Joshua 1:8(WEB)
This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.
Last words are important. They stick with us. Whether we are talking about death, or just not seeing someone for a long time, we tend to hold on to the last words someone said to us.
Well, the prophet Malachi recorded some of the last words God spoke to the nation of Israel just before the commencement of 400 years of silence, in which there was a lack of recorded prophecy from God. Would you think that last message was important? I think so!
Here are the last three verses in the book of Malachi in the Bible:
Remember the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded to him in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and ordinances. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse. (Malachi 4:4-6 WEB)
The last directions God gives to the people of Israel are to follow His laws. And he couples that with a message about the importance of restored relationships.
It was going to be a long wait before the people of Israel saw a part of this prophecy fulfilled at the coming of the Messiah, Jesus. 400 years is a long time to be waiting for something. But God told them what they should do while they waited for Him to act. They were to continue following God.
Actually, they needed to return to God, which is the main topic of the book of Malachi. Because many of the people of Israel were not following God’s ways at the time. Instead of giving God their best, they were giving Him their worst. The Levites, the priests, were corrupt. Men were mistreating their wives. And the widows and orphans were being neglected because the people were not tithing or taking care of them. It would seem apparent that a natural consequence of failing to follow God’s laws is a breakdown of relationships. God called them to repent!
God’s prescription for revival was this. First, they were to remember what He told them through His messenger, Moses. This would require a copy of the law, the Bible. They may also need someone to read it and teach it, since not everyone could read, and not everyone had their own copy of the Bible at that time.
The Israelites had not always been careful about keeping the Law. Would it surprise you to know that they actually lost the Words of God at one time during the period of the kings? After years of worshipping foreign gods and neglecting the Temple, they stopped reading the book of the law and forgot it. This time period is described as one of much injustice, violence, and even child sacrifice. Eventually, the Book of the Law was found again when King Josiah restored the Temple. (2 Kings 22) When he read it, he was dismayed at how far they had deviated from God’s ways. Though Josiah repented, the people’s hearts were not changed. And eventually God’s judgement did come.
The people Malachi was speaking to were the descendants of these Israelites who had returned from Babylonian captivity many years later. He is reminding them of how bad things would become if they did not repent and return to God with their whole hearts. And he particularly points to their need for restoration of their family relationships, both between husbands and wives and between parents and children. (Malachi 2:13-164:6)
When Jesus came, his message picked right up where Malachi left off. He told them it wasn’t enough to just read and follow the law. He emphasized the importance of following the heart of the law, which meant loving God and loving others. He emphasized humility, faithfulness and generosity.
Christmas is a good time to look at our relationships, especially within our own family. How are you treating your spouse? How are you treating your children? Are you reading your Bible and asking God to help you apply the heart of what you are reading? Take some time to think about this. It’s been a long time since Jesus’ last words of revelation. But I know he would agree with Malachi’s message. Continue to follow what God told you and let it work its way into your heart and relationships.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7a(WEB)
These words, which I command you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children…
“Listen to the Word of the Lord,” by Keith and Kristyn Getty and Jordan Kauflin.
Scripture verses are from the World English Bible (WEB), Public Domain.