The following video introduces the new shorter format for the videos that cover the Old Testament book of Malachi. The title will continue as “Ten Minutes with Malachi for the time being.” We’ll give ample warning if there is a title change. This introduction includes the beginning of Lesson 3, Part 3 of the study. Transcript for the video follows below.

Malachi 3:5 NLT
[5] “At that time I will put you on trial. I am eager to witness against all sorcerers and
adulterers and liars. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who
oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice,
for these people do not fear me,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

The eternal judge states He is eager to put Israel on trial. He then lists several groups of people who are not following His commandments. Sorcerers, adulterers and liars come first. Then those who cheat people of wages, those who oppress widows and orphans, and those who deprive resident foreigners of justice follow the first group. Let’s consider why these people should be tried by the judge.

Sorcerers are male witches. Those who practice dark magic, the occult, or evils like
voodoo rely on the spirit of deception, which is part of the kingdom of spiritual darkness
under the rule of satan. These people are condemned as rebels against the Holy Spirit
and were not to be tolerated in the nation of Israel. Unfortunately, this type of spiritual
evil is still rampant in society today through movies and pop culture.

Physically speaking, adulterers had forsaken their vows of marriage and joined
themselves to another mate. Spiritually speaking, adulterers had left the worship of the
one true God, Jehovah, and had begun to worship idols and false gods or other things
based in evil instead of holiness. Adultery in today’s world is more prevalent than in
Biblical days, in my opinion, because of the emphasis on being “socially free from
restrictions.” Forsaking marriage vows or leaving God’s intimate relationship are both
adultery and will be a source of judgment by God.

Liars, simply described, are those who tell falsehoods. They rely on deception and
manipulation through the use of exaggeration, half-truths and incorrect use of the
meanings behind words or actions. Their words and actions are self-serving and based
on evil intentions. There is no such thing as a white lie—all lies are lies, even today.
(To be continued in next post…)