A Time Between Time - Remember

By Mary Vee
Malachi 3
Between the Old and New Testament

From the Historical records

Photo by Mary Vee

The time in between time. 

Four hundred years are in the process of passing. We won't hear anymore from Nehemiah, Ezra, Ezekiel, or other prophets like Hosea, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, or Malachi. They've told us their stories and have nothing more to say.

But, remember this: 

God told Malachi to tell us there were those who feared and worshiped the Lord faithfully during that time and during our time. They talked with each other, encouraged one another to continue, and the Lord listened and heard.

A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.

"Those who remembered Me and continued to worship Me will be mine in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. 

"You will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

"The day is coming. It will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble. That day will set them on fire. Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 

"But for you who revere My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. You will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. You will trample down the wicked. They will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things," says the Lord Almighty.

"Remember the law of my servant Mose, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel."

"See," says the Lord, "I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers. If they will not, I will come and strike the land with a curse."

And so...we are asked to remember. 

Remember God. 

Our creator. 

The giver of life. 

Our protector. 

The One who faithfully loves us and will never leave us....even when we are stifled in a terrible storm.


Come back next time, because interesting events happen in Jerusalem in days to come.
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sources: 
New International Version, New King James Version. 
My Bible College training.
My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
Pastoral sermons on this time
Matthew Henry Commentary
F. LaGard Smith Commentary

Malachi-Guaranteed Way To Be Blessed

By Mary Vee
Malachi 3

From Malachi's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Malachi. I am a prophet sent to be God's messenger to the people.

The problem He wished to talk about was their stealing.

God said His people stole from Him.

When I told the people this, they asked, "How are we stealing?"

God said, "You steal from me when you do not bring the tithes and offerings as instructed in the law."

We do have a very loving God. One who is patient and forgiving if we listen and obey His laws. Even when we do wrong, He will forgive us if we confess and turn from our bad ways.

God said "If the people bring the whole tithe, not just a part, but the whole required offering to the storehouse and fill the chambers with food for my house then they will receive great blessings.

"Want me to prove My word?" God asked.

"Try obeying my law. Bring the full offerings to my house. When you do I will throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour blessings beyond belief. Blessing you will not have room enough to store. 

"I will prevent pests from devouring your crops and the vine weeds in your fields will not grow up and strangle your plants. 

"Then all the nations around you will call you blessed. Your land will be a delightful land.

"For you who honor God's name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. You will go out and leap like a young calf released from the stall. 

And so I reminded God's people. This is something everyone man, woman, and child who loves God needs to remember. God said, "Remember the law of my servant ones, the decrees and laws I gave him at Mount Horeb for my people, Israel.

"I will send you the prophet Elijah before the day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. 

"But if they won't turn their hearts, a curse will fall on the land."


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sources: New International Version, New King James Version  

1. What did God want the people to do?
2. What blessing would the people receive if they obeyed?
3. What will the people from other nations say?
4. What reminder did God have for the people?
5. Who will God send?
6. What will this person help the people do?
7. What will happen if they don't listen?

Malachi-Levi Showed Us What To Do

By Mary Vee
Malachi 2

From Malachi's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Malachi. I am a prophet sent to be God's messenger.

The leaders of the people, especially the priests have been teaching the people they did not have to obey God's law exactly as God has said.

In God's message, directed to anyone who leads from the oldest person to the youngest baby, God said he would send a punishment to anyone who does not honor His name. The punishment is that they will be humiliated and sent away.

God had made a covenant with Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, and the leader of his tribe. His children and children's children would be the priestly leaders for the people. Keep in mind you who are reading this story today, that these truths spoken by God are for anyone who leads the oldest person to the youngest infant in Spiritual truths.

The covenant God made with Levi was a covenant of life and peace. God gave these to Levi. God expected reverence and Levi revered God and stood in awe of God's name. True instruction was in Levi's mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. Levi walked with God in peace and uprightness. He turned many people away from sin by his example and words.

This is what God wanted from the priests and leaders of the Jews living in Jerusalem and those still living in Babylon. The lips of the priest were to teach only the words God said. Not to change them so that the priest could profit or so the people could give less than what God expected.

The priests have turned the people away from God's truth, and have caused them to stumble. The priests have committed a crime against God by teaching words that are not His truth.

God told me to say to the priests, "Because you have not followed God's ways, but have shown the people they can do less than what I have said, they have seen your lies and have despised you so you are humiliated before all the people."

God loves men, women, boys and girls. He wants them to have good, truthful instruction.

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sources: New International Version, New King James Version  

1. Who did God send this message?
2. Who was the messenger?
3. What did the priests and leaders do wrong?
4. Who was their good example?
5. What was the punishment for the priests?
6. Why did this bother God so much?

Malachi-Second hand Gifts

By Mary Vee
Malachi 1

From Malachi's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Malachi.

I haven't bothered to leave any information about myself in the Bible book that records what God has asked me to do. I didn't leave clues about the job I had before this time or after, my family, or where I lived because none of that had anything to do with the job God gave me.

Even the name I am called has a purpose. Malachi means messenger.

God sent me to deliver a message to the Jews. About twenty years have gone by since the time of Esther. The Jews had a time of peace.

During this time we all should have joyfully spent time praising the God who spared our lives and led a large group of Jews back to our homeland.

Sadly, this was not done. 

Those living in Babylon went about their lives, making bread, growing crops, getting married and having children for a new generation. Those who moved back to Jerusalem first focused on rebuilding their homes. After they had their basic needs met, did they rebuild the temple or the walls of the city? No. They only cared about themselves and stopped worshipping the God who'd given them so much.

The first words of this message from God to His people were: "I have loved you."

We the people have said by our actions, "How have you loved us, Lord?" How could the Jewish people have forgotten so quickly? This is sad. We should not treat the God of the Universe this way.

Our Creator God answered, "I have loved you, my chosen nation and have turned the mountains of those who do not believe in Me into wasteland where the desert animals have come to live.

"Israel's enemies, those who have not worshiped me, have boldly said they would rebuild their flattened cities. And they may try. But I will destroy their new cities. They will be a people always under my anger. You will see this, people of Israel. Even beyond the borders of your land.

And even with all that the Almighty God has done for us, we have not given Him the respect and honor due to our Heavenly Father. God said, "A son honors his father, and a servant honors his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?"

While we all needed to hear these next words, God said to the temple leaders and priests, "It is you, O priests, who shown complete disrespect for my name. You ask in your minds, how have you done this. By offering to me the very worst. By accepting and teaching my people that they may bring the least of what they own as a way to worship me.

"Let me ask you," God said, "Would you or any of my people offer these same gifts to your governor? Would he be pleased with you or your gift? Would he accept you?

"And you expect me to be pleased with you because of the second hand gifts you and my people bring to me?" Why not just shut the temple door? Why pretend to give me worship and thanks? I am not pleased with you. I will not accept any offering from your hands.

"Know this, temple leaders and priests, My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every nation, pure offerings will be brought to my name because my name will be great in each place."


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sources: New International Version, New King James Version  

1. This was a time of __________
2. What were the people who returned to Jerusalem and those still living in Babylon doing?
3  Who did God send to bring this message?
4. What were God's first words of this message?
5. Did the people seem to care?
6. What did the priests teach the people they could do? 
7. Why was this wrong?