Blessings instead of a curse: Malachi – Matthew 14

You can find a one-year Bible reading plan here.

The promise of Malachi 3 bookends this week’s passages, repeating itself in Matthew 11:

“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. “

In between, Malachi and the Old Testament close with a threatened curse. Despite their return to the Promised Land, and abandonment of idolatry, God’s people were failing in their devotion and returning to old ways of self-centered living. Malachi laid down an ultimatum, but he also offered a way out.

“Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? Malachi 3:1-2

The offer is a two-edged sword, threatening to bless or curse depending upon how it is accepted. After 400 years of prophetic silence the Messiah appeared, and Matthew’s account presents a very Jewish Jesus who fulfills all the prophecies of the Old Testament. Jesus repeatedly blessed the people with gifts of miraculous healing, showered them with grace, and revealed spiritual truth, but he also reminded those who rejected him of God’s impending judgment. Always at his heels were the Scribes and Pharisees, seeking every opportunity to trap him. I like to think of them as reactionaries against the failings of their countrymen so well described by Malachi. They were determined to save Israel by human effort in keeping the Law, but Jesus came to show them and us a better way.

Now the prophet lifts up his eyes again to see the day that is coming, not only the day 400 years later when the Lord Jesus will stand on the earth, but beyond that, across the great reaches of the centuries to the second coming of Christ, when all of God’s program will be fulfilled (Malachi 4, verse 1, 2): “For behold, the day comes, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall born them up, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.” Now that is one cause with two effects. The Son of Righteousness shall rise. And for those who refuse him, there is a burning. But toward those who receive him, there is a healing. It is the same Son. – Ray Steadman

About this blog

During 2020 I plan to post weekly writings covering the material you would read during each week as you proceed from Genesis to Revelation in one year. And so for this week I have covered Malachi – Matthew 14. Next week I will write about Matthew 15 – 28. I hope you will continue along with me. You can find daily posts about these chapters archived here on the Bible in a Year blog. For your convenience here are the previous posts covering Malachi – Matthew 14.

Closing the book on the old covenant: Malachi

Jesus Christ’s roots: Matthew 1-4

Fulfilling the Law, Jesus-style: Matthew 5

Ask, ask, ask! Matthew 7

Disciples: Matthew 10

https://oneyeardevotional.wordpress.com/2019/10/05/disciples-matthew-10-3/

Violence for and against the Kingdom: Matthew 11

Secrets of the kingdom: Matthew 13

“Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary” by Lawrence OP is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

Prophetic History: Obadiah – Zechariah 14

You can find a one-year Bible reading plan here.

As in last week’s post, it will help to see how these various prophetic books fit in the timeline of history. They begin before the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel and span the fall of Jerusulem until years after the exiles returned.

Before the Exile

Jonah was sent to preach to the Assyrian capital of Ninevah about 750 BC, even as the Assyrians threatened to defeat Israel and Judah (thus his reluctance to go). Ninevah was overwhelmed by the spirit of God, and repented for a season, but 30 years later they destroyed Israel and then fell to Babylon after another century passed.

Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah, foretold the coming invasions of Assyria and Babylon, but he is most famous for his prediction of the Messiah’s birth in Bethlehem. He also laid out God’s desire for the righteousness of all people, “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Nahum prophesied the fall of Assyria and its chief city, Ninevah, writing about 100 years after Jonah. Assyria’s fall is an example for all times of God’s rendering judgment on violent oppressors, as well as his offer of refuge to all who come to him humbly.

Zephaniah spoke to Judah about 630 BC before the reforms of King Josiah began, warning of the Day of the Lord which would fall terribly on Judah because of its sin. The prophet condemned all the godless nations around Jerusalem, but his fiercest judgments were reserved for Judah. He promised that the whole world would be burned in the fire of God’s jealousy, but this fire would not destroy God’s chosen people. Instead it would purify and restore them.

As Exile begins

Habbakuk writes about 600 BC, ten years after the death of Josiah, Judah’s last good king, and only five years after the first of the exiles were deported to Babylon. He cries out, “how long?” as he waits for God to act and then, “why?” as he sees God’s plan to use Babylon to punish Judah. In the end he learns to trust God and gives us the proclamation that birthed the Reformation, “the just shall live by faith.”

Obadiah pronounces judgment against Edom, Israel’s neighbor across the Dead Sea. Though the Edomites had a common ancestry with Israel through Esau, they badly mistreated their cousins when they were under the duress of an invasion (most likely Babylon’s attack). Obadiah then takes the example of God’s judgment of Edom and expands it to encompass all nations. “The day of the Lord is near for all nations.” “But on Mount Zion will be deliverance; it will be holy, and Jacob will possess his inheritance.”

After the Exile

Haggai preached to the exiles rebuilding Jerusalem in 520 BC, nearly 70 years after the destruction of the city. The reality of their efforts was pitiful in comparison to their glorious hope. Haggai stressed two things that were lacking in order to make their effort successful: making God’s work a priority as exemplified by rebuilding the temple, and purifying themselves so that the work would be blessed rather than cursed.

Zechariah also ministered among the returned exiles. He gave some of the most startling visions of God’s work in his own time and in the age of Messiah to come. The first seven chapters of dreams and visions close with a question from some of the returning exiles. Is now the time to stop mourning and celebrate the coming of God’s kingdom? Zechariah doesn’t answer their question but instead asks them if their mourning and fasting is any different from the insincere rituals of their ancestors whom God judged. Then he goes on to describe all the blessings God is planning to pour out on his people. Along the way he gives many specific descriptions of the life of the coming Messiah, both in his first and second comings. He tells of the triumphal entry, the victories that usher in the Millennium, Jesus’ betrayal, the repentance of all the Jewish people over the death of God’s son, and the geologic cataclysm that reshapes the Holy Land at Jesus’ return.

About this blog

During 2020 I plan to post weekly writings covering the material you would read during each week as you proceed from Genesis to Revelation in one year. And so for this week I have covered Obadiah – Zechariah 14. Next week I will write about Malachi – Matthew 14. I hope you will continue along with me. You can find daily posts about these chapters archived here on the Bible in a Year blog. For your convenience here are the previous posts covering Obadiah – Zechariah 14.

The reluctant missionary: Jonah

Can this be fixed? Micah

The end of Assyria: Nahum

The Just shall Live by Faith: Habukkak 2

Putting God first: Haggai

Better get ready: Zechariah

The King is coming, and coming again: Zechariah

Godly or Godless: Daniel 7 – Amos 9

You can find a one-year Bible reading plan here.

The prophetic books in this week’s readings are a varied lot on the surface. Three prophets and a visionary. Two before the exile, one during the exile, and one most likely after the exile. But all deal with the certainty of God’s judgment and the promise of renewal. Together they show us the contrast between the godless person (or nation) and the one who follows after God.

Before the Exile

Both Hosea and Amos spoke to the northern kingdom of Israel. In Hosea Israel was the adulterous wife whom God promised to buy back from her enslavement, but she would be enslaved nevertheless. In Amos Israel was the bullseye in concentric rings of judgment moving from the outer pagan nations through Judah and into the northern kingdom. Israel was a basket of ripe fruit ready to be picked and destroyed.

During the Exile

Daniel’s visions and life experiences are full of beasts. Nebuchadnezzar becomes an animal in his proud insanity. Daniel must face the lions who turn out to be less deadly than his human enemies. His visions foresee coming kingdoms in the form of animals leading up to one final beast who overthrows all others and makes war against God’s people until he is destroyed by God. Daniel and his three friends set a shining example of overcoming faith, but those who reject God are shown to be nothing but animals.

After the Exile

Joel wrote about two invading locust swarms. One was a physical invasion of insects that ravaged the land and brought destitution. The second was an army led by God which threatened judgment, the Day of the Lord, on all the nations that rejected God. God’s people faced judgment as well if they did not repent. But for those who did repent God promised abundant restoration and an outpouring of his spirit. The apostles said this promise was fulfilled at Pentecost.

About this blog

During 2020 I plan to post weekly writings covering the material you would read during each week as you proceed from Genesis to Revelation in one year. And so for this week I have covered Daniel 7 – Amos 9. Next week I will write about Obadiah – Zechariah 14. I hope you will continue along with me. You can find daily posts about these chapters archived here on the Bible in a Year blog. For your convenience here are the previous posts covering Daniel 7 – Amos 9.

An outline of the end: Daniel 7-9

Pulling back the curtain – on spiritual warfare: Daniel 10

He changed my name: Hosea 2

Farming for the soul: Hosea 10

After the Day of the LORD: Joel 2

False vs. True Worship: Amos 5

Starving for God’s Word: Amos 8

Image by William Blake

A future David, a future threat, a future temple: Ezekiel 34 – Daniel 6

You can find a one-year Bible reading plan here.

In Ezekiel 11 God promised that he would restore Israel after he judged Jerusalem. His promises of condemnation proved true when an escapee from Jerusalem informed the exiles of the destruction of their beloved city (Ezekiel 33). Now it was time for God to reveal his rebuilding program, but he didn’t have wonderful material to work with. The exiles were just as sinful as their counterparts in Judah, so a miracle of grace was needed.

First God promised to give them a new David in the model of a perfect shepherd to replace the immoral shepherds who had been leading the nation. To make his people fit for this new shepherd God would need to remake them. Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones brought back to life by the spirit of God showed how God would accomplish this miracle of spiritual rebirth. It looked forward to the day when followers of the new David, Jesus Christ, would be reborn. It also envisioned a day still to come when the whole of the Jewish nation would be reborn to eternal life through faith in Jesus.

Next God revealed how he would deal with the nations opposed to Israel. When the exiles returned to the promised land, which the vision of Gog assumes, they would still face opposition and warfare. But in the end Gog and his hordes, representative of the whole world, would be completely and eternally defeated by God.

Finally God details how the secure and free Promised Land will receive the benefit of all his promises to the Jews. In a time that fits best with the Millennial reign of Jesus on earth, the temple worship is restored with priests and sacrifices in a drastically reshaped Jerusalem. A river of life flows out of the city restoring everything it touches. The city is even renamed, “The Lord is There,” and the new David rules there.

About this blog

During 2020 I plan to post weekly writings covering the material you would read during each week as you proceed from Genesis to Revelation in one year. And so for this week I have covered Ezekiel 34 – Daniel 6. Next week I will write about Daniel 7 – Amos 9. I hope you will continue along with me. You can find daily posts about these chapters archived here on the Bible in a Year blog. For your convenience here are the previous posts covering Ezekiel 34 – Daniel 6.

What leaders should do: Ezekiel 34

A coming invasion: Ezekiel 38-39

A new temple: Ezekiel 40-42

The Eastern Gate: Ezekiel 43-45

The power of living water: Ezekiel 47

Living a life that glorifies God: Daniel 1-3

The insanity of pride: Daniel 4