Malachi 3

“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty. Malachi 3:1

In this verse, we have the reflection of an ancient custom. When a king would go out to visit an area in his domain, he would send a messenger before him. That messenger would prepare the way. He would fix up the roads and make sure the people and the area were ready for the king’s visit. In modern times there was a good example of this, that happened when the German Kaiser Wilhelm II visited Jerusalem in 1898. For his visit, a portion of the old wall was removed near Jaffa Gate and a road was built directly into the city so the Kaiser and his large entourage could enter.

The prophetic word will sometimes have a double meaning. Job says that true wisdom has two sides or is double to what is (Job 11:6). For instance, one prophetic utterance can cover the events of AD 70 and the end of the world in the same breath. Prophecy sees at one glance the whole spiritual mountain range including the highest peak and all the foothills.

Baldwin speaks of this mysterious messenger of the covenant saying: “The title occurs only here, so there is no aid to interpretation apart from this context. He comes simultaneously with the Lord, if indeed he is not to be identified with him.” [1] The Lord Jesus in his earthly life came suddenly to the Jerusalem temple. He came as the messenger of the covenant. Throughout the Old Testament, this messenger or Angel of the Lord made his appearances (cf. Exo. 23:20-23; Isa. 63:9). It is always clear that he is much more than an angel. D. Guthrie and company say: “The messenger of Yahweh or the angel of the covenant is not a created angel but One who not only bears the divine name but has divine dignity and power, dispenses divine deliverance and accepts homage and adoration proper only to God…” [2]

Also, many interpreters connect this passage with Isaiah 40:3-5. So, this scripture is broad enough to include even the work of Elijah or John the Baptist, who were also messengers of God. John the Baptist was certainly the messenger or forerunner of the King (cf. Matt. 3:3; Mk. 1:2; Lk. 1:76; Jn. 1:23). His mission was to prepare the way, to bring down the high places and bring up the low ones. He came in the spirit and power of the prophet Elijah, who appeared many centuries before him. In a real sense, with all this, the Almighty God was coming to pay them a visit. Feinberg says, “This is God’s answer to their brazen and skeptical question of Malachi 2:17.” [3]

God’s visitation would come upon them suddenly. Baldwin sees suddenness as associated with a calamitous event (e.g. Is. 47:11; 48:3; Je. 4:20, etc.). [4] Suddenly, God is in their midst before people realize he is even close. So will it be at the end of the world.

God Comes With Judgment

But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. Malachi 3:2

In answer to their skeptical and cynical questions God will appear, but will they be able to withstand his appearance? We have two pictures here, one of a refiner’s fire and the other as launderer’s soap. Baldwin pictures the refiner of metals as one who sits before the hot fire until he can see his image in the molten metal. [5] The picture of launderer’s soap is that of a fuller or bleacher of cloths. Our type of soap was unknown in those days, so lye or potash was applied to whiten cloths. [6] In many scriptures God speaks of purifying his people (cf. Job 23:10; Psa. 66:10; Isa. 1:25; 48:10; Jer. 6:29; Heb. 12:10; 1 Pet. 1:7). It is interesting that God always begins with his people and not with the godless. Peter says, “For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? ” (1 Pet. 4:17). Faussett reminds us that the end-time refining process will be hard on the Lord’s people Israel and that according to Zechariah 13:8-9 a third will be refined and purified while two-thirds will not survive. [7]

“He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness,” (3:3). Faussett gives us a more complete picture of the refining process. He says: “The purifier sits before the crucible, fixing his eye on the metal, and taking care that the fire be not too hot, and keeping the metal in, only until he knows the dross to be completely removed by his seeing his own image reflected (Romans 8:29) in the glowing mass. So it is with the Lord in the case of his elect.” [8] When Jesus appeared he melted down the scribes, Pharisees and priests with his piercing wisdom and hot judgment. It is interesting that after he was risen and ascended there was a great company of priests who had become believers (Acts 6:7).

The prophet continues: “and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years” (3:4). The prophet is likely thinking of the early Mosaic period in the time of Levi’s ministry. Today the subject of making offerings sounds a little strange to us. Phillips says, “In Old Testament times they were anticipatory; they pointed forward to Calvary. In the Millennium they will be commemorative; they will be a vivid reminder of Calvary…” [9] Feinberg says it another way, “In the Old Testament economy sacrifices were signposts; in the millennial day they will be memorials looking back to the central event of Calvary.” [10] From what we know about the Millennium, sacrifices of some type will continue to be made by Israel (cf. Isa. 56:7; 66:20-23; Jer. 33:18; Zech. 14:16-21).

“‘So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,’ says the LORD Almighty” (3:5). Here we have a list of common sins. In our “enlightened” society most of these sins are now quite acceptable. With great help from the popular Beatles, sorcery was introduced big-time to America’s youth. Sorcery is a catch-all term for all types of occult activity and through the ages has included hallucinogenic drugs. However, sorcery of all types is forbidden in the Bible (Exo. 22:18; Deut. 18:10-12). It is forbidden because it is wrong. It is wrong because it hurts people and brings them under the dark power of satanic forces. It causes them to traffic with demons. It makes people live in fear and dread.

Adultery is wrong because the Bible says it is wrong (Exo. 20:14). Adultery has no basis in reality or truth. It wrecks people and families. It weighs people down with guilt. It can be hazardous to one’s health in many ways. Adultery can even get you killed by a jealous spouse.

We need to pause and just state a common-sense truth that is generally overlooked in our Western World. Sin does not work. It has never worked, and it never will work. Sin destroys an orderly society. Sin leads to death (Rom. 6:23). Jesus came to this world and gave his life to free us from sin and its death.

Next, the Lord mentions the sin of perjury or lying and fibbing. It is also against God’s law (Exo. 20:16; Prov. 19:5). In the US we put up with a lot of lies. The writer David Kupelian says, “We elect liars as leaders because we actually need lies if we’re avoiding inner Truth.” [11] One of our politicians in the past by the name of Adlai Stevenson said: “A lie is an abomination unto the Lord, and a very present help in time of trouble.” [12] Practically speaking, a country cannot run on lies. Even our banks and commercial systems must have a certain degree of integrity to operate and survive.

Next, the Lord mentions the sin of defrauding laborers of their wages. This was a critical thing in the biblical world. There were many day laborers who were depending on their wage to feed their large, hungry families. This was a day before credit cards, so when the wage was not paid on time families went hungry and could possibly experience a downward spiral in their livelihood. It was against God’s law to hold back wages (Lev. 19:13; Deut. 24:14-15; Jam. 5:4). In our society, we have some rather specialized ways of breaking this law. Today many companies employ salaried workers as managers and then work them overtime without extra compensation for those many hours. This is a sin and should be a crime. We need another Lincoln and Wilberforce to stand up and free people from this sophisticated kind of slavery.

The Bible teaches us not to oppress widows, orphans and strangers (Exo. 22:22; Deut. 24:14; 19-22). In Bible times, widows, orphans and strangers had no status and thus no protection. It was up to righteous, kind-hearted folks to watch out for them and ensure their provision. Our society has become so evil and degraded that once again these groups are in danger. Coffman comments: “Social justice never was maintained at any place on earth in any time of human history, apart from the knowledge and worship of the true God. The worship of God and social justice stand related to each other as cause and effect…Jesus himself in giving the ‘first and great commandment,’ made ‘love of God’ first, and ‘love of neighbor second.’ People cannot improve upon this order.” [13]

Stealing From God

I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Malachi 3:6

We may change the rules and customs of our society, but God never changes. Because God never changes, the truth of the Lord will stand forever (Isa. 40:8). We need to get used to that fact. Because God never changes we are not destroyed since we all do a lot of really stupid things that would merit our destruction. There is still an Israel today because God never changes and his steadfast covenant love endures forever. “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22-23).

“‘Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘But you ask, “How are we to return?”’” (3:7). Guzik comments: “In what way shall we return: Israel didn’t know how to return to God. Either they chose not to know, or they simply were ignorant.” [14]

In this passage, we have a verse that is one of the most precious in all of scripture. God promises, “Return to me, and I will return to you.” It is just that simple. In Hebrew it reads shu-vu el-ai, ve a-shu-va a-le-kem. Precious words – precious promise! We also see this promise in the New Testament (Jas. 4:8). Like the Prodigal Son, if we take a step toward God he will come running to meet us.

“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. ‘But you ask, “How are we robbing you?”’ In tithes and offerings” (3:8). This is an absolutely unthinkable question and charge – that a human being would try to steal from the Almighty God. Yet, even today, people try this all the time. Baldwin says, “The verb translated ‘rob’ (Heb. qaba ) is rare in the Old Testament, though it is well established in the Talmudic literature to mean ‘to take forcibly.’” [15]

In the Bible, we see that God is the owner of everything (Psa. 24:1; 50:10). Whatever we possess is on loan from God. When we make a gift to God we are simply giving him back that which was already his. Once we understand this fact it will simplify the matter of giving.

The principle of giving to God is ancient and came long before the law was given. In Genesis14:18-20, we see that Father Abraham gave a tithe to the priest Melchizedek. Even from that early time, we realize that the tithe was God’s plan to support the priesthood. We see the principle later reflected in the law (cf. Deut. 14:27).

“You are under a curse – your whole nation – because you are robbing me” (3:9). When we break God’s laws it does not go well with us, either naturally or spiritually. Wiersbe gives this illustration in the natural realm.

John D. Rockefeller was the world’s first billionaire. It is said that for many years, he lived on crackers and milk because of stomach troubles caused by worrying about his wealth. He rarely had a good night’s sleep, and guards stood constantly at his door. Wealthy—but miserable! When he began to share his wealth with others in great philanthropic endeavors, his health improved considerably and he lived to be an old man. [16]

When we try to steal from God we will surely pay the price. Faussett relates this tale: “The eagle who robbed the altar set fire to her nest from the burning coal that adhered to the stolen flesh. So men who retain God’s money in their treasuries will find it a losing possession.” [17]

“‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it” (3:10). Obviously, the Lord is giving out a challenge here. He is inviting his people to test and prove him in the matter of giving. The tithe was to be brought to the storehouse. In Old Testament times that spoke of the temple with its many storage rooms for foodstuffs. This supply was for the priests and Levites serving the temple and supervising the religion of Israel. When the supply of food began to dwindle we see how the ministers of God had to go back to agricultural pursuits (Neh. 13:10) in order to survive.

What do we mean by the whole tithe? For simplicity let us list the tithes first and after that the offerings. The tithe or ten percent of one’s income was to be given to the priests who had no land holdings in Israel (Lev. 27:30-33). The Levites also had to pay a tenth of their income to the priests (Num. 18:26-28). There was then a special tithe every third year. This tithe was stored in the cities for the poor of the land (Deut. 14:28-29). [18]

In addition to these basic tithes, there were many offerings of all types. Let us begin with the Firstfruits offering of all the grain, wine, wool, oil and other items (Deut. 18:4). The religion of the Old Testament was a costly religion. Today in our giving we strain to reach the tithe or ten percent. Old Testament religion started at this point. After the tithe and Firstfruits, there was the Sabbatical Year. When one lived in an agricultural society and did not farm his land one year out of every seven, that is effectively another 14.2 percent offered up to God. This does not consider that on the Sabbatical, all Hebrew slaves were freed and all debts to fellow Hebrews were canceled (Deut. 15:1,12). If one did not harvest the corners of his fields or go back for second pickings, so that the poor could glean (Lev. 19:9), there is possibly another 5-10 percent. For those who kept the Sabbath, that lost day of production could amount to another 14.2 percent.

Our Christian organization in Israel had a large food facility where we helped newly arriving immigrants flocking in from Russia and other former Communist lands as well as from Ethiopia. It was difficult to get enough food to give out to these masses. Then we came up with the idea of “gleaning” in the fields like Ruth did long ago. We took our truck with a few volunteers and began to call on kibbutzim or the collective farms around Israel. That worked well. We knew that according to the law they could not go back for second pickings or glean the corners of their fields. On one occasion a farmer gave us all that was left in his tomato house. The tomatoes were grown hydroponically and the vines reached to the ceiling of the building. We happily filled our truck and then the farmer with a grin on his face offered each of us a pair of clippers and asked us to prune the vines. We were hot and tired but we realized that his request was a fulfillment of scripture for us Gentile volunteers. The prophet says: “ …foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;” (Isa. 61:5 ESV).

Well, there were a lot of ways that the people of Israel gave offerings to God. There was the year of Jubilee every 50 years. At that time, all property reverted back to its original family ownership and all Hebrew servants were set free. That might amount to another 2-10 percent, depending upon how wealthy a family happened to be. Of course, we are already getting up into the area of 50-60 percent of the total income offered to God. We have not said much about the regular offerings. There were the offerings of the firstborn, plus all males were required to go up to Jerusalem three times each year (Ex. 23:17), and they were forbidden to appear before the Lord empty (Deut. 16:16). They had to bring animals from their flocks each time. Then there were the whole offerings, cereal offerings (grain and meal), drink offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, and trespass offerings (Lev. 1 – 5). All these offerings could easily total up to another 5-10 percent of a family’s income. There are still some offerings we have not mentioned.

Now we should begin to be embarrassed at the thought of only giving a tithe or ten percent to the Lord, and that often grudgingly. Philipps says, “It is difficult to understand how a Christian under grace can give less than a Jew who is required to give under the law.” [19] Wiersbe remarks: “Paul teaches ‘grace giving’ in 2 Corinthians 8 – 9, which is certainly beyond ten percent.” [20] Coffman comments: “If God considered the non-payment of tithes, or the mere partial payment of them as ‘robbing God,’ what about millions of professed Christians who do not give as much to the work of God as they spend for soft drinks and tobacco?” [21]

Guzik summarizes what Christian giving should be like from 1 Corinthians 16:1-4. He says it should be periodic, planned, proportional, and private (not making a show). Then he adds in 2 Corinthians 9 that it must be generous, cheerful and freely given. [22] So, there are floodgates of heavenly blessing awaiting those who practice giving back to the Lord.

Sometimes it is important that we make a really sacrificial gift to the Lord. Years ago, I remember an instance when my wife and I needed God to do some big things for us. We were trusting the Lord for a change in our geographic location and for the sale of our house, but nothing was happening. I remember at that time we were counting heavily upon my wife’s teaching salary to meet many of our monthly bills. We especially needed it for groceries for us and our three children. As I remember, things were very tight at the time. As we pondered the problem, my wife suddenly suggested that we needed to offer her whole month’s salary to God. I shuddered – actually I think I almost fainted – but I knew she was right. We made that awesome sacrifice and later to our delight, we found that the house quickly sold and the move was made. Miraculously, we never missed the money, and neither did we miss a meal.

“‘I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,’ says the LORD Almighty” (3:11). The blessings of obedience are many-fold. There are thousands of ways that God can bless us and make us look really good. But conversely, there are thousands of ways God can curse us and make us look really bad if we choose to live disobedient lives.

“‘Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,’ says the LORD Almighty” (3:12). This verse seems to be looking far into the future. Perhaps the Psalmist is seeing a similar thing: “May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him” (Psa. 67:3-7).

There is one thing we can say for certain. When God gets through with his work in Israel all nations on earth will stand in awe of her. God’s beautiful government will proceed from Jerusalem and all nations on earth will call Israel the blessed of God. The nations will flock to Jerusalem that they might learn her ways and walk in her paths (Isa. 2:3).

“‘You have spoken arrogantly against me,’ says the LORD. Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’ ‘You have said, “It is futile to serve God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty?”’” (3:13-14). Throughout this whole conversation, the people have been talking back to God and questioning him in a most contentious and cynical manner. Wiersbe sums up their complaint: “‘We’re not getting anything out of it!’… ‘Things just keep getting worse’…But they had a second complaint: ‘the pagan peoples around them who didn’t know the Lord were in better shape than the people of Judah!…’” [23]

The great Augustine once remarked: “Those who are spiritually immature put much stock in temporal promises and serve God with an eye to such remunerations. Then, when the people of evil life prosper, they are very much upset.” [24] Pfeiffer and Harrison comment: “The consensus of opinion was dangerously close to the conclusion that Jehovah worship might as well be discontinued.” [25]

“But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly evildoers prosper, and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it” (3:15). These early Israelites, who had received a precious second chance at national life, were making a fatal mistake at looking at others and taking their eyes away from God. Pett summarizes their situation: “We have already seen in Malachi 2:17 that there were many who were grumbling that God only seemed to do good to those who did what was evil…To them serving God was a kind of bargain. They did right by him, and he did right by them. And it was his side of it that appeared to be failing.” [26] Centuries before the prophet Isaiah dealt with similar problems with the Israelites: “‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers” (Isa. 58:3). They had taken their eyes off God and judged him when they should have focused their eyes on God and their own sinfulness.

The Righteous Remnant

Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. Malachi 3:16

There are a few Bible passages telling us that God keeps books (e.g. Exo. 32:32-33; Psa. 56:8; Dan. 7:10; Rev. 20:11-15; 21:27). We see in Esther 6:1-2, that the Persian kings kept books regarding the good deeds of their subjects.

There have been a few precious times of fellowship with other Christians that my wife and I felt something supernatural happened and that God was especially close. We had the sensation that maybe God was making notes of those times. Guzik says, “When God’s people speak to one another in this way, the LORD listens from heaven. He loves to see true fellowship and love among his people.” [27] Feinberg adds: “God tenderly keeps before him those that truly reverence him and think on his name.” [28]

“On the day when I act,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him’” (3:17). In this passage, the KJV and the NKJ versions speak of jewels, but other versions such as the NIV, ESV, NET and NRS see it as a treasured possession, special property or special possession.

In Deuteronomy 7:6; 14:2; & 26:18, Israel is called in Hebrew am se-gu-lah or special people to God. Today in Israel this expression is heard a lot as the people claim the title for themselves. No doubt, it is this expression that is meant in this verse. The passage we noted in Deuteronomy 7:6 does state: “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession [am-se-gu-lah].” Someday all the people on earth will realize just how special the people of Israel are.

“And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not” (3:18). In our day it is not always easy to determine who is really a Christian and who is not. My wife was standing the grocery line one day and the woman next to her made a rather stumbling attempt at witnessing. She asked in her thick southern drawl, “Are you a Christian?” My wife answered, “Yes I am.” The woman replied, “I thought so. Most people down here in the South are.” Really!

The woman was obviously not aware of religious trends in the US. The Christian researcher Josh McDowell says: “The Christian consensus that once governed the public and private life of the United States and other Western nations has crumbled to the point that we no longer live in a post-Christian society; we live in an anti-Christian society, one in which the Christian faith is dismissed or ridiculed and Christians are considered suspect and their motives and behavior berated.” [29]

The Christian thinker Francis Schaeffer once said: “Having turned away from the knowledge given by God, man has now lost the whole Christian culture. In Europe, including England, it took many years, in the United States only a few decades. In the United States in the short span from the Twenties to the Sixties, we have seen a complete shift…there was a Christian consensus. Now that consensus is completely gone.” [30]

What the well-meaning woman did not realize was that the people in the South are not mostly Christians and neither are the ones in the North, or the East or West. We now live in what is called neo-paganism. That may sound bad, but it may also sound good. It means that the real Christians will finally stand out from the others. They will shine like lights in the darkness. They may soon be severely persecuted in our country but at least everyone will know who is a Christian and who is not.

Footnotes

1. Baldwin, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, pp. 242-43.

2. Guthrie, et. al. The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 808.

3. Ferrekiro, ed., Ancient Christian Commentary of Scripture, XIV, The Twelve Prophets, 259.

4. Baldwin, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, p. 243.

5. Ibid.

6. Pfeiffer, et. al. The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 917.

7. Jamieson, et. al., Commentary on Malachi, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, v. 3:2.

8. Ibid., v. 3:3.

9. Phillips, Exploring The Minor Prophets, p. 331.

10. Feinberg, The Minor Prophets, p. 262.

11. David Kupelian, How Evil Works: Understanding and Overcoming the Destructive Forces That Are Transforming America (New York: Threshold Editions, 2010), p. 13.

12. Forbes Quotes, Thoughts On The Business Of Life. https://www.forbes.com/quotes/111/

13. Coffman, Commentary on Malachi, Coffman Commentaries on the Bible, v. 3:5.

14. Guzik, Enduring Word Bible Commentaries, vs. 3:6-7.

15. Baldwin, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, p. 245.

16. Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, OT, electronic edition.

17. Phillips, Exploring The Minor Prophets, p. 332.

18. Ibid., p. 333.

19. Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, OT, pp. 1530-31.

20. Coffman, Commentary on Malachi, Coffman Commentaries on the Bible, v. 3:8.

21. Guzik, Enduring Word Bible Commentaries, vs. 3:8-12.

22. Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, OT, p. 1531.

23. Ferrekiro, ed., Ancient Christian Commentary of Scripture, XIV, The Twelve Prophets, p. 306.

24. Pfeiffer, et. al. The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 918.

25. Pett, Commentary on Malachi, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 3:15.

26. Guzik, Enduring Word Bible Commentaries, vs. 3:16-18.

27. Feinberg, The Minor Prophets, p. 165.

28. Josh McDowell, The New Tolerance, How a cultural movement threatens to destroy you, your faith, and your children (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1998), p. 135.

29. Francis A. Schaeffer, Death In The City (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1969), p. 14.