Malachi 3:6-12 The Citizen

Theological Proposition/Focus:

Homiletical Proposition/Application:

Introduction:

Setting the Stage:

Malachi was written to a Jewish remnant in Palestine. After the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon, the people were deported. In 536 BC some of the people were allowed to return and in 516 BC a new temple had been constructed. Nehemiah who had come to help rebuild the city returned to Persia in 432 BC. Xerxes was king and he imposed heavy taxes on Palestine. Malachi wrote to the people in this context.

The theme is one of patient hope in God and special emphasis is placed on God's demand for justice. Malachi taught that spiritual apathy is unacceptable before God. God has plans for the future and expects his people to change their attitude and worship him through faith always trusting that he is sovereign. God’s standards have theological, social, and ethical implications and God expects his people to live by those standards.

Malachi's style is one of asking good questions and significantly, Malachi is the last prophet to write before John the Baptist comes on the scene more than 400 years later.