Bible In One Year-Day 193 (Saturday, July 12, 2014)

Commentary: Malachi1-4. Prophet Malachi was one of the prophets in the days of Nehemiah. In his time, the Temple had been rebuilt but run by promiscuous, deceitful, wicked and corrupt power-brokers, i.e. the priests and the Levites. They led the people more into sin and worshipping God was short of the requirements.

Malachi 2:8 “But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.”

Malachi functioned as a Pastor, Prophet and a theologian to the people. His messages were directed at the atrocities within the people. They dishonored God with defiled sacrifices on the altar;

Malachi 1:13 “Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.”

It was so bad that the word of God was not important to the people; they lived their own lives. They disregarded marriage institution and abhors God’s position in their social living.

Malachi 2:16 “For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away (divorce): for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.”

Many things went wrong which were hurting to God. The proud was being praised and the wicked went free with their atrocities. The righteous was being silenced. A lot gave up serving the Lord because of evil counsel and compromised the righteous path;

Malachi 3:14-15 “Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.”

The book of remembrance is only for those who remain steadfast in the way of the cross, Malachi3:16-18. There is reward for those who remain steadfast in the fear of the Lord;

Malachi 4:2-3 “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.”

Unfortunately, the atrocities in the days of Malachi are prevalent now. Sorcerers, adulterers, perjurers, exploiters and haters have taken over the pulpits and are putting on collars (Mal3:5). The people are being led astray through wrong counsels and the kingdom suffers righteous living. Malachi ended his message with the prediction of an Elijah which Jesus confirmed in John The Baptist.

Malachi 4:5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:”

For more than 400 years, God kept silent until John the Baptist appeared to fulfill the prophecy of Prophet Malachi.

Matthew 11:13-15 “For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.And if ye will receive it, this is Elijah who was to come.He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

The book of Malachi is enough as a sound warning for us to check and consider our ways. The manner of worship today is becoming insincere and full of falsehood. It is so bad that ethical standard of God’s covenant is becoming alien to worshippers. The worship is as the flesh leads and not as the Spirit leads even if we say “the Holy Spirit says …” The move of the flesh is now the move of the Spirit. Sincere and genuine biblical counsels and standards are being sidetracked for the insincere. Politicians are the advisers of the collared and the collared leads the people into more captivity. We need to pray for revival.

Let us seek for the old path where we could find rest. Let us listen to the trumpet’s sound, wherewith we could escape the calamity to come. Our reading for today is Proverbs1-3. Keep the fire burning and alive.

Pastor Supo Abayode

+1-302-230-6792

Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries

Delaware, USA