Part 60 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series
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.
