In our study of Malachi chapter three, we will look at the two messengers that were to come and the message that they were to bring.
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"Look! I am sending my messenger to clear the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple. Yes, the messenger of the covenant, in whom you take such delight - look! Here he comes," says ADONAI-Tzva'ot.
The first part of this verse is quoted in all of the gospels and refers to the coming of John the Baptist. We know that it is John the Baptist because all of them use that description of him. The second part refers to the coming of Jesus not as a sacrifice but as the "God of justice" that the people asked for at the end of chapter two. Jesus came the first time in the form of a baby to be the prefect payment for our sins. Therefore, we know that this speaks of Jesus' return as the judge as recorded by John in Revelation.
But who can endure the day when he comes? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire, like the soapmaker's lye.
This verse speaks to the purpose for Jesus' return and that is to make His people pure by removing all of the effects of sin. The purpose of a "refiner's fire or a launderer's soap" is the same and that is to make something pure/clean. In order to make something pure, someone has to determine what is impure (Judge) and provide a means for its removal.
He will sit, testing and purifying the silver; he will purify the sons of Levi, refining them like gold and silver, so that they can bring offerings to ADONAI uprightly. Then the offering of Y'hudah and Yerushalayim will be pleasing to ADONAI, as it was in the days of old, as in years gone by.
This passage refers to the thousand year reign as recorded by John in Revelation 20. Those that have been purified by the tribulation (fire) and given their lives (offerings in righteousness) will be resurrected to reign with Jesus for this period.
"Then I will approach you for judgment; and I will be quick to witness against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers; against those who take advantage of wage-earners, widows and orphans; against those who rob the foreigner of his rights and don't fear me," says ADONAI-Tzva'ot.
The people have not believed that the Judge is coming but God not only says that He is coming but gives specific examples of those that will be judged. He not only says that He is the Judge but also that God is going to "testify against" them.
"But because I, ADONAI, do not change, you sons of Ya'akov will not be destroyed. Since the days of your forefathers you have turned from my laws and have not kept them.
God continues to speak to his people as he reminds them that he has never changed. God chose them to be His people and He keeps his promises. If God changed and did not keep His promises, they would have been completely destroyed because of the disobedience of their fathers before them. Then, God repeats his promise to them that, if they repent, He will forgive. That is the same promise that we have today in Jesus Christ.
Return to me, and I will return to you," says ADONAI-Tzva'ot. "But you ask, 'In respect to what are we supposed to return?' Can a person rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, 'How have we robbed you?' In tenths and voluntary contributions.
We may say that this is the Old Testament and therefore it does not apply to us. That is partially right as we do not have to keep any of the law to obtain salvation as that is only through faith in Jesus Christ. But, Jesus told us that, if we love Him we will obey His commands and they will not be a burden. Tithes and offerings, for us as Christians, should be a heartfelt remembering of what God has given us and a simple giving back the first portion to Him.
A curse is on you, on your whole nation, because you rob me.
The people had stopped giving in faith and so we see here that God tells them they are "under a curse" and not just the individual but the nation as a whole. They had not been faithful with what God had given them so God can simply not give them the harvest until they get in line with His will. This is true for us today as well. When times get tough, many Christians stop giving a tithe and offerings so they can "make ends meet" but this is not of faith. A tithe is the first portion of what God has given you and God has given everyone something (see Luke 21:1-4). Offerings are anything that God places on your heart to give over and above what you give through the tithe. Anything less is robbing God and, if you do that, quite simply your finances will be under a curse.
Bring the whole tenth into the storehouse, so that there will be food in my house, and put me to the test," says ADONAI-Tzva'ot. "See if I won't open for you the floodgates of heaven and pour out for you a blessing far beyond your needs.
El Shaddai (God Almighty), who is the Creator and Supplier of all things, is speaking and has given them and us a promise. That promise is that, if we trust Him and bring the whole tithe (the full measure and not the leftovers), He will bless us. God owns everything and so He is the only one that can make a promise like that!
For your sakes I will forbid the devourer to destroy the yield from your soil; and your vine will not lose its fruit before harvest-time," says ADONAI-Tzva'ot.
God not only tells the people He will bless them if they honor Him with the tithes but He tells them how. This can serve to remind us that God is not only the Creator but He is also the Sustainer.
"All nations will call you happy, for you will be a land of delights," says ADONAI-Tzva'ot.
Why does God bless the obedient even today? The answer is simple and is given in this verse. God blesses His people when they are obedient because He wants others to see His love. This brings glory to His name and leads others to want a relationship with Him.
"You have spoken strongly against me," says ADONAI. "Yet you say, 'How have we spoken against you?' By saying, 'There is no point in serving God. What good is it to obey his orders or to walk about as mourners before ADONAI-Tzva'ot? We consider the arrogant happy; also evildoers prosper; they put God to the test; nevertheless, they escape.'"
Now, God brings up the next charge against the priests and the people. They went so far as to say it did no good to serve the Lord and that it would be better to just do their own thing. They were looking for material blessings in the here and now instead of the blessing of a relationship with God. God can and will bless His people here on earth but the most important blessing is a proper relationship with Him.
Then those who feared ADONAI spoke together; and ADONAI listened and heard. A record book was written in his presence for those who feared ADONAI and had respect for his name.
Then, some of God's people repented and turned back to Him. God is faithful and forgave them just as He does with us. God has always preserved a remnant of His people.
"They will be mine," says ADONAI-Tzva'ot, "on the day when I compose my own special treasure. I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him. Then once again you will see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between the person who serves God and one that doesn't serve him.
The final answer to the question of why they should serve the Lord is given in this passage. On the day of judgment, there will be a separation of the righteous from the wicked. The righteous will live with God for all of eternity while the wicked will be doomed to hell.
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