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| Order Of Worship (Liturgy) |
MALACHI 1:1
(Readings: Zechariah 12:1-14; Hebrews 4:1-16)
The Lord God Speaks!
Of all the time in biblical history and church history reformations and revivals are those we warm to the most. Then God’s Spirit joined with his Word in bringing about the most amazing changes in the hearts and lives of believers. And how much don’t those times strike us as not only effecting individual Christians but the Church as a whole!
There was what the Lord brought about under David – and what a response that was with what the people gave for the work on the temple in 1st Chronicles 29? And what about the time of Josiah, the most godly Old Testament king of them all? 2nd Kings 23 tells us in verse 25 that “neither before or after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did – with all his hearts and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.”
Then after the exile there came what the Lord did through Nehemiah. As Nehemiah 9 records, after Ezra read out from the Book of the Law for seven straight days of the feast “the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and having dust on their heads … they stood in their places and confessed their sins and the wickedness of their fathers. They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a fourth of the day, and spent another fourth in confession and in worshipping the LORD their God.”
This is what we see in the New Testament also. Acts 2 verse 37 has the response of thousands convicted by the preaching of the apostle Peter at Pentecost. They were cut to the heart and said to him and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
What a repentance and coming to faith was seen then! And this has been seen many other times since then. Whether it was what happened under the apostles, or throughout church history since then.
There have been many books written about these biblical revivals. And how much didn’t God use them to not only stir up his church but also to turn around nations?
Over against those blessed times of refreshing, however, we need to realise the times that God’s people were far from being revived. If you would draw up a time line to show how much time reforming and revival took up in biblical and church history as a whole, it would not actually be that much at all. What you would find would be quite the opposite! Then a time like we are in right now is more the pattern found in church life.
Now, you might protest a bit here. You believe you are in a faithful congregation. The Word is preached here – and it is declared without fear or favour.
But is it? When you have the vast bulk of what claims to be Christian showing itself to be further away from God’s Word than ever before not only do you see spiritual decline there but also its effects elsewhere. Just think about how many previously biblical denominations have become swayed by Pentecostal worship and practice? Combine that with the liberalism that has been around for the last hundred years, and the changing norms in society, and you have to acknowledge we get caught up in that downgrade as well.
It is in such a time that the prophecy the Lord gave through Malachi is set. In the words of the first aspect to considering the very first verse of Malachi, THIS IS MOST DEFINITELY A WORD.
Now, what we are considering in this first aspect is actually just the one word. It is the word which is translated ‘An oracle’ in the NIV. Other versions translate this as ‘A declaration.’
Why do we say this is most definitely a word? Everyone can see in the Hebrew that it is just the one word. This is a word that in the English appears as a fairly neutral word.
The word “oracle” is from a Latin word meaning ‘to speak’. It refers to a priest or priestess uttering a prediction. But it can also refer to what it is that that person says. Thus an oracle here draws our attention to what it is Malachi is about to declare directly from the Lord.
The particular Hebrew word used here, however, goes beyond the normal words used for “oracle”. In Hebrew this word is massa. It comes from the root word nasa, which means ‘to lift up,’ or ‘to bear a burden.’ Thus you find the King James translates this as “the burden of the word of the LORD…”
It’s the word used in Isaiah chapters 13 till 23 where there are a number of prophecies about the nations around Israel. Using this word in that way there is a bit puzzling, though. ‘The burden of Babylon,’ ‘the burden of Moab,’ doesn’t make it clear that what’s being said is something against them. And so it is that the phrase ‘oracle concerning’ is commonly used for this word. But it still doesn’t do the word justice.
In this first verse of Malachi 1 the word translated ‘word of the LORD’ – dabar – can also be translated as ‘an oracle’. So then you have ‘an oracle of the oracle.’
It was a study by P.A.H. de Boer on the word massa which added more light. He looked into all its occurrences and found that the sixty-odd times it appears it is not a combination of two words but actually simply one word. So it is not the ‘lifting of a burden. Instead this is a burden ‘imposed by a master, a despot or a deity on their subjects, beasts, men or things.’
It can be used for the leadership of God’s people, a religious obligation and a judgment of God. And in prophecy it takes on an ominous sense tied up with the devastating character of so many prophecies. So this is most definitely a word – the Word!
While Malachi has a lot to say about God’s love for his people, his prophecy begins with a foreboding note. Zechariah 12, verse 1, began in similar vein. There is the conviction that God’s coming soon to judge the world. This message is about stirring up God’s people for that day. And woe betide any if they did not repent!
It is in this way that we come to the second aspect of Malachi 1 verse 1. Here we note that THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD.
We turn now to the next words here – ‘The word of the LORD…’ And as in Zechariah 12:1 the connection between this and the first word is crucial. Because this is the covenant God himself taking it up to his people.
As we go through this book you can’t help but notice that. Of the fifty-five verses into which this prophecy is broken up, forty-seven are first person addresses of the Lord to Israel.
You notice that straight away with the name used for the Lord here. In the NIV and other versions it is Lord in capital letters. This is a name also known as YAHWEH.
It is this name that God uses to describe his relationship with his covenant people, Israel. It is a name which means simply, ‘I am who I am.’
This was the name God gave to Moses in Exodus 3 verse 14. And from that point on through to Exodus 20 how much doesn’t God show himself?
In this way God draws himself personally to a certain people. The God who is the God of revelation and history particularly reveals himself as the God who saves his people, according to his covenant promise. And whoever opposes his word he overthrows.
Hebrews 4 ties in here. There in the verses 12 and 13 he declares, “The word of the Lord is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
And this is exactly what he will do in this prophecy of Malachi. He is going to take it up with his people and expose them for what they are. The double-edged sword cuts both ways remember!
So what you will find is that here the Lord through Malachi becomes very personal. This is a heart-to-heart. It’s no surprise that the prophet’s message is constantly interrupted by questions from Malachi’s audience and Malachi’s Lord.
You can see how the Lord uses Malachi’s mastery of this technique. While other prophets had used this technique Malachi is consummately skilled at very cleverly meeting every protest the audience raises. Indeed, you will see just how pathetic their questions are. Questions that are so empty and ignorant. They really have no idea of who the Lord is and what he’s doing!
Oh, that’s not so far away from us today, is it? Emptiness and ignorance amongst Christians today must be at an all time high compared with the last few hundred years – even the last two thousand years! The word of the Lord is needed once more! Indeed, when has it ever failed not to be absolutely vital? THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD.
It is the Lord who will stand out in this book. His majesty and might and mercy will hit us here. And what a way this book ends. Not only does it chronologically fit in here but also thematically. The Day of the Lord is proclaimed. The Messiah is coming!
And, next, for the third aspect, we note that this message is for Israel. Thus we see, THIS IS FOR THE LORD’S OWN PEOPLE.
This is an appropriate point to consider when this was written. That will help give us a broader picture to what the Lord is addressing in his people here.
Now, you might at first think that using the name ‘Israel’ means this involves the northern kingdom – the ten tribes. After all, they took on this name, while Judah became the name for the southern kingdom.
But Israel had previously been the name for the whole kingdom – all twelve tribes. And when many of the northern kingdom were taken away by the Assyrians those who joined Judah meant that truly that had become Israel.
This ties in with the period of time when Malachi was writing. For it is after the return from exile, and yet before the reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah.
Now, the Jews had returned to Jerusalem with high hopes. Inspired by Haggai and Zechariah they had rebuilt the temple. While this temple was nothing like the original, it served its purpose.
But, then, as the years passed, there was increasing frustration. Although they had been part of a bold experiment to return to the homeland things hadn’t gone that well. More and more they would have thought about the ‘good old days’ and what they had lost. They became discouraged and disillusioned. Where were the rich harvests Ezekiel said would come (Ezek.34:26ff) – they only had drought! Where was the growing population Isaiah spoke of (Isa.54:1-3) – they remained a tiny fraction compared with the past. Where was the glorious reign of a new David Jeremiah prophesied (Jer.23:5f) – they only continued on under Persia’s governor.
So, while they had had the right focus in rebuilding the temple, they began to lose the plot. It had been a long time since there had been revival. As church history shows us, they began to drift further and further away from the rules God had made for them. Those were the laws that kept them looking his way. Those were the regulations about worship, the priesthood, marriage and national ethics. And what about the fact that the Lord had brought them back? He was keeping his Davidic line intact!
They just didn’t see the use anymore. What was all that religious stuff doing for them anyway? You might as well go your own way!
So they did. And so are many of God’s people doing today. Although, to be honest, it’s not really their own way they go – it’s actually the way of everyone who doesn’t believe in God’s way. It’s when the devil has his day! Or so it seems.
The Church then desperately needed reformation. It was in a bad way. They needed a prophet – the man who would call them back to the Word.
And so it we come to a fourth aspect to this first verse of Malachi’s first chapter. Now we note, THIS IS THROUGH THE LORD’S MESSENGER.
Here we come to the last two words in Malachi 1 verse 1. This concerns what happens ‘through Malachi.’
Well, the obvious is where we begin with here. Malachi was the one who brought the Lord’s message. The word of the Lord came to Israel through this man.
There is some dispute as to who Malachi was, however. All sorts of suggestion have been made – and many of them revolve around someone else who is given this name. For example, John Calvin suggests Ezra the Scribe.
But there is actually no reason why this cannot be his real name. None of the other Old Testament prophets used a pen name. Nor do we know of any given a special ‘official’ name.
Then some say this is not really a name you give to your child. Fancy calling your son ‘the angel of the Lord’ or ‘the messenger of the Lord’! But, then again, why not? You can think of the name ‘Elijah’ which means ‘Yahweh is God’ or ‘Abijah’ which means ‘Yahweh is my father.’
You can deal the same way with objections that there’s no reference to Malachi’s father or to his birth place. Because not all the prophets have their father’s or their birth places mentioned. We have to simply take this book as it presents itself to us – it is the Lord’s work through a prophet called Malachi.
What we do glean from this book is that Malachi has some knowledge about temple worship and the law in relation to worship and ethics. It’s clear he has a love for Israel and the services of the temple. He has a high view of the tradition and duties of the priests. So the suggestion of certain church fathers that he had been a priest who came from Sopha of Zebulun may have some credit to it.
But that is of no consequence either. In fact, this book shows us how much it is not about God’s prophet but about God’s love for his people.
Malachi is nothing more than conduit through which the Lord spoke to his people. He was certainly gifted for that task. He was strong to resist popular thinking. And he certainly got to the heart of the Law through his condemnation of divorce and declaring the fatherhood of God.
Yet, as we know, what he did could only be effective this way because it was the Spirit in him enabling him. This was the only way he could declare God’s Word. And aren’t we glad he did!
Amen.
PRAYER:
Let’s pray…
O Heavenly Father, as your Spirit was in Malachi to declare your Word may he also be in us today. Help us to stand out as those who, knowing your love, are showing the difference that love makes.
May these sermons through Malachi help to do that. Through seeing how your people drifted from you in the past, and the way you spoke to them about it, may we be that much more guided to follow you all the more nearly and dearly.
Yes, Lord, help us to look all the more to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. In his Name we pray. Amen.
* As a matter of courtesy please advise Rev. Sjirk Bajema, if you plan to use this sermon in a worship service. Thank-you.
(c) Copyright 2022, Rev. Sjirk Bajema
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