Malachi 1:1-5

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

God Loves His People Israel

Malachi is a post-exilic prophet. What does that mean? Malachi is a minor prophet. What does that mean?
Which is the last book in the Old Testament in our English Bible? Which is the last book in the Hebrew Bible?
What is the reason for the difference in Question #2?
What is the Septuagint?
When is the book of Malachi dated?
What is the theme of Malachi?

He is called a minor prophet because his book is small in size, not because he is less spiritual than the major prophets, who wrote the larger books. He is a post-exilic prophet because he wrote after the Jews came back from their seventy-year captivity.
Malachi is the last book in the Old Testament in our English Bible. Chronicles is the last book in the Hebrew Bible.
Our English Bible follows the order of the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible.
It is named after the seventy scholars that supposedly translated the Hebrew Bible into Greek in the third century B.C. The English Bible follows this order.
Right at the end of the Old Testament period.
“Backsliding Reviewed.” There had been a period of revival at the time of Nehemiah after the wall of Jerusalem had been rebuilt. but the revival was short-lived, and the people were now in a backslidden state.

God's word to His backslidden people through the prophet Malachi was, “I have loved you.” But the people questioned God's love by saying, “In what way have You loved us?” God in His grace, patiently reasoned with them, giving proof of His love for them by His election of Jacob. Consider how God's election of Jacob proved His love for His people.
A second proof of God's love was by His destruction of Edom. God had spared His people and in His love and grace brought them back from captivity. The prophet Obadiah had pronounced judgment on Edom, the descendants of Esau. but there was no promise of return or rebuilding.

Do you ever question God's love? Do you think that God doesn't love you because He disciplines you? Read Hebrews 12:6. Count the ways that God has shown His great love for you.

“'I have loved you,' says the Lord. Yet you say, 'In what way have you loved us?'" Malachi 1:2
“Jacob have I loved, but Esau I have hated.” Malachi 1:2-3