Malachi 3:1-6

"Preparing the Way: The Promise of the Messenger - Malachi 3:1-6"

“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.

2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap.

3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.

4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

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.

6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.

PRAY

Introduction:

In this passage, we will be exploring Malachi 3:1-6, which serves as a divine proclamation of hope, anticipation, and warning.

As we navigate through these verses, we will discover how they foreshadow the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and the significance of His refining work in our lives.

Illustration:

Imagine a mischievous group of children eagerly awaiting the arrival of a much-anticipated magician at their neighborhood party.

The magician has a reputation for being the best in town, and the kids can't contain their excitement as they whisper and giggle in anticipation.

As the clock strikes the appointed hour, the kids huddle around a small stage, eager to catch the first glimpse of the magician.

But instead of the magnificent magician they expected, a quirky-looking, bumbling assistant stumbles onto the stage. He's wearing mismatched socks, and his hat is sideways.

The children give puzzled looks, wondering if they've been pranked or if this is some kind of mistake.

Just as they start to murmur, the assistant clears his throat and announces, "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, fear not! I may not be the grand magician you were expecting, but I bring good news! The real magician, the one you've been waiting for, is just a moment away!"

The children erupt into laughter, finding the assistant's clumsiness endearing.

Little do they know that his awkward entrance was intentional - he wanted to grab their attention and make sure they were listening closely.

As he continues to entertain the kids with his comedic antics, he finally points to the backstage area, saying, "And now, without further ado, brace yourselves for the amazing magician extraordinaire!"

At that very moment, the curtains part, and the true magician, dressed in a dazzling outfit, emerges to cheers and applause from the children.

He performs incredible tricks, leaving the kids in awe of his talent and skill. The assistant grins from ear to ear, knowing he successfully prepared the way for the magician and made his grand entrance all the more memorable.

In a similar way, in Malachi 3:1-6, we encounter the proclamation of a messenger who prepares the way for someone even greater - the long-awaited Messiah, Jesus Christ.

While the quirky assistant's antics brought laughter and joy, the message of Malachi stirs our hearts with hope and anticipation for the coming of our Savior, who refines us like silver and purifies our lives.

So, let us prepare ourselves for the grand entrance of our Savior, just like the children prepared themselves for the amazing magician.

I. Context and Historical Background

Setting the stage. Malachi was a prophet who ministered to the Israelites during a time of spiritual apathy and moral decay.

The people had grown complacent in their faith, offering blemished sacrifices and neglecting their covenant responsibilities to God.

In response to their rebellion, God sent Malachi to call them to repentance and remind them of His covenant faithfulness.

II. The Promise of the Messenger (Malachi 3:1):

"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."

In this verse, God promises to send a messenger to prepare the way for His coming.

This messenger is none other than John the Baptist, who would announce the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah, Jesus Christ.

The "Lord" and "messenger of the covenant" refer to Jesus, who, with His arrival, would bring a new covenant of grace and salvation.

III. The Refiner's Fire (Malachi 3:2-3):

"But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord."

When Jesus comes, He will bring a refining process upon His people.

The image of a refiner's fire and fuller's soap symbolizes the purifying work of Christ in our lives.

Just as fire removes impurities from precious metals, Christ's presence purges sin and unrighteousness from our hearts.

This process is often challenging and may bring discomfort, but it is necessary for our spiritual growth and sanctification. (picture an old wash basin, lye soap, and hard brush)

IV. Call to Repentance (Malachi 3:4):

"Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years."

In this verse, Malachi highlights that genuine repentance and transformed lives will lead to acceptable offerings and worship before God.

When we allow Christ to refine us, our worship becomes pleasing to Him.

We must examine our hearts and turn away from sin, humbling ourselves before the Lord.

V. God's Unchanging Nature (Malachi 3:6):

"For I the Lord do not change; therefore, you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed."

Amidst the call to repentance, God assures the people of His unchanging nature.

His mercy and grace prevent them from being utterly consumed by their sins.

This attribute of God's unchanging nature extends to us as well.

In a world of uncertainties, we can find security in the faithfulness of our unchanging God.

Conclusion:

In Malachi 3:1-6, we see a beautiful prophecy of the coming Messiah and His refining work in our lives.

Just as John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, we are called to prepare our hearts for His presence.

Let us embrace the refining process, allowing Christ to purify us and make us vessels worthy of His service.

May we continually seek His forgiveness and surrender to His transformative power, as we eagerly anticipate the day of His return.

Let us pray and commit ourselves to walk in righteousness and holiness before our Lord, reflecting His light to a world in need of His love and grace.

PRAY

INVITATION