Unlocking The Old Testament

Malachi 1

David Pawson begins the study on Malachi by discussing Replacement Theology which sees blessings promised to Israel (but not the curses) as now transferred to the Church. David says, ‘this seems to me a bad case of prejudice’. Malachi was a prophet to the returned exiles in Israel. Rebuilding had taken place, but times were hard. The people were blaming God and, though they didn’t return to idolatry, were becoming complacent, their religion a formality. The priests were not passionate either. David Pawson says the more you put into your faith, the more you get out of it. Goodness disappears when God disappears. The book of Malachi is all in prose indicating that God had become drained of feelings for his people – though the Covenant with them was not broken. David says that when God spoke in poetry, it was to convey his feelings. When a nation gives God up, he gives them up. Malachi is unique in 5 features: a high proportion is the direct Word of God; it is anonymous as Malachi was not his name; sharp exchanges between prophet and people; prose not poetry; it was God’s last Word for 400 years. David explains ‘love’ and ‘hate’ in the Bible.

 See Video

Malachi 2

In studying Malachi, David Pawson points out 3 aspects of God we need to understand: He is the Creator from whom we come, the King under whom we live & the Judge to whom we go. David says the loving Father side in the New Testament supplements this, but doesn’t substitute for this. Malachi challenges the priests. Faulty sacrifices were being made; sermons were given for popularity rather than the truths of God; they were man-pleasers instead of God-fearers. David sees a lack of the necessary fear of God in the Church today because he is treated with familiarity but not with reverence. The people were marrying outside the people of God which God had forbidden, as he has today. Divorce was rife, and Malachi told them that God hates divorce. David says, judgment will come, but it doesn’t come by next Friday because of God’s patience. “Return to Me, and I will return to you.” David says there is a dynamic relationship between God and his people; he is responding to them constantly. There is an important word on tithing as well. At the end of the book: Get back to the Maker’s instructions; and the forecast of the coming of one like the great prophet Elijah to prepare the way for the Lord.

 See Video

 Select Pages

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29  30