251
JUNE, 1946
The Book of Malawi
John A. Hubbard, D. D.
T HIS MONTH we are taking a brief study of the book of Mala- chi, which was written about Malachi is the Restoration Period of Israel, the historical account of which we have in the books of Ezra and Ne- hemiah. The student would do well to read these two books as a back ground for the study of Malachi. KThe temple (which was destroyed at the time of the Babylonian captivity) had been rebuilt by Zerubbabel, who led the first colony back from the Babylonian captivity. The walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt by Nehe- miah, and the Levitical worship had been restored with the priesthood rein stated. The people had been taught the Word of God by Ezra. Thus, so far as outward organiza tion and appearances were concerned, the people seemed to be in a very good condition, but the book of Malachi fur nishes a picture of the inner life of the people which was very far short of what it should have been. This un healthy spiritual state is revealed by the oft repeated question centering around the word "Wherein.” It is suggested that at this point the stu dent read the book of Malachi several times, then note the verses in which this word occurs (1:2, 6, 7; 2:17; 3:7, 8, 13). In connection with the last ref erence (3:13), Dr. G. Campbell Mor gan remarks: “You notice in this last instance the Authorized Version gives the word ‘What,’ which is a peculiar accident of translation. It is the same word in the Hebrew, and ought to have been translated ‘Wherein,’ as in the other cases.” These verses show that the people were blind, deluded, unable to see their real condition. They were self-satisfied formalists, who remind us of the con dition of the Laodicean church as re vealed in Revelation 3:17, 18. Their
the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?” What did they mean? ‘Our God is a God of love, there is no judgment. That man you say is evil, is good, if you only knew it. God delights in him.’ That is both weariness and snuffing. That is a countenancing and an excusing of sin. That is an attempt to gloss evil and treat it lightly, as of no importance. When man begins to excuse sin and to say that it doesn’t matter so much, that God delights in them that do evil, and that there is no judgment; then he is committing high treason” (Dr. G. Campbell Morgan). The next occurrence of the expres sion is 3:7, indicating that the people were in a backslidden condition and did not realize it. God said, “Return unto me.” In surprise, the people re plied, in effect, “Return to Him? Why, we "have not left Him.” They were ob serving the religious ceremonies, but this was not the same as having fel lowship with Him. Likewise today, people may be faithful in church at tendance, in observance of church or dinances, in donating their money, etc., but ' still be a “backslider in heart” (Prov. 14:14). We now turn to this word as em ployed in 3:8, in which statement the people were accused of robbing God by withholding their tithes and offer ings. There are thousands of profess ing Christians in the world today who would shrink with horror from the thought of taking another person’s property, yet they are as guilty of rob bing God as were the people in the days of Malachi. The last usage of the word “Where in” is 3:13. “What [wherein] have we spoken so much against thee?” The answer to their question is found in the following verses. Note very care- (Continued on Page 274)
condition is also aptly idescribed in 2 Timothy 3:5: “Having a form of godli ness, but denying the power thereof.” They professed to know God, but by their works they denied Him (cf. Tit. 1:16). Let us now look a little more closely at these verses in Malachi. God said, “I have loved you,” but the people re plied: “Wherein hast thou loved us?” (1:2). They probably contrasted their situation with their past greatness and power, as, for example, in the time of David and Solomon. Reduced to a feeble, despised, and subject people, they questioned God’s love for them. Many people are doing the same thing today. Addressing the priests in chapter 1:6, God accused them of despising His name. They replied, "Wherein have we despised thy name?” The answer to their question is found in the first part of this verse. They called Him “Father,” but they did not really honor Him. They honored Him with their lips, but their heart was far from Him (cf. Matt. 15:7, 8), a condition which is altogether too common today among professing Christians. They called Him “Master,” but were not submis sive to Him; they remind us of the words of our Lord in Luke 6:46, “Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” The third occurrence of the word “Wherein” is found in chapter 1:7, where the priests are seen to be .guilty of sacrilege. They were offering pol luted bread, not polluted in itself, but defiled by the hands of the wicked priests. They were guilty of sacrilege in that they were offering blemished sacrifices (1:8), sacrifices which they would not dare to offer to their human "governor.” - The next occurrence of the word “Wherein” is found in 2:17. They wearied God by saying, “Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of
400 years before Christ. The time of
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