Advent 2: Old Testament, Malachi 3:1-7b                                     

Malachi 3:1-7b

The final book of the Old Testament is a short prophetic book which carries the name of its author: Malachi. It’s immensely important notwithstanding its brevity. And it packs a punch from the outset. God is wondering what has happened to the love His people had for Him. Now, God begs no one for affection, but He does yearn for the fellowship of His people. That, in and of itself, is something too wonderful to even consider. But God has it on His mind and heart and “needs” answers.

“God is a jealous lover and He suffereth no rivals.” Another great thought that I believe comes from an anonymous writer somewhere in the 13th or 14th century. Whatever its source, it conveys a truth that fills the prophet’s message. And God is willing to go to great lengths to display the love that His people seem to so easily spurn.

“For he (the Lord’s messenger, i.e. the Messiah) is like a refiner’s fire and like fuller’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD” (Malachi 3:2b-3). God is sending in the future (from Malachi’s perspective) a messenger who will act to secure the people’s love and devotion by turning their sin to disposable dross and their filth to cleanness. He will do it. No one in Malachi’s day realized it, but when his utterance was ended, there would come four centuries where no divine revelation pierced the veil between heaven and earth. It’s as if the Lord was shedding some light. Enough light perhaps to sustain His people through those silent centuries. And the message was all about a Messenger who would do whatever was needed to prepare the people for their God. And the offerings they will bring in righteousness will be offerings adorned with the very righteousness of the Messenger. That is the guarantee we will be ready to meet our God. It is the only hope we have. And it is enough.