people, and charged his people to remain faithful to their Jewish wives and thus have godly offspring.
Malachi’s emphasis on keeping covenant faithful is related to the life context of post-exilic community, suffering from famine and drought, delaying the promise of God’s kingdom. And people became neglecting God’s covenant, doubting the love and promise of God.
Prophet Malachi reaffirmed the covenant that God made with Jacob(v1-5), and asserted that covenant keeping should begin with making relationship with God straight (v.6). Offering defiled sacrifice, vain worship, was the sign of corruption among priests. In contrast with Judah’s present corrupt practices, the Gentiles render a pure offering to the Lord (v.11)
1. What does this passage tell you about God?
2. What does this passage tell you about people.?
3. What does this passage tell you about yourself and God’s will for you?
