Malachi: Waiting at the Lord's table

God's Messenger  (by Franciszek Zmurko)

Every year at the Passover seder, a cup of wine is poured for Elijah.  Jews await the return of Elijah because they believe that the Messiah will then follow.

Malachi, meaning “God’s messenger,” also anticipates Elijah’s return.  He predicts that this return will inspire the Israelites to

“follow in God’s ways” before the Last Judgment.

While Jews still await the Messiah, Christians are convinced that He has already come.  The Book of Malachi is therefore often compared with the New Testament.  Such comparisons include these passages:

the table of Jehovah (Malachi 1:7, 12)    and   the table of the Lord (1 Corinthians 10:21)

Have we not all one father? (Malachi 2:10)   and   yet for us there is one God, the Father (1 Corinthians 10:21)

For I, Jehovah, change not (Malachi 3:6)   and   Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:18)

Although Malachi certainly believed in God’s grace, he was not one to just sit around and wait.  He  instead stressed the importance of faithfully carrying out the Ten Commandments, not as a bargaining chip, but as the fulfillment of a covenantal commitment.

Resources 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Malachi 

Copyright April 12, 2016 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved