Part 59 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series 

David Pawson begins the study on Malachi by discussing Replacement Theology which sees blessings promised to Israel (but not the curses) as now transferred to the Church. David says, ‘this seems to me a bad case of prejudice’. Malachi was a prophet to the returned exiles in Israel. Rebuilding had taken place, but times were hard. The people were blaming God and, though they didn’t return to idolatry, were becoming complacent, their religion a formality. The priests were not passionate either. David Pawson says the more you put into your faith, the more you get out of it. Goodness disappears when God disappears. The book of Malachi is all in prose indicating that God had become drained of feelings for his people – though the Covenant with them was not broken. David says that when God spoke in poetry, it was to convey his feelings. When a nation gives God up, he gives them up. Malachi is unique in 5 features: a high proportion is the direct Word of God; it is anonymous as Malachi was not his name; sharp exchanges between prophet and people; prose not poetry; it was God’s last Word for 400 years. David explains ‘love’ and ‘hate’ in the Bible.