4:1 “For behold [word used four times to introduce divine proclamations (see also 2:3; 3:1; 4:5)], the day is coming [see Malachi 3:2], burning like a furnace [an oven as in Dan. 3:22]; and all the arrogant [see Malachi 3:15] and every evildoer [“impenitent sinners” (Benson Commentary); those who love sin] will be chaff [burns easily and quickly; see Matthew 6:30]; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze [fire associated with day of judgment (Ps. 50:3); fire is a symbol of God’s holiness; God is a described as a consuming fire in Deuteronomy 4:24],” says the LORD of hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch [utterly destroyed and without the hope or potential to grow again].”
4:2“But for you [those who walk humbly with God] who fear My name [cf. Mal. 3:16] the sun [cf. Ps. 84:11; Isa. 60:19-20] of righteousness [Jesus is the Sun of Righteousness; Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12); see Luke 1:78] will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth [as one released from prison] and skip about like calves from the stall [the exuberance and joy of freedom].
4:3“And you will tread down the wicked, for they shall be ashes [evil has within it the seeds of its own destruction] under the soles of your feet [when the day of the Lord comes, the righteous will triumph over the wicked; see Psalm 1] on the day which I am preparing,” says the LORD of hosts.
4:4“Remember [includes the sentiment that one was to act of what was remembered] the law of Moses [live according to the demands of the law of Moses; the prophetic canon began with this exhortation (Joshua 1:7-8) and now ends with the same exhortation] My servant, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel.
4:5 “Behold [this prophecy was fulfilled in the ministry of John the Baptist (Mark 9:11-13; Luke 1:17)], I am going to send you Elijah [was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:11-12)] the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.
4:6“And he will [notice Elijah’s mission…] restore [see 1 Kings 18:21,36-39] the hearts of the fathers [godly ancestors] to their children [Malachi’s contemporaries], and the hearts of the children to their fathers [Malachi wanted to see his own generation return to the faith of their forefathers], lest I come and smite the land with a curse [Heb. “cherem” refers to objects to be destroyed because of their unholy character; there is a terrible fate for those who persist in their rebellion against God].”
1:1 The oracle [prophecy] of the word of the LORD to [not against] Israel through Malachi [we know nothing about him other than he was a messenger; possibly a contemporary of Nehemiah (based on topics addressed in both books); ministered four centuries before Christ (possible date of 450 BC); name means “my messenger” or “my angel” — the Hebrew word is found only in Malachi 1:1 and 3:1].
1:2 “I have loved you,” [“That is, in a particular and extraordinary degree; not only as men, but above the rest of men, and above the other posterity, both of Abraham and Isaac.” (Benson Commentary)] says the LORD. But you say, “How hast Thou loved us?” [the people wanted proof of God’s love for them] “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet I have loved Jacob;
1:3 but I have hated [means a lesser degree of love or showing less regard or favor] Esau, and I have made his mountains [Mount Weir and region given to Esau (Deut. 2:5; Josh. 24:4)] a desolation [inhabitable; the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy in Joel 3:19; laid waste by Nebuchadnezzar (see prophecy in Jer. 49:17-22 and Ezek. 35)], and appointed his inheritance for the jackals [an animal that delights in desolate places] of the wilderness.
1:4 Though Edom [no cities in the region apart from Petra] says, “We have been beaten down, but we will return and build up [as Jerusalem was rebuilt by those who had returned from captivity] the ruins [such efforts would be in vain; the region was doomed to perpetual desolation]”; thus says the LORD of hosts, “They may build, but I will tear down [an indication that God was against them and thus they would not succeed]; and men will call them the wicked territory [or the border of wickedness as opposed to the border of Edom; an accursed land; they became a reproach], and the people toward whom the LORD is indignant forever.”
1:5 And your [Jacob] eyes will see this [the destruction of the Edomites] and you will say, “The LORD be magnified beyond the border of Israel [in contrast to border of wickedness or “the wicked territory” in v. 4]!” Sin of the Priests
1:6 “ ‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master [a generally accepted custom]. Then if I am a father [God is the Father of Israel (see Deut. 32:6,18)], where is My honor [to give weight or consideration to]? And if I am a master, where is My respect?’ says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests [the ones who should have been most concerned about God’s honor] who despise [to neglect or to care little about as opposed to blaspheme] My name [the sum of God’s revealed character; the character and reputation of God]. But you say, ‘How [they doubted that God’s claim against them was accurate] have we despised [felt contempt for] Thy name?’
1:7 “You are presenting defiled food [essentially food unfit to be offered; something diminished or less than what the law required; blemished sacrifices] upon My altar. But you [those who had offered defiled food] say, ‘How have we defiled [to show dishonor or a diminished value of the worship of God] Thee?’ In that you say, ‘The table of the LORD is to be despised [as expressed and evidenced by the offering of “defiled food”].
1:8 “But when you present the blind [cf. Lev. 22:17-25] for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick [cf. Lev. 22:17-25], is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor [even their own governor would not be pleased with their unacceptable sacrifices]? Would he be pleased with you [no, because such an offering would be regarded as an insult]? Or would he receive you kindly [no, absolutely not; if their offerings would be unfit for a man they would certainly be unfit for God]?” says the LORD of hosts.
1:9 “But now will you not entreat God’s favor, that He may be gracious to us? With such an offering [“defiled food” (v. 7); blemished animals] on your part [the priests had not led the people well because they had offered “defiled food” (v. 7) at the Lord’s altar], will He receive any of you [their actions precluded the Lord’s favor] kindly?” says the LORD of hosts.
1:10 “Oh that there were one among you [those (priests and Levites) who should be leading by a good example and promoting God’s service] who would shut the gates [doors to the inner court of the temple; because they had made a mockery of God’s service], that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar [to cease unworthy and useless sacrifices]! I am not pleased with you,” [if the Lord is displeased with us it does not matter who else is pleased with us] says the LORD of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from you [“Better no sacrifices than vain ones (Isa 1:11-15).” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary); better for the temple to be closed than profaned].
1:11 “For from the rising of the sun, even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations [by Jews of the diaspora and those converted through their witness; among the Gentiles in NT], and in every place [not just one place like the Jewish temple] incense [“incense was considered by the Jews themselves as a figure or emblem of prayer and praise” (see Ps. 141:2; Luke 1:10)] is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure [as opposed to the defiled and impure offerings the people were guilty of offering on the altar]; for My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of hosts.
1:12 “But you [priests and consequently the people who followed their bad example] are profaning it [God’s name], in that you say [likely more by their example than their words], ‘The table [or the altar] of the Lord is defiled [not sacred or worthy of reverence], and as for its fruit, its food [perhaps a reference to the priests allotted portion] is to be despised [the priests allowed unworthy sacrifices and then complained that their allotted portion was bad].’
1:13 “You [the priests] also say, ‘My, how tiresome [to do things as God had prescribed; the priests and the people were weary with serving God; serving God becomes an intolerable burden when we serve Him without heart or faith] it [God’s service] is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it [to despise or treat with contempt],” says the LORD of hosts, “and you bring what was taken by robbery [a reference to that which was unfit to be offered], and what is lame or sick [unacceptable offerings]; so you bring the offering! Should I receive that [what is unfit and unworthy] from your hand?” says the LORD.
1:14 “But cursed be the swindler [deceiver; hypocrite] who has a male in his flock [a proper and acceptable sacrifice without blemish that could be offered as a burnt offering; see Leviticus 22:18-19], and vows [a deliberate promise to do the right thing; see the warning of Ecclesiastes 5:5] it, but [instead of doing the right thing, switches the acceptable sacrificial animal with a lesser and unacceptable one; says he will give God the best and then gives Him the worst] sacrifices a blemished animal [an improper sacrifice and one worth less] to the Lord, for I am a great King [thus worthy of our best],” says the LORD of hosts, “and My name is feared among the nations [including Gentiles when converted].”
A Psalm of David when he feigned madness before Abimelech, who drove him away and he departed.
Note: When David feared that Saul would kill him, he fled to Gath and sought the protection of the enemy — King Abimelech (or Achish) (1 Sam. 21:10—22:2). He should have run to the Lord instead. Once in Gath, David had to lie in order to escape. This Psalm is David’s testimony of what God did for him.
This psalm is an acrostic in which each verse begins with the succeeding letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
34:1 I will bless [the first thing David did when God delivered him from his troubles] the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually [an indication of deep gratitude] be in my mouth [we should speak and not be silent].
34:2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD [cf. 1 Cor. 1:31]; The humble shall hear it and rejoice.
34:3 [an exhortation] O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.
34:4 [David’s testimony begins with this verse] I sought the LORD, and He answered me, And delivered [or snatched from danger just in the nick of time] me from all my fears.
34:5 They [perhaps refers to the humble of verse 2 or those who fear God in verse 7] looked to Him and were radiant [our countenance will reveal who we are trusting], And their faces shall never be ashamed.
34:6 This poor man cried and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.
34:7 The angel of the LORD [read Ps. 103:20-21 regarding the role of angels] encamps around those who fear [to have reverence for] Him, And rescues them.
34:8 O taste [to know by personal experience; an invitation to others to experience God for themselves] and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge [cf. Ps. 5:11] in Him!
34:9 O fear [have reverence for] the LORD, you His saints [believers]; For to those who fear Him, there is no want.
34:10 [see 1 Peter 3:10-12 cf. Ps. 34:12-16] The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But [unlike the young lions] they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.
34:11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach [David used his experience to teach the next generation to trust in God] you the fear of the LORD.
34:12 [these questions are answered in verses 13-14] Who is the man who desires life, And loves length of days that he may see good?
34:13 [cf. Ps. 141:3] Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit.
34:14 Depart [to create distance] from evil, and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it.
34:15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry [cf. Ps. 34:6].
34:16 The face [represents God’s favor] of the LORD is against [because God is holy] evildoers, To cut off the memory of them from the earth.
34:17 The righteous [those in right standing with God] cry and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.
34:18 The LORD is near [when we are brokenhearted it is easy to think that God is not near when indeed He is closer to us than ever] to the brokenhearted [the Hebrew word for “broken” in this verse is “nishberei” and comes from a root that means “birth” or “breakthrough” — when we are brokenhearted God draws near to us to birth something new in our lives; God can turn our breakdowns into breakthroughs; cf. Ps. 51:17], And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
34:19 Many [and varied] are the afflictions of the righteous [the righteous are not exempted from troubles]; But the LORD delivers him [cf. Heb. 4:16 — God is able to rescue in the nick of time] out of them all [out of every sort of affliction].
34:20 He keeps all his bones [a general principle rather than a guarantee; God guards the righteous or the righteous are under the protection of God]; Not one of them is broken [not a guarantee that our physical bones will never be broken but a general principle to assure us that the righteous are under God’s care].
34:21 Evil [has within it the seeds of decay and destruction] shall slay [the misconduct of the wicked will put them in peril] the wicked [those who are out of touch with God]; And those who hate [who are so opposed to the character of the righteous] the righteous will be condemned [will suffer the consequences of their hatred].
34:22 The LORD redeems [to set free by paying a price] the soul of His servants; And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned [to be held guilty].
Bible Teaching Notes 