This week we are reading the sixth, and final, disputation which covers Malachi 3:13-4:3. In Malachi, God consistently speaks in first person to the people, a fact made more significant knowing Malachi is the last of the writing prophets. God is the dominant speaker in the first, second, fifth, and sixth disputations.
The sixth disputation demonstrates that the spirit of cynicism has taken deep root in the community. The people dare to criticize God. However, for the first time in the book, we learn there is also a righteous minority who remain faithful to Yahweh. The bulk of the disputation describes how the coming Day of the Lord will be a vastly different experience for the righteous and the unrighteous.
Once again, Malachi introduces the disputation using his standard formula of hypothetical dialogue between God and the general population. God makes an accusation and the people give a smug response. In this case, God accuses them of speaking “harsh words” against him. The people, always speaking with one voice, ask, “How have we spoken against you?” (3:13). The rejoinder’s tone could either reflect intentional denial of God’s words or sincere surprise at the accusation. Either way, the prophet’s job is to show them that their indifference to God and his decrees is equally as offensive as rejecting him and criticizing him aloud.
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