Zechariah 13-14; Malachi 1

Zechariah 13

“On that day there shall be a fountain opened…”

• For sin and uncleanness
•  cleansing for God’s people 

Removal of evil

• Idols cut off by God
• False prophets removed
• Unclean spirits removed
• Even families reject false prophecy

“What are these wounds between your arms?”

• Denial of being a false prophet in this future state (self-mutilation)

“Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered” 

• Matthew 26:31
• Disciples being scattered or Israel as a whole

Against the Man who is My Companion

• Companion = עֲמִית (ʿamît)
• Used in Leviticus as ‘neighbor’

Then I will turn My hand against the little ones.”

• Two-thirds cut off
• One-third refined
• Remnant:
  • Tested like silver/gold
  • Calls on God
• “They are my people”
• “The LORD is my God”

Zechariah 14

The Day of the LORD

• Nations gather against Jerusalem
• City attacked and partially taken
• The LORD goes out to fight
  • Stands on the Mount of Olives
  • Which will be split in two, making a large valley 
  • People will flee through the valley 

No normal light/dark cycle

• “A day known to the LORD”
• God will be the light

Living waters flow from Jerusalem: east and west

• Similar to Ezekiel 47

“The LORD will be king over all the earth”

• One LORD/ One name
• Land transformed (mountains not needed)
• Jerusalem elevated
• No more destruction

 Judgment on enemies

• Plague strikes nations
• Chaos among enemies
  • their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.

Survivors come yearly:

• To worship
• To celebrate Feast of Booths
• If they don’t, they will have no rain

Total holiness

• “Holy to the LORD” everywhere:
  • Engraved on bells of horses
  • Cooking pots like those before the altar
• No divide between: sacred vs. ordinary
• No more traders in the house of the LORD

Malachi 1

מַלְאָכִי (Malʾākhî) “my messenger/angel”

Time: ~450-430 BC (post-exilic period)

• After the return from Babylonian Exile
• Temple already rebuilt (see Ezra 6), but spiritual life is declining again
• Judah is under the Persian Empire

“The oracle (מַשָּׂא, massaʾ) of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.”

• מַשָּׂא (massaʾ) = burden / prophetic weight

God: “I have loved you”

People “How have you loved us?”

From: https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/malachi-1/

i. The prophecy of Malachi is built around seven questions the people asked God. These questions revealed their doubting, discouraged, sinful hearts.

· In what way have You loved us? (Malachi 1:2)

· In what way have we despised Your name? (Malachi 1:6)

· In what way have we defiled You? (Malachi 1:7)

· In what way have we wearied Him? (Malachi 2:17)

· In what way shall we return? (Malachi 3:7)

· In what way have we robbed You? (Malachi 3:8)

· In what way have we spoken against You? (Malachi 3:13)

Jacob vs. Esau

• God’s answer: election
  • “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated”
  • Quoted in Romans 9:13
• Refers to nations:
  • Israel vs. Edom (not just individuals)

 Edom’s Judgment

• Edom tries to rebuild but God opposed them
• Called:
  • “the wicked country”
  • “the people with whom the LORD is angry forever”
• Love is shown through:
  • covenant choice (Jacob was chosen, Esau was not) 
  • preservation of Israel/ faithfulness

“A son honors his father… If then I am a father, where is my honor?”

• God as Father and Master
• Priests not giving basic honor

“You offer polluted food upon my altar.”

• People ask: “How have we polluted you?”
• Answer- Offerings are:
  • blind
  • lame
  • sick animals
• Giving God what costs nothing

Sarcasm: “Present that to your governor—will he accept you?”

• Even human leaders deserve better than God is receiving

“I have no pleasure in you… I will not accept an offering.”

• Worship without reverence is unacceptable

“From the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations.”

• Israel dishonors God
• Nations will honor Him

“What a weariness this is…”

• Attitude problem:
  • Worship is inconvenience
• They “snort” at God (disdain/contempt)

“Cursed be the cheat…”

• Giving defective sacrifices while having better ones
• Ends with:
  • “I am a great King… my name will be feared among the nations”

Application

God is not after outward religion but hearts that are fully devoted to Him. He is constantly refining His people. He was our reverence and our best.