Malachi Chapter 1 Summary
Jehovah's love for Israel. The sins of the priests and hypocrisy of the people.
Discussion Questions for Malachi, Chapter 1
- If God sent you a letter that specifically said, “I have loved you!” would you doubt that love, question it, or would you know how true His statement is? Do you know that God loves you? Do you know why God loves you?
- The people's response to God's “I have loved you” (NASB1995) is, “How have you loved us?” This is the first of several questions in Malachi that show the reader the heart of the people and how far it was from God. Have you ever questioned God's love? While we won't often or ever vocalize a question like that to God, sometimes we may feel deeply that it might be true. If you have ever asked God that question or thought it, what were the circumstances that led you to ask Him that? Did you find an answer? What was it? How can we be sure that even in the most trying of circumstances or the worst of moments, God truly does love us?
- The nation of Edom descended from Esau and was an evil nation that set itself far apart from God. What, then, is the significance of God speaking about Jacob and Esau and His actions toward them over the hundreds of years? What does this show us about the nature and character of God?
- In verses 6 and 7, you have two more questions, the first of which is, “How have we despised your name?” How had the priests of Israel despised or disrespected God's name? Why is it so problematic that the priests are guilty of this sin?
- The second question the people ask is in verse 7, and they ask, “How have we defiled you?” How had the people defiled the Lord's work or the place of His presence? Why is what they did such an evil?
- Think of someone you know who was once close to God but is now far away. Did that happen quickly, or was it a gradual, step-by-step moving away from Him? Most often, this happens as one takes small steps away from God, which can quickly stack up. Have you ever taken steps away from God, knowingly or not? What did this look like? What happened? Did God draw you back? How?
- Throughout biblical history, the people of Israel have enjoyed special favor and significance to God. Verses 9-11 seem to shift that significance, at least in part, away from Israel to other nations because of their sin. How would you feel if you were in Israel's position and heard that God was going to start blessing and favoring other nations while yours moved away from Him?
- The people prove that their worship is shallow and false by their actions. What actions are listed in verses 8 and 13–14 that show this to be true? How does this show the sad state of their hearts before God?
- In verse 13, the Lord says, “Should I receive that from your hand?” (speaking of the false offering). In Leviticus 10, Nadab and Abihu, who were sons of Aaron, sacrificed to the Lord in an unfitting way. What happened to them? How are the two situations in these verses in Malachi 1 and Leviticus 10 similar? What one word in Leviticus 10:3 describes the character of God as it applies to honoring Him with proper sacrifices? Why?
- The chapter ends with God saying, “My name is feared among the nations” (NASB1995). Another translation reads, “My name is to be feared among the nations.” What does it mean to “fear God” or “fear God's name”? How does this relate to how the people are acting before God?
Key Words/Phrase
Jehovah's displeasure, vv. 10, 13.
Characters
God, Malachi, Jacob, Esan.
Strong Verse(s)
13
