Malachi
The Lord expresses His love for Israel, contrasting it with His hatred for Esau, and warns of impending destruction for those who have polluted His name through deceitful sacrifices and broken covenants. The priests are rebuked for leading many astray and breaking their covenants with their wives and the Lord. The people have wearied the Lord with their words, claiming He is not a God of judgment. However, the Lord will send an angel to prepare the way for His arrival, refining and cleansing the people, and judging those who have done evil. The people are called to return to the Lord, bringing their tithes, and in return, the Lord will bless them with abundance. Ultimately, the day of the Lord will come, destroying the arrogant and wicked, but saving those who fear His name and experience healing and joy.
Chapter 1
The Lord expresses His love for Israel, contrasting it with His hatred for Esau, and warns that despite Idumea's attempts to rebuild, they will be destroyed. The Lord rebukes the priests for offering polluted sacrifices and despising His name, and warns that He will not accept their gifts. The Lord's name is great among the Gentiles, who offer clean oblations, but the priests have polluted His name by offering lame and sick animals as sacrifices. The Lord curses those who deceitfully offer weak animals as sacrifices, declaring that He is a great King and His name is dreadful among the Gentiles.
Chapter 2
The Lord rebukes the priests for not honoring His name and for leading many astray with their teachings, thus nullifying the covenant of Levi. The priests have also broken the covenant of their fathers by despising their brothers and marrying foreign women who worship other gods. The Lord is no longer pleased with their sacrifices and offerings because they have broken their covenant with their wives, whom they have despised and divorced. The people have also wearied the Lord with their words, saying that those who do evil are good in His sight and that He is not a God of judgment.
Chapter 3
The Lord sends an angel to prepare the way for his arrival, and he will refine and cleanse the people like silver and gold. He will judge those who have done evil and oppressed the weak, and he will be a witness against those who have not feared him. The people are called to return to the Lord and to bring their tithes, and in return, the Lord will bless them with abundance and rebuke the devourer. Those who fear the Lord will be spared and will see the difference between the just and the impious.
Chapter 4
The day of the Lord will come, burning like a furnace, and the arrogant and wicked will be destroyed, leaving nothing behind. However, those who fear the Lord's name will be saved and will experience healing and joy. The Lord will send Elijah the prophet before the great day to turn the hearts of fathers and sons back to each other, preventing the earth from being cursed.
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