December 21

<p>Malachi 1:1-2:16 We are in the Exile Stream reading from the New Century Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @7streamsmethod | <a href= "http://www.sevenstreamsmethod.com/donate"><u>Donate</u></a> Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis</p> <blockquote> <div>Lord, we pray that the offerings of our lives, a contrite spirit, is acceptable to you. Amen.</div> </blockquote> <p>Israel was back in their land and had been for about a century now. Nehemiah had finished the wall.  The Jewish people thought that the Messiah would come soon now.  And yet there were attitudes among the Hebrews that would bar any Messiah coming the way they wanted Him to arrive. Malachi is living/prophesying in the block of time between 450 and 400 B.C.  The Jewish people were not rampantly idolatrous as they were 200 years prior but the problems were that they were neglecting the house of God. The priests were lackadaisical, ill-attentive, and not fervent in their assignments at all. The population was somewhat lethargic spiritually as they were following their priests lead. So here they are thinking that Messiah coming would fix everything to make them vibrant and glorious again - like in Solomon's day.  Messiah was going to come one day, but he would pronounce judgment on such attitudes as theirs' v.s. endow them with God's glory.  Basically some serious "house-keeping" is in order come Malachi's day. This is not a generation that had earned any trophies, not at all.</p> <div>1:1- 14 - It doesn't take Malachi long to address Israel's passive aggressive whining and they are on a bogus lament, "God, you say you love us, how is it that you love us?..."  I must say, I sit here and roll my eyes as I read this. But God is a bit more patient than the rest of us. And, hearing this, don't get distracted by the "I hate Esau" wording as to what is really being said. God had prescribed that Babylon come through and destroy Easu <em>and</em> Judah. And it happened.  But here is Israel inhabited and living and growing again, while Edom [Esau's land] is a desolate a