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【二一四、玛拉基书有何重要预言？ （玛三1；四5）】
答：在本书中先知玛拉基对于以色列人未来的盼望，有一连串的预言。其中部分已经应验在基督首次降临之时，另一部分将要等待基督再来时才能完全应验。
1 我要差遣我的使者，在我面前预备道路（三1；四5）—预言基督的先锋施浸约翰的来临，预备道路（太十一7～14；可一2）。
2 王必忽然进入祂的殿（三1）—预言基督首次的来临，进入圣殿（太廿一12）。
3 那日临近势如烧着的火炉（四1）—预言基督再来之日施行审判（太廿五31～34，犹14，15；彼后三8～13)。
4 必有公义的日头出现（四2)—预言基督再来时，为公义之主。祂要按公义审判仇敌，拯救选民，（玛四1，3，5；三17，18；太十七2；廿五31，32；徒十七31），给他们带来了最大的盼望。——李道生《旧约圣经问题总解（上）》
【玛三13-四6基督徒在事奉上常犯的毛病】一个基督徒常因工作多，又得不到别人的称赞，赏识而发怨言；以为事奉神是徒然的，这是基督徒事奉上常犯的毛病。我们基督徒在什么情形下，会陷入这个困境里呢？有以下四个原因：
一、太看重人的称赞──在得不到别人称赞时，就觉得事奉神是徒然的。
二、太过看重工作的果效── 我们作工，若看不到果效时，就以为事奉神是徒然的。保罗说：这人撒种，那人收割。我们的劳苦不会徒然的。什么时候收割，我们不知道。我们对主忠心，主一定会纪念我们劳苦。
三、失去爱神的心──我们工作忙碌，慢慢的对神的奉献，对神的爱，就会随时间的磨炼而失去！若非神的爱，我们的事奉是徒然的。
四、对于别人的批评太过敏感──在工作中，我们要靠神的恩典，不能倚靠自己的聪明。有些时，做传道人的也很困难；因为努力去做，受人的批评就越大。你做多，别人说你爱出风头；你做少，别人说你懒惰。你关心人，别人说你要讨好人；如果你少关心人，别人会说你没有爱心。因此，到了这个地步，就灰心起来，觉得对神的事奉是徒然的。
这些是关乎生活、事奉、信仰上争战的原则。透过主再来的光景，得胜在信仰上一切的困扰；当主再来时，为祂受苦的人，一定要与祂一同享受荣耀。── 张子华《一个离开神的心所发的怨言》
【旧约圣经最后的教训】第一、旧约结束前的一个预言，就是应许基督必要来到，因此旧约第一个和最后一个应许都是与基督有关的。
第二、我们既有玛拉基书放在面前，对神的应许的态度又要怎样谨慎地重估啊！我们说过，在玛拉基时代对应许的错误态度曾怎样成为他们的咒诅，在我们这个时代又岂能不慎？
第三、我们若小心读本书，两个最可怕的危机就会浮现眼前；一个是形式主义，另一个则是怀疑主义。在玛拉基的时代，这就是法利赛主义(形式主义)和撒都该主义(怀疑主义)的萌芽期，到了主耶稣的时代，它们就有形有体了。
形式主义者不喜欢他的形式主义被搅扰，正如怀疑主义者不喜欢他的怀疑主义被攻破一样！他们就因着自建的堡垒而把真神和真宗教摒诸门外，但「那日临近，势如烧着的火炉」！
最后，玛拉基书告诉我们，敬虔的人虽为少数，但他们在神的心目中又是多么宝贵。神用「纪念册」来记录他们，在神所预定的日子，他们是耶和华心中的至宝，是「特特归我」的。因此本书结束之前，我们听见他们轻轻地彼此对说：「他要来了！」之后有四百年，他们的影迹消失了，然后在新约的时代，我们又在圣城中看见他们，那就是年纪老迈的西缅和亚拿，「素常盼望以色列的安慰者来到」(路二25)。——巴斯德《归纳性研经》
【玛拉基控诉以色列人亏缺了神的荣耀】玛拉基书是旧约最后的一卷书，跟着就是新旧两约之间之黑暗时期，神在四百年间没有启示；所以玛拉基先知传递的乃是旧约时代最后的启示。他采用辩证法的形式写出了神的默示；现让我们来看玛拉基书一章一节：「耶和华藉玛拉基传给以色列的默示。」，「默示」一词就是「负担」之意，原来「玛拉基」先知中有一沉重的负担；以色列人何竟顽梗悖逆转离不认识神，各人任意妄为，偏行己路，有谁能叫他们回转归向神呢？玛拉基虽是如此沈痛，但他要控告以色列人的罪行使他们知道，在许多方面亏缺了神的荣耀。── 刘少康《来吧！我们重新建造》
【你们说事奉神是徒然的(玛三14；赛四十三14~四十四5)】
一、失了信心──不信主爱(玛一2；参申七8)
二、失了恭敬──亵慢主名(玛一6，12；路六46)
三、失了公义──藐视主旨
1.对待神(玛一7~8，12~14；弥六3；参王上十二28)
2.对待主库(玛三8~12；参出廿三14~15，注意「谁也不可空手朝见我」)
3.对待妻子(玛二14~16；三5)
四、失了忍耐──疑惑主义(玛三14~15；四1~2；二17；参三18；太七21~23，实在有分别；约壹三1~2)
五、失了盼望──轻看主恩(玛三14；诗一百十九15；十九13；提前四8~9；林前十五58；玛一9首句；三7前半；约壹四19；约十五9；十七23)
── 丁良才《经题模范》
【以色列人亏缺神的荣耀】
一、以色列的首领：
1.否认神的爱(一2~5)
2.藐视神的名(一6)
3.污秽神的坛(一7~8)
4.违背神的律(二1~2)
二、以色列的百姓：
1.婚姻生活不圣洁（玛二10-11，16-17，三1-3）
2.滥造谎言（玛二16-17，三1-3）
3.夺取供物（玛三7-10）
4.不肯事主（玛三13-15，四5-6）
── 刘少康《来吧！我们重新建造》
【荣耀的应许】
一、光明使者之降临（三1~4）
二、沛降天福（三10~12）
三、教会复兴（三16~18）
四、必有公义日头出现（四2~3）
五、使者先来复兴万事（四5~6；太十七11）
——贾玉铭《圣经要义》
【律法的总归】
一、主首次来与二次来（三1~18）
1、主首次来之行事
（1）有使者在主前开路（赛四十3；路一11~17）
（2）即弥赛亚亲自降临（掳二25，38）
2、也如二次来之行事（太三11；彼前二5；启一6）
二、主二次来之行事（四1~6）
1、关于主二次来之日
（1）主再来之日——“那日”
（2）主再来之事
（3）主再来之先导
2、也关于耶稣首次来
——贾玉铭《圣经要义》
God’s Messengers (Malachi—means ‘My Messenger’)
I. The Prophetic Messenger—Malachi bringing the Word of the Lord to the people (1.1)
II. The Priestly Messenger—the Levites failing to teach the Law of the Lord to the people (2.7)
III. The Royal Messenger—John the Baptist preparing the way of the Lord among the people (3.1)
IV. The Messenger of the Covenant—Jesus the Son of God coming to His house and His people (3.1)
── Archibald Naismith《Outlines for Sermons》
Wherein?—Questions in Malachi—A rebellious people ask the Lord—
I. Wherein hast Thou loved us?—God’s Love Denied (1.2)
II. Wherein have we despised Thy name?—God’s Name Despised (1.6)
III. Therein have we polluted Thee?—God’s Table Defiled (1.7)
IV. Wherein have we wearied Him?—God’s Providence Decried (2.17)
V. Wherein shall we return?—God’s Invitation Declined (3.7)
VI. Wherein have we robbed Thee?—God’s Treasury Defrauded (3.8)
VII. What have we spoken—against Thee?—God’s Justice Defamed (3.13)
── Archibald Naismith《Outlines for Sermons》
God’s Covenant with His People
I. God’s Commandment given to the priests (2.1)
II. God’s Covenant established with Levi (2.4)
III. God’s Curse overshadowing their blessings (2.2)—Because—
1. His Covenant was corrupted (2.8)
2. His Holiness was profaned (2.11)
3. His Ordinances were forsaken (3.7)
4. His Commandments were transgressed (3.14)
── Archibald Naismith《Outlines for Sermons》
Failure in Four Spheres (Failure of Priests and People)
I. In the Religious Sphere—Failure of Priests and Levites (2.7~8)
II. In the Social Sphere—Failure of the Husbands (2.14)
III. In the Spiritual Sphere—Failure of the People as a whole (3.5)
IV. In the Material Sphere—Failure of the Donors (3.8)
── Archibald Naismith《Outlines for Sermons》
Malachi - My Messenger (1:1-2:16)
INTRODUCTION
1. With the aid of the prophetic ministries of Haggai and Zechariah...
a. The temple was rebuilt - Ezra 5:1-2; 6:14-16
b. What had begun in 536 B.C. was finally finished in 516 B.C.
2. In 458 B.C., another group of exiles returned to Jerusalem, led by Ezra...
a. A priest
b. His work was to teach the people the word of God - Ezra 7:10
3. About 444 B.C., a third group of exiles returned led by Nehemiah...
a. Who became governor
b. Under his leadership, the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt (Neh 1-6)
c. Together with Ezra, he led the people to a great revival (Neh 7-13)
4. Contemporary with Ezra and Nehemiah was another prophet, Malachi...
a. His name means "My Messenger"
1) Certainly Malachi was a messenger of God
2) But he also spoke of God's messengers to come - Mal 3:1
b. Like Ezra the priest...
1) Malachi attacked the spiritual and moral decay that was prevalent
2) Among both priests and people
c. In so doing, he resorted to a new style of teaching
1) Known as the didactic-dialectic method of speaking
2) I.e., making a charge, raising potential objections, and then refuting them
3) Which later became common in Jewish schools and synagogues
[In this study, we shall consider several examples of this style of teaching as we survey the first two chapters. In these chapters we find Malachi addressing several problems...]
I. THEY WERE DOUBTING GOD'S LOVE
A. EVIDENTLY THEY WERE QUESTIONING GOD'S LOVE FOR THEM...
1. After years of captivity, one might understand why they felt this way
2. Their return from Babylonian captivity was not without difficulty
B. GOD REASSERTS HIS LOVE FOR ISRAEL...
1. Note the didactic-dialectic style - Mal 1:2
a. "I have loved you"
b. "In what way have You loved us?"
c. "Was not Esau Jacob's brother? Yet Jacob I have loved; but Esau I have hated"
2. God is speaking of Jacob and Esau as the representative of their descendant nations; God did not hate Esau personally, but did hate what Edom as a nation had become
3. He goes on to illustrate what He means
a. Edom (the descendants of Esau) had become desolate; despite their claims to the country, it would remain desolate - Mal 1:3-4
b. But Israel would one day see the Lord magnified beyond its border - Mal 1:5
[If the people only observed how Israel was being restored while Edom remained desolate, they would know God still loved them as a nation. But perhaps their doubting of God's love had led to another problem that was prevalent at that time...]
II. THEY WERE DISHONORING GOD'S NAME
A. BY OFFERING BLEMISHED SACRIFICES - Mal 1:6-11
1. Sons honor their fathers, and servants their masters; but they were despising God
2. When asked in what way, they are told of their defiled sacrifices
3. They were offering to God what they would be embarrassed to offer men
4. The Lord would even wish that someone shut the doors so they could not sacrifice
5. Despite their dishonor, one day God's name would be great even among the Gentiles
B. BY OFFERING HALF-HEARTED WORSHIP - Mal 1:12-14
1. They also were profaning God's name by saying His service is contemptible and a weariness
2. Those who continued to bring blemished sacrifices would fall under God's curse, for He is "a great King"
C. SUCH CORRUPTION WOULD NOT GO UNANSWERED - Mal 2:1-9
1. Addressing the priests directly, the nature of God's curse is graphically depicted
2. Because they had failed to live up to what was expected of God's priests, He will make them base and contemptible
[As Malachi continues, we also learn...]
III. THEY WERE PROFANING GOD'S COVENANT
A. BY MARRYING HEATHEN WOMEN - Mal 2:10-12
1. They were dealing treacherously and profaning the covenant made with their fathers by marrying pagan women ("the daughter of a foreign God")
2. This nature of this problem is described in Ezra 9-10; Neh 13:23-24
3. Malachi prays that the Lord will cut off from Jacob those who do this - Mal 2:12; cf. Ezr 10:7-8; Neh 13:23-28
B. BY DIVORCING THEIR JEWISH WIVES - Mal 2:13-16
1. Despite their weeping, God was no longer regarding their sacrifices - cf. 1 Pe 3:8
2. For they had dealt treacherously with the wives of the their youth (i.e., Jewish wives) by divorcing them
a. Even though they had entered into a covenant (e.g., "Till death do us part")
b. Even though God had made them one (cf. Gen 2:24)
3. Therefore God hates divorce - Mal 2:16
a. For it covers one's garment with violence (e.g., against the wife and children)
b. It is treacherous to so deal with one's spouse in that way!
CONCLUSION
1. Israel was showing signs of spiritual and moral decay...
a. Failing to appreciate God's love for them
b. Dishonoring God by offering second-best and half-hearted worship
c. Profaning God's covenant by disregarding it and their wives
2. It is easy for Christians to make application with such verses...
a. As spiritual priests we are to offer spiritual sacrifices (1 Pe 2:9; Ro 12:1-2)
b. Is our service honoring God? Or do we:
1) Dishonor God by offering less than our best and with half-hearted service?
2) Profane God's covenant by disregarding the covenant we made with Him and our wives when we married them?
3) Hinder our worship to God by our treatment of our wives?
c. Are we any better than the priests of Malachi's day?
Let the book of Malachi be a guide as to when one's religion is showing signs of spiritual and moral decay! Certainly God is worthy of our best, and we should do what we can to make sure these words prove true:
For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down,
My name shall be great among the Gentiles;
In every place incense shall be offered to My name,
And a pure offering;
For My name shall be great among the nations,"
Says the LORD of hosts. - Malachi 1:11
－－《Executable Outlines》
Malachi - My Messenger (2:17-4:6)
INTRODUCTION
1. In our previous lesson we introduced the last of "The Minor Prophets"...
a. Malachi, whose name means "My Messenger"
b. A prophet of God during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah (ca. 444 B.C.)
c. A prophet who like Ezra the priest...
1) Attacked the spiritual and moral decay at that time
2) Especially among the priests
d. A prophet who used the didactic-dialectic style of teaching
1) Making a charge, raising potential objections, and then refuting them
2) Which later became common in Jewish schools and synagogues
2. We have already seen how Malachi addressed three problems affecting Israel at that time...
a. They were doubting God's love - Mal 1:1-5
b. They were dishonoring God's name - Mal 1:6-2:9
1) By offering blemished sacrifices
2) By offering half-hearted worship
c. They were profaning God's covenant - Mal 2:10-16
1) By marrying heathen women
2) By divorcing their Jewish wives
3. In the last section of the book of Malachi, we find...
a. More indications of their spiritual and moral decay
b. Promises concerning the coming Messiah!
[We begin with the last verse of the second chapter, noting how...]
I. THEY WERE TRYING GOD'S PATIENCE
A. BY QUESTIONING THE JUSTICE OF GOD - Mal 2:17
1. They had wearied God with their words
2. Especially regarding His justice:
a. For they said that those who do evil is good in God's sight, that He even delights in them
b. For they asked, "Where is the God of justice?"
B. THE LORD'S RESPONSE WILL BE TO SEND HIS MESSENGER - Mal 3:1-5
1. First, the "messenger" who will prepare His way for Him - Mal 3:1a
a. A clear reference to John the Baptist
b. Compare Isa 40:3; Mt 3:1-3; 11:7-10
2. Then will appear the "Messenger of the covenant" - Mal 3:1b
a. Here the reference is to Christ, the Messiah for which they had longed
b. Who certainly came to His temple - Mt 21:12ff
c. And was a messenger of a new covenant - Mt 26:26-28
3. His coming will be one to purge His people - Mal 3:2-5
a. Like a refiner's fire and a fuller's soap
b. The sons of Levi (i.e., priests) especially, that their offerings may be acceptable
c. He will come near to judge those who do not fear the Lord - cf. Mt 3:11-12
[With the coming of the "Messenger of the covenant", they would have their answer to the question "Where is the God of justice?"
As we continue, we see yet another complaint God had against the Israelites in Malachi's day...]
II. THEY WERE FORSAKING GOD'S ORDINANCES
A. GOD CHARGES THEM WITH INCONSISTENCY - Mal 3:6-7
1. Unlike God Himself, whose unchanging nature has kept Him from totally consuming Israel! - Mal 3:6
2. Yet their history showed a practice of apostasy - Mal 3:7a
3. Even when called to return, they ask "In what way shall we return?" - Mal 3:7b
4. No answer is given directly
a. Perhaps because the answer is so obvious it does not deserve a response
b. Or the answer is given by the example which follows...
B. THEIR TITHES AS A CASE IN POINT - Mal 3:8-12
1. They had robbed God by their failure to offer their tithes - Mal 3:8
2. For this reason the whole nation had been accursed - Mal 3:9
3. They are challenged to bring the tithes, and to see the blessings that would follow - Mal 3:10-12
[The sixth and final complaint that God had against them is now presented...]
III. THEY WERE DESPISING GOD'S SERVICE
A. BY SAYING IT WAS VAIN TO SERVE GOD - Mal 3:13-15
1. Their words were harsh against God - Mal 3:13
2. Questioning what profit there was in keeping His ordinances - Mal 3:14
2. Calling the proud blessed, saying the wicked are raised up, and those who tempt God go free - Mal 3:15
B. YET SOME BEGAN TO HEED MALACHI'S MESSAGE - Mal 3:16-4:6
1. Those who feared the Lord, as they spoke to one another - Mal 3:16a
2. Whom the Lord noticed, and a "book of remembrance" was written - Mal 3:16b
3. Whom the Lord promised to make His "jewels" and spare them - Mal 3:17
a. It will be easy to discern the righteous - Mal 3:18
b. For the day was coming when the wicked will be burned liked stubble - Mal 4:1
c. But those who fear His name will be blessed by "the Sun of Righteousness" (i.e., Jesus) - Mal 4:2-3
4. Until then...
a. The faithful are exhorted to heed the Law of Moses – Mal 4:4
b. And await the coming of "Elijah the prophet" (i.e., John the Baptist) who will come to prepare people for the coming of the Lord - Mal 4:5-6; cf. Lk 1:16-17
CONCLUSION
1. As with most prophets, Malachi had a message for both the present and the future...
a. Exhorting the people to look at themselves, how they were guilty of:
1) Doubting God's love
2) Dishonoring God's name
3) Profaning God's covenant
4) Trying God's patience
5) Forsaking God's ordinances
6) Despising God's service
-- Note: These points were adapted from Wiersbe's "Be Amazed" commentary
b. Encouraging the people to look forward to the coming of:
1) God's Messenger (John), who would come in the spirit of Elijah and prepare people for the coming of the Lord
2) The Messenger of the covenant (Jesus), who come to refine and purify those willing to repent, and bring judgment on those who do not fear the Lord
2. It is encouraging to note that some evidently took Malachi's message to heart - Mal 3:16-18
a. Whom the Lord would claim as His
b. Whom the Lord would make His "jewels"
c. Whom the Lord would spare as a man spares His own son who serves him
As we come to the close of this survey of "The Minor Prophets", perhaps it is appropriate to ask: Are we willing to take the prophets' messages to heart?
* They were written for our learning and admonition - cf. Ro 15:4; 1 Co 10:11
* They help make us wise for the salvation which by faith in Christ - cf. 2 Ti 3:14-15
* They are certainly profitable for instruction in righteousness - cf. 2 Ti 3:16-17
I pray that in some way this series has helped you to appreciate the value of studying "The Minor Prophets" and making application of them to your life.
－－《Executable Outlines》
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