From the Text (Malachi 2:17-3:5 & 3:16-4:6)
What happens when our expectations of how, when, or where God will act are met with silence, or in a completely unexpected way?
This was the reality of the Israelites addressed by the prophet Malachi. Those who had returned to their homeland from Babylonian exile had come with great expectations. They had returned, as Jeremiah and other prophets had said they would. Under the leadership of men such as Ezra and Nehemiah, Jerusalem and the Temple had been rebuilt and, though neither was like its former glory, the people were back home. They eagerly anticipated the fulfilment of Ezekiel’s prophecy that the glory of the Lord would once again come and fill the Temple. The prophet Zechariah also spoke of God’s promise to return and dwell among His people (Zech. 3:8).
But years later, the messiah had not come; the Jews were still subject to a foreign power (Malachi 1:8); the land did not become a paradise, instead, crops failed because of locusts and drought (3:11). Religious activities were a duty rather than a joy (1:13) and seemed to make no difference (2:13). Priests and people were breaking the covenant (2:8,10). They thought they had fulfilled their part by rebuilding the city of Jerusalem and the Temple, and offering sacrifices and offerings. Now, they expected God to fulfill His part. But things did not happen as they expected and their disappointment turned to arrogance and wrong-doing.
Malachi lays the charge in 2:17 – “You have wearied the Lord by saying ‘All who do evil are good in the sight of the Lord,’ and by asking ‘Where is the God of justice?’” (nrsv).
From the Law, the people would know the teaching: “Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord” (Deut 18:12, NIV; cf. 25:16). But now the people were saying exactly the opposite: God approves of evil. Furthermore, by asking, “Where is the God of justice?” they were doubting God’s actions as well as God’s character.
The situation was so serious that God himself responded and assured the people that God himself would appear: “See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple’ (3:1, nrsv, emphasis added). As promised, God will come. But, when God comes, will any be able to stand up in the face of God and make the same accusations? Even the righteous Job covered his mouth with his hand and sat in silence when God finally appeared to him – and he was fully vindicated! What chance does anyone have of standing their ground before God?
The accusations of the people were wrong; God is deeply concerned that His people are holy. God hates evil. Therefore God will come to purify and refine. As alkali was used to whiten cloth, and as fire was used to bring the impurities of ore to the surface, so God would come to cleanse and purify His people. The metaphor then changes; the Lord will not only be like a refiner’s fire, but will also sit as the refiner of silver (3:3-4).
The silver refiner would sit above the smelting pot. As impurities rose to the surface the refiner would skim them off. He knew the refining process was complete when he could clearly see his reflection in the molten ore. Contrary to the accusations of the people, God required a holy people.
But there is another aspect of the coming of the Lord. Those who resist purification will experience judgment. Where is the God of justice? they asked. I will come to you in judgment, replied the Lord (3:5). The people’s accusation was wrong. God is just and demands justice from his people. Those who cheated workers of their wages, who oppressed widows and orphans, who deprived refugees of justice – all who practiced injustice of any kind – were showing their contempt for God [v. 5], because God cares deeply about these things.
Where is the God of justice? they asked. I will come to you in judgment, replied the Lord (3:5).
Malachi 4:1 gives a stronger statement: When the Lord comes to judge, the fire will be for destruction rather than purification. But the end of chapter 3 introduces a contrast which continues in chapter 4. The day of the Lord will reveal the difference between two groups of people: on the one hand, are the arrogant and evildoers of every kind; on the other, those who fear the Lord [4:1 & 3:16, respectively]. The destruction of the evildoers will be complete: when neither root nor branch remains, there is no tree (4:1). But for those who revere the Lord, they will experience the health and healing previously denied them. Instead of being trampled upon, they will spring out of their stalls like “well-fed calves” (4:2); they will be the victors instead of the victims.
The book of Malachi ends with a strong warning. If the people do not return to the covenant, if they do not return to right relationship with their God, if they refuse purification by the refining fire, they will be struck down by the fire of judgment.
What has this text to do with us?
There are several disturbing elements in this text, but I’ll highlight three:
(1) Malachi is talking to the covenant people. We might say he’s preaching to the church! He is not speaking of distinguishing between the nation of Israel and all the other nations; He is speaking of refining and judgment among the people of God. Distinguishing the arrogant and evildoers from those who fear God will be made from within the covenant people.
(2) Malachi spoke to people who had trouble distinguishing between the wicked and the holy (3:14-15). Essentially, they argued that one could not tell the difference between the wicked and the righteous because those who appeared to be wicked were prospering and those who appeared to be righteous were not, so perhaps they had it wrong. Perhaps injustice or corruption or cheating really does pay off.
(3) Perhaps most disturbing is that those who fearlessly questioned God seemed certain that they were right. They claimed they had obeyed God’s requirements, but all for nothing (3:14). Malachi names their sin: arrogance. They mistakenly assumed that their relationship with God was automatic, even mechanical, like a vending machine or an ATM. We do this . . . then God does this. We do that . . . then God does that.
Our time is not so different. Jesus said he would come again. Have we grown weary of the waiting? Are we tempted to accuse God of breaking His promise? of not caring? of being unjust?
Have we grown weary of the waiting?
We also seem to have difficulty distinguishing between the righteous & the wicked. If people seem to “win” or prosper despite corruption, lying, cheating, and such, why must I continue to do justice and live a holy life? But this shows contempt for what God has done for us in Christ – and for what we claim God has done in us by His saving, sanctifying work. God has no trouble distinguishing the arrogant and evildoers from those who love and honour Him.
Wrong and injustice seem to lose focus when my interests are at stake. It is often easier to see the evildoers as those who oppose me, or those who do not act or think like me. We may find it easy to hide behind our religion or our spirituality but let’s call this what it is: self-righteousness!
We must take care that we do not become arrogant in our certainty that we are not among the cynics; that is, those who keep up with religious practices (going to church, reading the Bible, tithing, etc.) but have stopped truly believing that God is just and that He will keep his promises. Just because we continue to attend church, read our Bibles, and do religious things, does not mean we are living a holy (Christlike) life.
We must not set the rules for when and how God must act - and then accuse God of not acting when we don’t get what we want. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to search our hearts, and examine ourselves honestly before God.
Praise - for districts who continue to support the ministry of NTC through prayer and education budget giving!
Pray for the NTC staff who are teaching and coordinating ministerial training programmes.
Pray for the ongoing work of writing new course materials for ministerial training.
Pray for the participants and students in ministry preparation.
Pray for all facilitators involved in ministry training.
Pray for business for GNCC to support the mission of NTC.
Pray for Rev. Errol & Dr. Rhonda Carrim as they complete home assignment.
Pray for the new church year and District Assemblies.
Pray for God's guidance for the coming year so we may know what He expects.
Merry Christmas and a Happy 2025
*The blog will continue in February 2025.
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