Reading Service: Malachi
Pastor John Talley
Part of Malachi
February 7, 2021

Please follow along in your Bible as we read Malachi together as a church. We also encourage you to take notes and ask questions. If you’re not part of a small group, this is a great opportunity to join one.

If you don’t have a Bible, you can follow along in our app (select the ESV Bible tab), download the YouVersion Bible app for iOS or Android, or download the Blue Letter Bible app for iOS or Android.

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Malachi 1:1 “The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.”

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Setting of Malachi

  • 2nd returning remnant (485-425 B. C.)
  • 3rd returning remnant (445-433 B. C.)
  • Ezra 7-10
  • Nehemiah

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Authorship of Malachi:

The Bible provides little in the way of biographical information about the person.

  • He was a prophet (1:1)
  • He was a contemporary of Nehemiah
  • His name means “messenger of Jehovah”
  • He wrote the book between 445-425 B.C.

Characteristics of Malachi

  • Most notable is the repeated pattern of discourse.
    • Affirmation (charge or accusation)
    • Interrogation (“you say”)
    • Refutation (answer to the question)
  • Strong emphasis on the Law
  • 47 of the 55 verses are spoken by the Lord to Israel

Purpose of Malachi

  • To rebuke the formalistic approach to the worship of and the relationship with God.
  • To call the nation to repent and return to a relationship that honors Him.

What Can We Expect to Learn?

  • Loving God and honoring His name is accomplished by being authentic in our profession, gifts, service, and time we give to him.
  • Our gifts to God are not to gain His blessing but because of His greatness.
  • God’s grace extends to us even when we have greatly offended Him.
  • A day of judgement is coming!


Small Group Questions

  1. How did God speak to you today through the reading of His Word? Share the work of God in your heart with the group.

  2. What questions came to your mind as His Word was read today? This would be a great opportunity as a group to use the Ask a Pastor feature and that way we can address it either directly or in the messages in the future.