Snoopy Meanders through Malachi

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paradox3

paradox3

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Snoopy takes a leap from the Torah to the last book of our Old Testament. It is only four chapters long and should be a good project for the rest of Advent.

Malachi, I learned on Sunday, is probably not a given name. It is Hebrew for Messenger. My minister said in her sermon it is like saying Hey, Boss! Or Hey, Chef! What's the daily special?

Will return soon with the first reading and Snoopy's Snappy Review.
 
Yay! New Snoopy! (heads off to read Malachi)
The Peanuts Movie Dancing GIF
 
Malachi 1: 1-5
www.biblegateway.com

Bible Gateway passage: Malachi 1:1-5 - New English Translation

Introduction and God’s Election of Israel - This is an oracle, the LORD’s message to Israel through Malachi: “I have shown love to you,” says the LORD, but you say, “How have you shown love to us?” “Esau was Jacob’s brother,” the LORD explains, “yet I chose Jacob and rejected Esau. I turned...
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In case any of us were wondering, the Lord has clearly sent a message to Israel through Malachi. Jacob was chosen over Esau and Esau's territory given to the wild jackals.

Edom promises to rebuild but the Lord of Heaven's Armies pledges to overthrow Edom's people. They will be known as the land of evil and the Lord will be permanently displeased.

This will be seen and God will be praised. The Lord will be magnified beyond the border of Israel.
 
Snoopy's Snappy Review: Malachi 1: 1-5

Snoopy's on board with the Lord who has shown love to Israel ( v. 2). Not so sure about the God who handed territory over to wild jackals. :p
 
Malachi 1: 6-14
www.biblegateway.com

Bible Gateway passage: Malachi 1:6-14 - New English Translation

The Sacrilege of Priestly Service - “A son naturally honors his father and a slave respects his master. If I am your father, where is my honor? If I am your master, where is my respect? The LORD of Heaven’s Armies asks you this, you priests who make light of my name! But you reply, ‘How have we...
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We come now to God's displeasure with the priests who offer sacrifices. Offerings of blind, lame, sick and stolen animals are being made. God will no longer accept this.

There will be harsh condemnation for the hypocrite who has a valuable male animal in his flock but sacrifices something inferior to the Lord.

I am a great King, says the Lord. My name is awesome among the nation's.
 
Snoopy's Snappy Review: Malachi 1: 6-14

God is certainly an awesome dude who expects the best from us. We are getting hints that God's influence will extend beyond Israel, no? :unsure:
 
Malachi 2: 1-9
www.biblegateway.com

Bible Gateway passage: Malachi 2:1-9 - New English Translation

The Sacrilege of the Priestly Message - “Now, you priests, this commandment is for you. If you do not listen and take seriously the need to honor my name,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will send judgment on you and turn your blessings into curses—indeed, I have already done so because...
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The priests are addressed and warned about judgement and curses. God will discipline their children and spread offal in their faces.

God's covenant will continue to be with Levi. The covenant was designed to bring life and peace. Its statutes inspired awe in Levi. Levi walked with God in peace and integrity and he turned many people away from sin.

The priests have corrupted the covenant with Levi and God is most displeased. Therefore they are to be ignored and belittled.
 
Malachi 2: 10-17
www.biblegateway.com

Bible Gateway passage: Malachi 2:10-17 - New English Translation

The Rebellion of the People - Do we not all have one father? Did not one God create us? Why do we betray one another, thus making light of the covenant of our ancestors? Judah has become disloyal, and unspeakable sins have been committed in Israel and Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the holy...
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The people have become disloyal to God and they betray one another. God reminds them to be loyal to the wives they took when they were young. God hates divorce and the one who is guilty of violence. And God is weary.

"Pay attention to your conscience," says God, "And do not be unfaithful."
 
Snoopy's Snappy Review: Malachi 2: 10-17

Snoopy wonders if God is weary of us and our words in the present day. :unsure:
 
17 "Because you say, “Everyone who does evil is good in the Lord’s opinion"."

Reminds me of the state of politics, particularly in the U.S., but really everywhere, because disinformation is now endemic in modern culture.
 
So just catching up, but dear Malachi does not mince words, or at least the Lord speaking through Malachi does not. The condemnation of the priests is pretty firm and unrelenting. Then he goes wider, though it seems clear from the condemnation of the priests that they are the root problem, as P3 suggests above me.

This line from 17 catches my eye: "You have wearied the Lord with your words." (NRSVUE)

So basically God is getting sick of their whining, especially since a lot of their questions and complaints stem from their own behaviour.

But I do think the questions raised above about applicability to our world are interesting. A lot of the behaviours, esp. leaders leading people astray, do seem to be part of the current scene. But I wonder, is that unique to our world and Malachi's? Or is that the way of the world and anyone reading Malachi in any time could see that resonance? As one with some knowledge of history, I can certainly see it applying in some other time periods.
 
BetteTheRed said:
I confess to feeling rather French Revolution-ist vibes recently.
Click to expand...
I hope not given how that ended up. I'd rather not live through The Terror and Napoleonic Wars. Especially given how both of those would go down in the modern world.
 
Malachi 3: 1-5
www.biblegateway.com

Bible Gateway passage: Malachi 3:1-5 - New English Translation

“I am about to send my messenger, who will clear the way before me. Indeed, the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his temple, and the messenger of the covenant, whom you long for, is certainly coming,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can keep...
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God is about to send a messenger who will stand in judgement and purify the Levites like they are gold or silver.

Then the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to God as in days of old.

The Lord will be quick to judge those who practice divination or commit adultery. Ditto for those who break promises or exploit workers, widows and orphans. Also those who refuse to help the resident foreigner.
 
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