Chapter 3
This chapter starts this way:
1 "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare 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. [Mal 3:1 ESV]
What a change of direction here...The messenger would be John the Baptist. He prepares the way, and Jesus shows up teaching. So vs 17 must be about the 1st century. The people look up to the Pharisees - evil snakes - and they complain about the injustice of Roman rule being imposed on them? This fits, but am I missing something larger?
It goes on to say he will come as a refiners fire. That fire purifies polluted, corrupted ore. It removes the impurities and leaves only pure metal. They are looking for justice, for deliverance from oppression...but the one who is coming won't give them that. He will show them that the kingdom is in the heart, not in the world. They are looking for one to conquer others, and they get one to purify them.
Or is this about the Millennial? That is, after all, when the daily oblation will return, carried out by priests who are committed. The whole people will be God's people at that time. Jesus offered this with his teaching, but they did not turn. The priests plotted and carried out his murder, and the people cheered them on. But at the Millennial, it will be different. This was the kingdom offered. A Spiritual kingdom of people who will worship in spirit and in truth. NOT, an earthly, governmental kingdom. THIS is what that has always meant.
And referring back to those who ask why there is no justice, this answer:
5 "Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts. [Mal 3:5 ESV]
In the Millennial kingdom, justice will be swift, direct, and today. No delays. They will get what they are wishing for, but I'm guessing many will be "burned out of the kingdom" by a discerning judge who cannot be fooled by externals.
This verse, an unusual point:
6 "For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. [Mal 3:6 ESV]
God promised Abraham certain things. If God were changeable, He would certainly have withdrawn those promises, for the people have done nothing at all to deserve them. In fact, they'd no longer be a people! They better be real glad that justice is delayed!
Another question posed: How shall we return. I think the implication is that they are "following all the rules", so what more does God want? God says they return by paying their tithes. To withhold the tithe is to rob God. God says if they will tithe, there will be more than plenty for them all. He asks them to just test Him on this and see if it is not so.
Another point: The people speak "hard" against God. But when accused, they say "What do you mean? We didn't do that..." They have said there is no "profit" in serving God, in following His rules. In taking this position, they have elevated those who openly willfully defy God. If there is no reason to obey the standards God has set, then God's values are replaced by the world's values. Good and evil are measured by "success" in the world, rather than by obedience to God.
How can all this be in this one little short book?!?!?!?
14 You have said, 'It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the LORD of hosts? [Mal 3:14 ESV] This is such a common attitude today! Devaluing God is not just about being too smart to believe in the supernatural. Deciding God "is not worth the trouble" creates a vacuum of purpose. Take God out of the picture and this question lights up neon red: How should we then live? [Eze 33:10b, KJV] Something is going to fill that vacuum. Success in the world as measured by...fame? wealth? power? position? All the things going on right now in the world are attempts to answer this one question. These are just strategies to give life meaning in the absence of God. No wonder the world is so miserable!! Does anyone really want to live in such a world? All we have to do is "return". That's always been the answer. Turn back to God. This verse:
7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, 'How shall we return?' [Mal 3:7 ESV]
There has GOT to be a FB post in the above!