Judgement Close to Home
Notes
Transcript
A background to a passage can key us in to where God is going as we start into the text.
Today, we will focus on Malachi 3:1-6, but the background for what the Lord communicates here is found in 2:17.
Back in chapter 2, Malachi says:
17 You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”
Israel struggled in that they were giving tolerance towards that which God called evil. —meaning they were calling evil good.
At the same time they were consumed by the fact that God was not dealing with those “they deemed sinful”.
They cry, “Where is the God of justice?” —God is about to give them an answer.
But in the midst of their outcry…they can’t even begin to grab a hold on their on depraved attitudes. In essence, they were really concerned by what they were seeing in others, but were unable to look in the mirror.
So let’s dive into our passage for this week…as we do let’s pay special attention to God’s desire to point to the truth of lost ways
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.
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.
Justice is Coming!
Justice is Coming!
Malachi 3:1 (ESV)
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.
Sometimes men ask for something they don’t quite understand.
They cry injustice and yet God sends judgement and provides justice in His time.
Ponder for a second that they want God to punish.
Why would a Godly person desire The Lord to bring judgment?
Why would a God fearing person not desire the change of the broken person?
Why would a God fearing person not desire for Him
bring an opportunity for change?
You see in the text of scripture God often brings a level anger and frustration towards His people on two fronts:
When they accept sinful behavior as the norm
When they only want to judge people for a sin they themselves do not partake from while sinning without condemnation in another area.
So here: God says you want justice—judgement…It’s coming....HE IS COMING!
5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.
5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
The messenger was coming and he would make straight the way of the Lord.
This messenger was none other than John the Baptist. (Matt. 3:1-12; Mark 1:2-8; Luke 3:2-18; John 1:6-8, 19-28).
Many believe John the Baptist was part of the Essenes of Qumran, mainly because of his separation to the region, zeal, and ritual baths.
His job was to prepare the way of the Lord, but Messiah would come quickly.
Further, He was coming as he says they are seeking Him, but the manner of His coming would not be what they were longing or expecting.
Jesus would come but not for Judgement initially:
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
but there will be a day when He brings justice:
Revelation 19:11–16 (ESV)
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.
12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.
13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.
14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.
15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
So Jesus would come, not as they expected, to seek and to save the lost.
But Jesus will return a King on the Throne will bring judgement & Justice.
Justice is Brought to Fulfillment in Cleansing!
Justice is Brought to Fulfillment in Cleansing!
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.
Martin Luther said, much like the Israelites: “There are only two days on my calendar. This day and that day.”
Luther was referring to today and the day of the Lord.
These verses are not about the first coming of Christ, but the second Advent.
He came to save, but He will come to judge and to purify.
In essence, there is a reality we can hold on to, that God will purify.
There is a day when Jesus returns that He will set things as they should be, we look forward to that day.
Living in Norco, LA taught my family a little about the refining process...
At the refineries for which that community is named, there are massive machines used in oil refining.
Those machines certain heat and there is a waste product that rises to the top in some processes and is removed in others.
Regardless, even the waste product is used for something.
What we might think is judgment, even now, is useful.
When God moves in our lives to purify His bride, He often permits struggles, pain, suffering, and more.
In this God uses even the removal of our sin and rebelliousness:
5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
In essences the rod of correction is a comfort:
Psalm 23:4 (ESV)
4 ...your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
David spoke to God about the comfort that is brought by the love of correction.
So in essence, God is removing and cleaning the broke-ness of His priests with the intention of doing the same to His people as a whole.
But the fulness of this happens in the 2nd Advent:
1 Corinthians 3:11–15 (ESV)
11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—
13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
You see, in our original state we were designed in the image of God and the Father seeks to restore us to that image:
Romans 8:29 (ESV)
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Justice Will Present Back to God Pleasing Offerings!
Justice Will Present Back to God Pleasing Offerings!
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.
The work of God in cleansing makes the offerings come from the correct heart.
God would also bring accountability: see vs. 5
no other gods
no wandering
no lies
no oppression of the less than
tend to the traveler/visitor
revere God.
In essence God was reminding them where they came from:
21 “You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
God is Gracious and Patient!
God is Gracious and Patient!
6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
He does not change and has not brought the ultimate judgment that even Israel deserved.
Walking Away, But In...
Walking Away, But In...
Rise up and do what your called to do.
Have a right picture of self before forming a picture of others.