December 27, 2022

Malachi is the last book in the “Old Testament.” It is said to be the prelude to four hundred years of prophetic silence, broken finally by the words of the next prophet, John the Baptist: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” jn 1:29 nkjv

When we read the book of Malachi we see Yahweh using the Prophet to probe the minds and hearts of the people of that time to get to the core of their destitute condition (which they refused to accept); would there be any different “probing” of the hearts and minds of the people of our times… ? It seems that the book of Malachi was the “final chapter” of Yahweh’s interaction in the epoch of a people [Israel] who were given much and yet refused to return to the corrective paths to save themselves from ruin. The coming of Messiah Yeshua wold usher in a different way… 400 years later.

Today, as believers, we have what could be called “twenty-twenty” foresight vision because of being able to study the cause and affect of our Biblical ancestors. Should we not be able to see the coming ruin now on the horizon? When disconnected from the Creator of the Universe, the resultant living in reckless abandon always yields the same repetition of man’s history. Consider these words of Malachi:

“For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves. 3 You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this,” Says the Lord of hosts. mal 4:1-3 nkjv

I think there are many in the “watered down” church today who think they are among the ones doing the “trampling.” Tragically, they need to do a serious reassessment of their profile as to how they measure up to the Torah:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” mat 7:21 nkjv What is the will of Our Father in heaven?” The Prophet Malachi closes the last book in the Old Testament like this:

“Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments.” mal 4:4 nkjv

The Prophet Hosea warns us: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” Hos 4:6 nkjv

The New Testament tells us believers that we are a “royal priesthood.” 1 pet 2:9 nkjv In the new covenant, we “Priest,” are the responsible ones who bring truth and knowledge to the “sheep.” Let us carefully evaluate our profile for “Torah” likeness [Christ likeness, since He is the Torah in the Flesh].

Let us seriously strive to be people [Priest] who fear Yahweh’s Name:

“But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves. 3 You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this,” Says the Lord of hosts.” mal 4:2-3 nkjv

Shalom… John