Israel: A People Divinely Loved Malachi 1:1-5 Part one

INTRODUCTION Background Malachi was the last Old Testament book to be penned, about one hundred years after Cyrus decreed that Judah could return to their land (538 B.C.). During this time the Jewish faith was reformed under Ezra and Nehemiah, but soon the priests and people became apathetic, indifferent and morally corrupt. Malachi revealed Judah’s sins and proclaimed that judgment was fo