What role does prophecy play in understanding God's will, according to Malachi 1:1? Malachi 1:1—The Oracle That Introduces God’s Will “ This is the burden of the word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi.” The Burden: Prophecy as a Weighty Word • “Burden” signals a message so weighty the prophet must deliver it—God’s own heart pressed onto human hearts. • “Word of the LORD” underscores divine authorship; prophecy is not opinion but revelation. • “Through Malachi” shows God chooses spokesmen, yet the message remains God’s, not the messenger’s. Prophecy’s Role in Making God’s Will Known • Reveals God’s character—His holiness, love, and justice (e.g., Malachi 1:2–3; 1:6). • Diagnoses spiritual drift, exposing sin the people cannot see on their own (cf. Hebrews 4:12). • Calls for covenant faithfulness, spelling out concrete steps of obedience (Malachi 1:7–14). • Warns of consequences, making God’s moral will unmistakable (Amos 3:7). • Offers future hope, anchoring faith in God’s unchanging promises (Hebrews 1:1–2). How Israel—and We—Are to Respond • Reverence: treat God’s word as weighty, not optional (Isaiah 66:2). • Repentance: turn from exposed sin to restored fellowship (Acts 3:19). • Obedience: align life with revealed commands (James 1:22). • Hope: trust God to fulfill every prophetic promise (2 Peter 1:19). Further Scriptures on Prophecy and God’s Will • 2 Peter 1:20–21 — “No prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation…” • Hebrews 1:1–2 — God spoke through the prophets, then through His Son. • Revelation 1:3 — Blessing for those who “hear and keep” prophetic words. • 2 Timothy 3:16 — “All Scripture is God-breathed… so that the man of God may be complete.” |
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