Digging Deeper in Malachi
God says He loved Israel but hated this nation.
Edom
“You have wearied the Lord with your words.”
Malachi speaking for God
In the SOAP method, the “S” stands for this.
Scripture
If the people tithe, God promises to pour out this.
Blessing
God reminds Israel that He has always shown them this, even though they doubt it.
Love
My name will be great among the _________, from where the sun rises to where it sets.
Nations
“Return to me, and I will return to you.”
The Lord
The 5Ws method asks questions like “Who,” “What,” “When,” “Where,” and this.
Why
If the people rob God, they are under this.
Curse
The law was given at this mountain.
Horeb (Sinai)
God says the priests turned aside from the way and caused many to do this.
Stumble
“How have we robbed You?”
People of Israel
The inductive method has three steps: Observation, Interpretation, and this.
Application
God's response when people dishonour His name and make offerings to Him.
Reject their offerings
The scroll of remembrance was written for people who did this.
Feared the Lord
The people say it’s “useless” to do this.
Serve God
“It is useless to serve God.”
The complainers in Israel
This word / method refers to the science and skill of interpreting Scripture correctly, taking context, culture, and meaning into account
Hermeneutics
The wicked will be like this under the feet of the righteous.
Ashes
In Malachi 3:6, God gives a reason why Israel has not been destroyed, revealing something essential about His nature.
I the Lord do not change.
When priests fail to honor God’s name, He says He will make their blessings into this.
A curse
“They shall be mine… my treasured possession.”
The Lord Almighty
In SOAP, the “A” and “P” help you do these two things with the passage.
Apply it and Pray about it
God says the wicked will be burned so completely that none of this will remain.
Root or branch
In Malachi 3:7, God gives a simple invitation that summarizes the entire message of the book. He says this phrase, calling His people back to Him.
Return to me, and I will return to you.