The era when jet engines replaced their propeller driven predecessors caused a problem. When a pilot needed to bail out, ejection was much more complicated. Danny Cox, a former test-flight pilot explains, the pilots were trained to hold firmly to the seat, but during ejecting in a jet ejection, the hold and the ejection force kept the pilot in the seat and the result was the parachute wouldn’t open, with obviously disastrous results. The solution was to attach an electric winch to the pilot’s seat. When the pilot ejected and the seat shot upwards, after two seconds, the take up reel would tighten straps that were built into the seat and push the pilot out, release the parachute and allow the pilot to float to the ground.
Unfortunately, if left to themselves, pilots wouldn’t let go and they’d crash. What will it take for us to embrace God’s design? Do we hold on to our ways, which results in disaster or do we trust GOD?
In our study of Malachi, there are prophetic announcements of the coming of the Messiah who will come to restore people to Himself and then at His second coming, judge the world.
One aspect of God that I hope you see in this study is that His delay of His second coming, and the day of judgement, is purposeful. He is longsuffering in dealing with our sin, in order that we repent of our ways and trust Him.
In chapter 3, the prophet Malachi answers the two scoffing statements in the last verse of chapter 2. Note these weary words in verse 17.
The people’s words have become a point of contention. What were these words of tension? The children of God are calling evil good and say that God delights in them, (that is the people who do evil.) And the second they were saying “Where is the God of justice?” Malachi records that “You have wearied the Lord with your words…” but answers the people in chapter 3:1.
I broke this passage into two units of thought. The first is…
- Jesus is coming!
“Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming, says the Lord of hosts.” – Malachi 3:1
Today, we might hear similar questions stated or see it evident in how people are living. God is not coming again! There is no judgement, the world calls evil good and good evil!
For a number of us, we think that our world is evil and things are getting worse each day and we might ask, where is the God of justice?
As we move through this passage, note that God’s intervention in human affairs is not what they were expecting. In fact, it was another 400 years before the Messiah came. This is what they need to learn. God is patient and longsuffering and who desires repentance! Note this in 1 Timothy.
“God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” – I Timothy 4:3-6
The first words of Malachi chapter 3 appears as a direct answer to the demand of the people of those days which closed chapter 2, “Where is the God of justice?” To which it is answered, “Here He is; He is just at the door; the long-expected Messiah is ready to appear. Remember this is the last book of the Old Testament. It leads us to the New Testament and the birth of Jesus.
The gospel of Mark in chapter 1:1-2 recorded the accomplishment of this promise in Malachi 3. “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the Prophet; ‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way.”
Officially, there are three prophetic announcements in Malachi chapter 3 verse 1.
- Through the words “I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me.”Malachi is prophetically telling the Israelites that the Lord whom they seek shall come after the appearing of the fore-runner.
The appearing of John the Baptist is the fulfillment of the prediction of Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3. “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
John the Baptist is the Lord’s messenger, the Lord’s ambassador. His commission was from heaven and not of men and His mission was the same as all the prophets, to call men to repentance. He prepares the way for the coming of Christ by calling people to repent and receive the Messiah and enter His kingdom.
The second prophetic announcement.
- The words in verse 1 “And the Lord… will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight.” Malachi is prophetically telling that (Jesus) the Messiah will come. He is the One to restore God’s covenant with mankind.
When Jesus came the first time, it’s so the world through Him might have life. There were Revelations of His glory and power. Because of His revealed power, Jesus stated: “I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” – John 12:47-48
Now the third prophetic announcement.
- The words “will suddenly come”in verse 1, refers to the way of His first coming but also refers to His second coming as a judge, and it’s when many are not looking for His coming. We know that this phenomenon of a lack of faith, will happen at His second coming. We are reminded of this in the New Testament (“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” – Matthew 24:44)
In summary, Malachi told the Israelites, who thought, that God had forsaken them in verse 1 “Behold! He is coming.” The Messenger of the covenant will be sent to earth to bring peace between God and mankind. They were to understand these words so that they may be assured that He will come.
Also, in verse 1, Malachi uses the Hebrew word “ADONAI” (LORD of lords), we read in our English “LORD.” This word describes that He is THE LORD, the basis and foundation on which the world is founded, the ruler, and governor of all. (see He is Lord over all – Acts 10:36, and all power has been given to Him – Matthew 28:18. He will reign over the house of Jacob – Luke 1:33).
The second thought of the passage is…
- Jesus is coming to Judge.
As far as the second statement in Malachi chapter 2:17, “Where is the God of justice?” Malachi answers this in chapter 3:2.
“But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fuller’s soap.” – Malachi 3:2
Like many of our expectations we are quick to think of other people and their evils and not our own. The thief is always outraged when someone steals from him. The liar is deeply offended when someone lies to them. The cheater deeply resents finding that they have been defrauded and the murderer wants his family to live in peace. The expectations of sinners are characteristically hypocritical. We really want “just us” and not justice.
Malachi’s answer? God’s people have come to a mistaken conclusion that life is all about them. Malachi helps us learn today that, “Our expectations shouldn’t be based on us, it is all about Jesus and His mercy.”
Malachi told the people of his day the coming of the Lord is something that should be considered with great seriousness, and with awe and reverence.
Verse 2 refers to the great afflictions that shall come at the time of His second coming. Jesus spoke of this great tribulation “such as was not since the beginning of the world, nor shall ever be.” – Matthew 24:21. The Lord will be like the refiner’s fire that separates the gold and the dross or the soap that was used to remove spots from cloth.
I read an illustration that was intended to convey the view of the “mercy seat” of Jesus Christ. It’s about the vintage way to craft silver. The process of refining silver is accomplished by sitting while the work of refining is going on. The silversmith must sit with his eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time for refining is exceeded, the silver might be overheated and damaged. The art of silversmithing is knowing when the process of purifying is complete and that happens when the silversmith can see their image reflected in the silver.” Notice verse 3 with this in mind.
“He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver,
that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.” – Malachi 3:3
“He will sit” suggests Jesus’ longsuffering, as Adonai desires our repentance.
Malachi 3:3 also answers the travesty of Malachi’s day. For a review so far of the book of Malachi; The need for offerings to be properly done (chapter 1). And The need for Levitical Priests and the people to keep the covenant (chapter 2). These were completed with Jesus’ first coming which made correcting these two sins possible. Note the result of God purifying His people in verse 4.
“Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to the Lord, as in the days of old, as in former years.”
– Malachi 3:4
In Malachi’s day, because of blatant rebellion and sin, the Levitical priests couldn’t offer God worship. For worship to delight GOD it has to have two characteristics: It had to be the right way, and it has to be offered with the right heart. Neither was done as we read chapters 1 and 2.
If we take verse 3 and 4 together, the point of Malachi is that true worship is a response of the believer to the grace of God. It’s done freely and with the fact that the believer loves God and is honored to give Him worship.
God did not make it difficult to please Him. Notice this at the end of verse 4 “As in the days of old, as in former years” refers to the ancient past under Moses’ they accomplished worship in the wilderness. Offerings that were rightly given by people in right relationship to God do indeed please Him. But all humans are stubborn! Consider these words…
Proverbs 28:14 “Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.”
Proverbs 29:1 “A man who hardens his neck after much reproof, will suddenly be broken beyond remedy.”
Psalm 78:10 “They did not keep God’s covenant, but refused to walk according to His law.”
Ephesians 4:18 “They are darkened in their understanding, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.”
Zechariah 7:11-12 “Your ancestors refused to listen to this message. They stubbornly turned away and put their fingers in their ears to keep from hearing. They made their hearts as hard as stone, so they could not hear the instructions or the messages of the LORD”
Now keep Malachi 3:5 in mind while considering our stubborn ways.
“And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness
Against sorcerers,
Against adulterers,
Against perjurers,
Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans,
And against those who turn away an alien—
Because they do not fear Me,” Says the Lord of hosts.” – Malachi 3:5
This list or catalog of evils make the point that the people had broken God’s covenant and deserve punishment. It’s not necessary to break all of the stipulations of a covenant to have broken that covenant. By breaking only one stipulation puts one in the position of having violated the agreement as a whole. By way of modern analogy, it requires only the breaking of a single law to become a law breaker. I like the way Ray Comfort asks people if they ever lied? If so then they are a liar and have broken God’s law.
I enjoy verse 6 so much more after studying the book of Malachi.
“For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore, you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.” – Malachi 3:6
This is a statement often quoted about God’s immutability or unchanging nature. But, its more about God’s faithfulness or loyalty to the covenant between Him and His people. That is, we, as His children, will never be cast away. While we don’t keep our covenant with God, God loyally keeps His covenant with us.
While we are committers of acts that deserve the penalty of separation and hostility, that penalty is not applied because of God’s unchanging nature, God forgives when we deserve to be punished (“I do not change”).
The unchangeableness of God gives foundation to both the truth of Scripture and the promise of eternal life. (See 1 Samuel 15:29; Psalm 110:4; Jeremiah 4:28, 15:6, 20:16; Lamentations 3:22-24, Ezekiel 24:14; Hosea 11:8-9, 13:14; Zechariah 8:14; James 1:17; and Hebrews 13:8.)
Embedded throughout the Bible we read the theme of people needing a change of direction. The unchangeableness of God allows Him to forgive the changeable person, if they repent and return to Him. And that is the closing verse of our study.
“Yet from the days of your fathers you have gone away from My ordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” Says the Lord of hosts.” – Malachi 3:7
God tells people that if they return to Him, He will return to them. One of the covenant stipulations was rejection or removal from blessing (See Leviticus 26:28, Deuteronomy 31:7, 32:19). As a covenant – breaker, they were relegated to the miseries that people that were not under God’s protection had to endure. Yet, if they were obedient to the statutes of His covenant, He would return to them.
In life, God’s rejection may not in fact even be noticed by people whose values and practices are sufficiently corrupted. They might not see any difference between a world with God and a world without God. But a believer will, as the apostle James states “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” – James 4:8. By the way this message is before the book of Revelation the letter of judgement.
Do you feel like God is far away or distant? The question is not that God moved, but you did.
Some principals that we can learn in Malachi 2:17-3:7:
- God is faithful and is purposefully longsuffering in order that every person will repent.
- It is possible that those who continue in sin may not even notice God’s rejection as a scoffer might say “Where is the God of justice?”
- A believer will experience the correction of God. You will be discontent if you move away from God.
Hebrews 12:6 “For whom the Lord loves He chastens.”
- The day of the judgment of God is coming when many will not expect it.
- We are still in the era of His grace and mercy. What will it take to get you out of your seat to prevent a disaster befalling upon you?
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.” – John 5:24 – 25