God answers disputes through Malachi: What are disputes?

They are questions to defend themselves or argue with God. This was over 100 years after the Jewish remnant had returned to Jerusalem. They were not experiencing the blessing of God they thought they should be. Sadly many had reverted to the same sinful practices going on before they went into captivity, but they seemed blind to this. So God addresses their questions and his responses through Malachi.

Oh how, how, what, where, how, why? What does this mean?

This is how 6 of the questions started. Here is a very basic summary of some of the questions the Jewish remnant is asking and God is answering in this book Malachi writes.

Jewish remnant: How do you show us love? It does not seem like You do! God: I have demonstrated my compassion to the house of Jacob (in contrast to Esau) over and over.

Jewish remnant: How have we not honored God’s name? God: You are not honoring God by bringing worthless offerings instead of your best to Me and the priests are not teaching the truth.

Jewish remnant: What have we done to be unfaithful to our covenant with God? God: You are being unfaithful by marrying foreign women who serve other gods. You are not regarding your marriage vows as important.

Jewish remnant: Where is the God of Justice? God: I will visit you with judgment, but you will not like it.

Jewish remnant: How can we turn back to God? We think we are doing just fine. God: You can start by being honest and bringing Me your tithes and offerings.

Jewish remnant: Why should we serve God? It does not seem worth it! God: God knows who has honored and served Him and one day you will see what a difference it will make!

The Day of the Lord will come, What is the Day of the Lord? This book looks forward to the coming of the Savior, both his first and second coming. The Day of the Lord referred to here is when all evil will be punished and God will fulfill all his promises at Christ’s second coming.

So please, Remember Gods’ laws and decrees! This last book of the Old Testament looks back to the teachings of Moses and the prophets and says remember to obey because a day when all will give account to God is coming!

Preparing: God does not leave His people in their sin. He is always reaching out to purify His people through whom the Messiah/Savior will come. He also told of the person who would come to prepare the way for the Messiah,

Pictures: Malachi 3:1-3 tell about the messenger of the covenant coming who is the Savior and how He is the purifier, like a refiner’s fire. This is a picture for us of what the Savior does for our hearts. The gold is put into the refiner’s fire, not to destroy it, but to remove impurities and make it pure gold.