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| Order Of Worship (Liturgy) |
MALACHI 2:17 – 3:5
(Reading: John 1:1-18; Isaiah 40:1-11)
The Lord Re-Claims His Rule!
We have the saying, ‘Give them enough rope and they’ll hang themselves!’ It’s certainly what we see throughout Malachi’s prophecy. Yet also we see that while there are those that condemn themselves there is also being shown those the Lord is drawing to himself.
So there is a testing Israel is undergoing. Through this the Lord is putting out those who aren’t his – even though they might seem so much like his. And even though they appear to have legitimate concerns with God it will come out for what it truly is.
You see, things were not in a good way in the Promised Land. There was little of the prosperity they had so much hoped for. Hardly anything seemed to be going their way! Let’s see why.
And so it is we come to verse 17 of chapter 2. Here we note, in the first aspect, GOD’S RULE IS OPENLY QUESTIONED.
Now, as we begin with verse 17 we need to be careful to realise how the people have been tiring out God with their words. Because sometimes genuine Christians can be found pleading constantly to the Lord for help in a particular matter. Asaph in Psalm 73 gives us one example of this. But he did that constant pleading to the Lord while remaining faithful to him. They were sincere prayers he prayed. Here, though, it is just a constant whining!
These are the type of people Isaiah spoke about in his forty-third chapter. There in verse 24 he says these words from the Lord, “You have not brought any fragrant calamus for me, or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offences.”
The people wonder where God’s blessing is yet they don’t make themselves ready to receive that blessing through walking with the Lord. They were very selective in trying to prove how religious they were.
You hear that when they complain that those who do evil – the pagans around them – get blessed by the Lord. They cry out, “All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and he is pleased with them.”
What really brings out their true nature, however, is the next question they ask in verse 17. There they ask, “Where is the God of justice?”
What?! God is missing in action? The Lord has gone AWOL?
This question is actually equivalent to doubting God’s existence. This is an excuse for atheism. And how much don’t atheists use such a charge against God today? ‘If there is a God why is there so much injustice?’ they cry. ‘Why is God so unfair?’ ‘Why are there so many poor and starving and enslaved and…? On and on and on it goes.
Well, they only need to look at themselves to see the answer for that! It’s human sin that’s at the root of all the evil in this world. And that’s what God is so tired of in verse 17. In fact, the Lord now tells them through Malachi exactly how he is the God of justice. Taking their sarcastic reply seriously he next proceeds to answer it in four distinct ways.
So it is that in verse 1 of chapter 3 we note, secondly, GOD’S COMING IS DISTINCTLY SHOWN. As those who specifically looked for signs these Hebrews would be shown something alright! In fact, it would be two distinct signs.
The first of these is spoken of in the first part of the verse. “See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me.”
Now, in the Middle-East, whenever a king was about to arrive at a town or village, messengers were sent ahead to give the towns and villages time to prepare. They had to make the necessary preparations to properly host the royal guest.
So, how much wouldn’t the King of kings need the way prepared for him? This was what Isaiah chapter 40 declared. In the words of verse 3 there, “A voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.’”
And let’s understand who this messenger would be. While some might suggest an angel or other heavenly being, this one would be an earthly mortal. A man directly connected with the prophet Elijah.
Further on in Malachi 4:5 the Lord says, “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes.” And in the New Testament, Luke 1:17, the angel tells Zechariah that it is his son John who will go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah.
There are other places also in the gospel which confirm this. They also tell us that he wasn’t actually Elijah. In John 1:21 John denies he is Elijah. But two verses further on he quotes Isaiah’s prophesy to affirm he is the one preparing the way.
And what message do you think the Lord’s messenger would bring? Would he proclaim that they had to bulldoze the hills and make a highway on sandy plains? That would be the physical preparation suggested by Isaiah.
But that would not be the spiritual way. So this messenger would call on all to repent and come to true faith.
The first sign of a messenger is followed very quickly by the second sign. “Then suddenly the LORD you are seeking will come to his temple…”
And how much wouldn’t Ezekiel’s vision of the glory returning to fill the temple be fulfilled then (Ezekiel 43:1-5)? And despite how insignificant this temple seemed in comparison to the others! Then the purpose of the rebuilding of the temple would be unmistakeable!
Though who is “the messenger of the covenant” mentioned here with the Lord? There have been a number of different views about this. It is a unique title so that makes it even harder to work out.
What we can know, though, is that he comes simultaneously with the Lord. He could even be identified with him. Tying in this heavenly being with the concept of the covenant we can begin to see more clearly. The angel of the covenant was the One God sent ahead of Israel in the exodus from Egypt. He guarded their way.
This angel in Exodus 23:21 is described by the Lord as having his Name in him. And to say God’s Name is in him means God’s person, attributes and character are in him. This angel was God.
We can trace this angel as the one who appeared in human form to Abraham, Hagar, Jacob, Joshua, Gideon, and Manoah. He is called the ‘angel of God,’ ‘angel of his face,’ or more often ‘the angel of Yahweh.
As a heavenly being tied in with the divine, as he is here in verse 1, this “messenger of the covenant” must be recognised as the preincarnate Christ. In whom he is and what he does, he is God – and he is also sent from God. Isn’t this the mystery of the Trinity?
By adding the words in verse 1, “whom you desire,” draws us even closer to the Messiah. And that the New Testament would make absolutely clear, as Hebrews, for example, so much shows.
But here we see a twist. You see, what were those Jews really wanting? Was it really to be with their Saviour and Lord or to be somehow vindicated over against those around them?
The second sign is clear about this. The word for “suddenly” tells us of something quite unexpected. And it’s a word which invariably is associated with disaster or judgment. For the wicked the coming of the Lord will be “like a thief in the night,” to use the words of 2nd Peter 3:10. They have well and truly been caught out!
This is what verse 2 now goes on to detail. In the words of a third aspect to our text, here GOD’S PRESENCE IS VIVIDLY CONFRONTING.
There are some powerful word pictures in verse 2. The inspired prophet gathers together images that clearly show what’s about to happen.
The first phrase, “But who can endure the day of his coming?” tells us of an intense trial. This is what Joel spoke of. As he says in verse 11 of his second chapter, “The day of the LORD is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?”
Instead of seeing the pagans around them wiped out and their wealth restored, these hypocritical Hebrews would be punished. The day they expected so much return from will bring only loss. Because they didn’t believe in the Messiah – only in themselves!
And then the question “Who can stand when he appears?” brings in a battle imagery. It means ‘who can stand his ground?’ And who can?
The prophet Amos speaks in chapter 2:15 of the very strongest not being able to stand their ground when judgment comes on Israel. And in similar vein Malachi wonders who it is – if anyone at all – that can make it through the Lord’s piercing tests.
The people will go through a suffering that will really sort them out. The image of “a refiner’s fire” and “a launderer’s soap” expands upon this. The refiner’s fire doesn’t destroy but rather purifies. It gets rid of whatever is rubbish there is to the precious metal. It purifies so that what is left is only gold or silver.
And the launderer’s soap tells us of what whitens cloth. We must note that the soap we use today wasn’t known then. This is referring to alkali which was used specifically to whiten clothes.
And how would it be known that this process of refining or laundering was complete? Well, it would be when the garment looked like new. And in the case of the precious metal it would be when the refiner could see his own image reflected in the molten metal.
Next in the fourth aspect we see what this purifying will bring. From the verses 3 and 4 we note, GOD’S REFINING IS PRODUCING FRUIT.
The prophet takes these word pictures and brings it home to the priests and the people. He is so concerned for his holiness he starts right at the heart of the nation – the temple – and he works out what will bring him out in them.
So, those who had been instrumental in leading Israel astray would be cleansed so that they are found going the totally opposite way! Those who had come up so short in chapters 1 and 2 would be leading the way for the whole nation to be revived again by the Lord!
How crucial haven’t we already seen in Malachi the place of God’s ministers? What disaster comes upon the people when those leading them are the ones whose clothes were covered with violence, and who had stains of sin which no ordinary soap or human effort could remove (Mal.2:16; Jer.2:22; 4:14)!
After describing the purifying and refining of the Levites, verse 3 goes on, “Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness…” You see, both the heart of the offerer and the quality of the offering were unblemished before the Lord. Worship was once again accepted to him. God received it with favour.
And look how in verse 4 this reviving has spread to the people as a whole. To say that “the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by” is to acknowledge something quite glorious. Because there the Lord is receiving it all!
How different to the wickedness in worship that had wearied the Lord for so long! Now it was what the Lord loved because he has worked it by his Spirit in them!
So, what could that possibly say to the way we worship today? Dear believer, this says everything to the worship of God today. Unless it comes from hearts changed by him, and looking to him, it cannot be blessed by him!
Many think of worship today as a casual or traditional thing. It is one of life’s optional extras. So you find many churches having only the one service a Sunday or providing a service on the Saturday night so you can do your own thing on Sunday.
They are people who weary God. They are those attracted to those in this world who seem to be doing so well. That’s why they copy them. In the same way God’s priests and people of Malachi’s time took on the lifestyles of those around them so it’s happening today.
You see, while the form of sacrifice might change, the essence still remains. In the words of Hebrews 13:15 do we, through Jesus, continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise? Are our lips truly confessing his name?
If we cannot answer positively to this, Malachi next speaks of the judgment that is waiting. If you don’t come to the Lord as your Saviour you will meet him as the Judge. In the words the fifth aspect to our text, verse 5 tells us, GOD’S JUDGMENT IS QUITE COMPREHENSIVE.
There are three words early on in verse 5 which make it clear this is a legal case. When the Lord says he will “come near,” and there is “judgment,” and that he will “testify” he makes it clear what is happening. This is the court case where only the one witness is needed. And then we hear the charges. There are seven sins listed. While none of these specifically related to that list of seven deadly sins we know, yet all those underlie what is mentioned here. Because all these are about what human selfishness shows!
In each of these sins there has been no thought for anyone else – and so definitely no thought for God! Stating at the end of this list that these are those who do not fear God, is stating the obvious! You see, this “fear” of God is giving him the awe-filled reverence he truly deserves. And those living like this simply cannot do this.
Yet they will come to be very afraid of God. That’s why these sins are listed. They spell out the times these people have acted like God over against others. They have set themselves up against the Lord and his Law. They declared publicly they were quite apart from God.
That’s what going to other gods, having other men’s wives, lying against others, defrauding labourers, oppressing widows and the fatherless, and depriving foreigners of justice, shows us! They are a law unto themselves!
Now, that’s not such a novel thought, is it? We live in a society that has enshrined selfishness. On every possible front this is a world setting itself up against God. Also in the church! For you will find at the forefront of so much of the rebellion against God so-called ‘Christian’ leaders and celebrities. They can’t act quickly enough to call evil ‘good’ and to call good ‘evil’!
And so you will find all these seven forms in a modern form. Whether it is the new paganism, the attack against marriage, the lying against believers, ripping off workers, and attacking the helpless through abortion, euthanasia, and other ways – it’s all still there!
But those present day versions of the wicked priests and people will also have their question answered too. Then they won’t be able to use that constant whining phrase – ‘Why is God so unfair?’
I mean, how can they then? God himself will be the Judge. And they will be in the dock!
They will be shown up as those who didn’t fear the Lord. How scared won’t they be then?
Let’s never forget who has all things in his hands. He is working out everything according to his plan. So let’s make sure we’re found in the right place on that day!
This is what the apostle Peter speaks of in his second letter. There in chapter 3 he says we ought to live holy and godly lives as we look forward the day of God and speed its coming (v11). We have to found spotless, blameless and at peace with him (v14).
Dear friend, when you live like this you stand out for the Lord. When we please him we will be lights in the darkness. And much as they try to extinguish us, he will help us to shine. Amen.
PRAYER:
Let’s pray…
O Lord God, how much don’t we praise and thank you for your Word. Through your Word we meet the Living Word. And so we are made ready for when Jesus Christ does return on that coming Day of the Lord.
Help us to look to what you love. Don’t let us become distracted by the things mankind loves. Rather, in everything, help us to look above. And then we may shine out your grace in our lives.
In the name of the one who perfectly showed us grace, your dear Son, we pray. Amen.
* As a matter of courtesy please advise Rev. Sjirk Bajema, if you plan to use this sermon in a worship service. Thank-you.
(c) Copyright 2022, Rev. Sjirk Bajema
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