Bible study course
An advanced, collegiate, four-lesson academic study of the Book of Malachi, examining the unique rhetorical genre of the six prophetic disputations, sovereign election in the love of Jacob over Esau, the rebuke of cynical priests presenting blemished sacrifices, the global vision of Yahweh name honored among all nations, the ideal covenant with Levi as a messenger of Yahweh of hosts, the defense of marriage against treacherous divorce and the quest for godly offspring, the two-messenger prophecy of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ the Messenger of the Covenant, the refining fire and fuller soap, the unchanging nature of Yahweh, the indictment of robbing God through tithes and offerings, the open windows of heaven, the heavenly Book of Remembrance for those who fear Yahweh, the rising of the Sun of Righteousness with healing in His wings, and the prophetic mission of Elijah turning the hearts of fathers to their children.
An academic exegesis of Malachi 1:1 to 14, analyzing the post-exilic Persian historical horizon of Malachi, the unique rhetorical genre of the prophetic disputation, the foundational declaration of covenant love and election in Malachi 1:2 to 5 ("Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated"), the scathing indictment of cynical priests offering blind, lame, and sick sacrifices on Yahweh table, and the global vision of Yahweh name honored among the nations from the rising to the setting of the sun.
A collegiate analysis of Malachi 2:1 to 17, examining the solemn warning to the priesthood to lay it to heart to give glory to God, the ideal portrait of the covenant with Levi (berit ha-Levi) characterized by truth and reverent fear, the scathing indictment of teachers who cause many to stumble, the tragic epidemic of interfaith syncretism and treacherous divorce ("Yahweh hates divorce"), the quest for godly offspring (zera Elohim), and the cynical weariness that questions God justice.
An advanced collegiate exegesis of Malachi 3:1 to 12, exploring the prophecy of the two messengers (John the Baptist preparing the way and the Lord suddenly coming to His temple), the metallurgy of the refiner fire and fuller soap purifying the sons of Levi, the unchangeable character of Yahweh protecting Jacob from consumption, the piercing indictment of robbing God in tithes and offerings (ha-yiqba adam Elohim), and the divine challenge to test God to open the windows of heaven (arubbot ha-shamayim).
An advanced collegiate capstone study of Malachi 3:13 to 4:6 (Hebrew chapter 3:13 to 24), examining the cynical complaint that serving God is profitless, the faithful counter-community that feared Yahweh and spoke with one another, the divine inscription of the Book of Remembrance (sefer zikkaron), the promise of the saints as Yahweh treasured possession (segullah), the furnace of the Day of the Lord, the dawn of the Sun of Righteousness with healing in its wings (shemesh tzedakah u-marpe bi-khenapheha), the remembrance of the Torah of Moses, and the prophetic mission of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers to their children.