MALEÁGI/ MALACHI

Maleági 1-4

Maleági was ‘n profeet of boodskapper van God. Daar is slegs 1 vers in die Bybel wat sy naam noem.

“GODSPRAAK. Die woord van die Here aan Israel deur die diens van Maleági.”
‭‭MALEÁGI‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬ ‭AFR53‬‬

Maleági- Strong’s H4401 - my boodskapper - Hebreeuse Malachi word ook in Engels gebruik. Maleági kom van die stamwoord H4397 wat die woord is wat as engel (malach, meervoud malachim) vertaal word in die Ou Testament. ‘n Boodskapper kan of na ‘n menslike boodskapper (profeet) of na ‘n engel verwys. Sommige beskou Malachi as ‘n afkorting vir “Boodskapper van Yah”.

Maleági het profeteer dat Jesus sal kom. Die boodskapper (malach) was Johannes die doper en die Ou Testament se Engel (malach) van die Here (nuwe verbond) verwys na Jesus.

“KYK, Ek stuur my boodskapper wat die weg voor My uit sal baan; dan sal skielik na sy tempel kom die Here na wie julle soek, naamlik die Engel van die verbond, na wie julle 'n begeerte het. Kyk, Hy kom, sê die Here van die leërskare.”
‭‭MALEÁGI‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭AFR53‬‬

Daar is baie min inligting beskikbaar oor Maleági. Sommige skrifgeleerdes dink dat Maleági ‘n skuilnaam was vir Esra. Esra het moontlik uit vrees vir die mense se reaksie op die boodskap wat hy moes bring, sy naam verander. Daar is ooreenkomste tussen die boek Esra en Maleági - Esra 9 en 10. Ander skrifgeleerdes dink ‘n engel het die boek Maleági geskryf. Maleági het geleef in die tyd na die Jode se ballingskap en die tweede tempel gerestoureer is. Ester, Esra, Nehemía, Sagaría, Obadja, Haggai, Daniël en Joel het ook in die tydperk 550 -400 voor Christus geleef. Volgens Nave’s Topical Bible Reference system was Maleági ‘n profeet van Juda wat 450-400 vC geleef het.

Maleági moes die Levitiese priesters berispe oor hulle sondige lewens. Die priesters se offers was sinneloos, want hulle harte was nie reg met God nie. Hulle het die verbond wat God met Levi gemaak het verbreek. Die mense het geestelike egbreuk gepleeg deur ander gode te aanbid.  Hulle het ook fisies getrou met vroue van ander sondige stamme. Maleági sê egter dat die heidinne God op die regte manier aanbid - Maleági 1:11 en 14. Dit kan moontlik ‘n profesie wees van wat later in die Nuwe Testament gebeur of dit kan na die Nuwe Jerusalem verwys - Jesaja 66:20.

“Het Hy dan nie een mens gemaak nie, hoewel Hy gees oorgehad het? En waarom die een? Hy het 'n geslag van God gesoek. Neem julle dan in ag ter wille van julle gees en wees nie ontrou aan die vrou van jou jeug nie.”
‭‭MALEÁGI‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬ ‭AFR53‬‬

Maleági lê ook klem op die feit dat almal net 1 Vader het. Die eerste vrou is uit die man gemaak en die eerste man is na die beeld van God gemaak. Die Bruidegom is uit God en die bruid is uit die Bruidegom. Dit illustreer die eenheid tussen God en die mens. God wou ‘n familie hier op Aarde hê. Jesus het dieselfde boodskap gebring.

“In dié dag sal julle weet dat Ek in my Vader is, en julle in My, en Ek in julle.”
‭‭JOHANNES‬ ‭14‬:‭20‬ ‭AFR53‬‬

“Ek is die wynstok, julle die lote. Wie in My bly, en Ek in hom, hy dra veel vrug; want sonder My kan julle niks doen nie.”
‭‭JOHANNES‬ ‭15‬:‭5‬ ‭AFR53‬‬

“dat almal een mag wees net soos U, Vader, in My en Ek in U; dat hulle ook in Ons een mag wees, sodat die wêreld kan glo dat U My gestuur het. En Ek het hulle die heerlikheid gegee wat U My gegee het, sodat hulle een kan wees, net soos Ons een is.”
‭‭JOHANNES‬ ‭17‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭AFR53‬‬

Die mense het God moeg gemaak deurdat hulle dit wat sleg was afgemaak het as goed. Twee honderd jaar voor Maleági het Jesaja ook hieroor gepraat en 2400 jaar na Maleági sit ons met presies dieselfde probleem.

“JULLE vermoei die Here met julle woorde. Nogtans vra julle: Waarmee vermoei ons Hom? Deurdat julle sê: Elkeen wat kwaad doen, is goed in die oë van die Here, en in hulle het Hy 'n behae; of waar is anders die God van die reg?”
‭‭MALEÁGI‬ ‭2‬:‭17‬ ‭AFR53‬‬

“Wee hulle wat sleg goed noem en goed sleg, wat die duisternis lig maak en die lig duisternis, wat bitter soet maak en soet bitter.”
‭‭JESAJA‬ ‭5‬:‭20‬ ‭AFR53‬‬

Maleági 3 verseker ons dat God nie verander het nie. God haat steeds sonde en as ons Hom soek sal ons Hom vind. Jesus maak dit moontlik dat ons heilig kan wees soos Hy heilig is.

“Toe het die wat die Here vrees, met mekaar gespreek; en die Here het dit opgemerk en gehoor, en daar is 'n gedenkboek voor sy aangesig geskrywe vir die wat die Here vrees en sy Naam eer. En hulle sal My tot 'n eiendom wees, sê die Here van die leërskare, op die dag wat Ek skep, en Ek sal met hulle medelyde hê soos 'n man medelyde het met sy seun wat hom dien. Dan sal julle weer die onderskeid sien tussen die regverdige en die goddelose, tussen die wat God dien en die wat Hom nie dien nie.”
‭‭MALEÁGI‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭AFR53‬‬

Diegene wat God dien sal altyd ‘n veilige plek by Hom vind. Ons vlees mag dalk moeilikheid ervaar in hierdie lewe, maar ons gees is reeds in die hemel by Jesus.

“Maar vir julle wat my Naam vrees, sal die son van geregtigheid opgaan, en daar sal genesing onder sy vleuels wees; en julle sal uittrek en huppel soos kalwers uit die stal.”
‭‭MALEÁGI‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬ ‭AFR53‬‬

Maleági eindig sy  boek met ‘n profesie dat Elía sal kom. Ons weet dit verwys na Johannes, die doper, wat die mense voorberei het vir Jesus se koms - Maleági 4:5-6, Lukas 1:17. In die Ou Testament het die mense in afwagting geleef vir die Messias wat sou kom. Hulle lewens was gebou rondom ‘n fisiese tempel waar hulle God moes aanbid. Baie was egter totaal onvoorbereid vir Jesus se koms en het Hom verwerp. Laat dit vir ons ‘n waarskuwing wees. Ons leef ook in afwagting vir die Messias se terugkeer. Ons moet seker maak dat ons geestelike tempel reg is vir Sy terugkeer. Ons moet aktief besig wees met ons missie om Jesus beter te leer ken en Sy koninkryk te bou.

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MALACHI

Read Malachi 1-4.

Malachi was a prophet or messenger of God. There is only  1 verse in Scripture that mentions his name.

Malachi 1:1 AMPC
The burden or oracle (the thing to be lifted up) of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi [My messenger].

Malachi - Strong’s H4401 - My messenger
Malachi comes from the root word H4397 which is translated as the word angel (malach, plural malachim) in the Old Testament. A messenger can either be an angel or it can be a human messenger (prophet). Some think Malachi is an abbreviation of “Messenger of Yah”.

Malachi prophesied that Jesus will come. The messenger (malach) was John the Baptist and the Old Testament Angel (malach) of the Lord (new covenant) refers to Jesus.

Malachi 3:1 MEV
I will send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. He is coming, says the LORD of Hosts.

There is very little information available about the life of Malachi. Some think that Malachi was a pseudonym for Ezra, the scribe. Ezra might have changed his name out of fear for the people since he had to address their sins. Ezra and Malachi address the same issues - Ezra 9&10. Others think the book might have been written by an angel. Malachi lived in a time where the Jews returned from exile and the second temple was restored.  Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah, Zagaria, Obadia, Haggai, Daniel and Joel lived in 550-400 BC. According to Nave’s Topical Bible Reference Malachi was a prophet of Judah in 450-400 BC.

Malachi had to confront the sins of the Levites and the men who married foreign women. The hearts of the priests were hardened and therefore their sacrifices were a waste of time. The priests didn’t keep their covenant with God. The people committed spiritual adultery by serving false gods. Malachi mentions that the name of the Lord will be great amongst the nations - Malachi 1:11,14. This could be a prophesy of the gentiles following Jesus in the New Testament or it can refer to the New Jerusalem - Isaiah 66:20.

Malachi 2:15 KJV
And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

Malachi states that we all have 1 father. The first woman was made from man and the first man was made in God’s image. The Bridegroom is from God and the bride is from her Bridegroom. This illustrates the unity between God and man. God wanted a family on Earth. Jesus brought a similar message.

John 14:20 MEV
On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you.

John 15:5 MEV
"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who remains in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit. For without Me you can do nothing.

John 17:21-22 MEV
that they may all be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You. May they also be one in Us, that the world may believe that You have sent Me. [22] I have given them the glory which You gave Me, that they may be one even as We are one:

The people made God tired since they considered bad things as good. Two hundred years before Malachi the prophet Isaiah had to address this and 2400 years after Malachi we have the same problem.

Malachi 2:17 MEV
You have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet you say, "How have we wearied Him?" When you say, "Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delights in them," or, "Where is the God of justice?"

Isaiah 5:20 MEV
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who exchange darkness for light, and light for darkness; who exchange bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Malachi 3 reminds us that God didn’t change. God still hates sin and those that seek Him will find Him. Jesus made it possible for us to be holy as He is holy.

Malachi 3:16-18 MEV
Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another. The LORD listened and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name. [17] They shall be Mine, says the LORD of Hosts, on the day when I make up My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. [18] Then you will again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.

Those who serve the Lord will always find a safe place in Him. Our flesh might have to endure difficulties, but our spirit is already in Heaven with Jesus.

Malachi 4:2 MEV
But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. You will go out and grow up like calves from the stall.

Malachi ends his writings with a prophecy that Elijah will come. We know this refers to John the Baptist that prepared the way for Jesus - Malachi 4:5-6, Luke 1:17. During the Old Testament people awaited the coming of the Messiah. They gathered at the physical temple to worship God. Unfortunately most of the people were unprepared for Jesus’ appearance and rejected Him as their Saviour. Let this be a warning to all of us. As we eagerly expect the return of Jesus we must ensure that our spiritual temple is ready. We must actively be busy with our mission to get to know Jesus better and expand His kingdom.