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The Lord Almighty answers
Malachi 3.1-5
Good News Translation (GNT)
1 The Lord Almighty answers, "I will send my
messenger to prepare the way for me.
Then the Lord you are looking for will suddenly
come to his Temple.
The messenger you long to see will come and
proclaim my covenant."
2 But who will be able to endure the day when
he comes?
Who will be able to survive when ;he appears?
He will be like strong soap, like a fire that
refines metal.
3 He will come to judge like one who refines
and purifies silver. As a metalworker
refines silver and gold, so the Lord's
messenger will purify the priests,
so that they will bring to the Lord the right kind
of offerings.
4 Then the offerings which the people of Judah
and Jerusalem bring to the Lord will be
pleasing to him, as they used to be in the past.
5 The Lord Almighty says, "I will appear among
you to judge, and I will testify at once
against those who practice magic, against
adulterers, against those who give false
testimony, those who cheat employees out of
their wages, and those who take advantage of
widows, orphans, and foreigners - against all
who do not respect me.
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Taken from 'word-on-the-web' supplied by the
Scripture Union
Choosing holiness
Malachi 3:1-5
Malachi (the name interestingly means 'my messenger') speaks of the coming of the Lord's messenger which we may take as a prophecy concerning John the Baptist.
But he is not the key figure - he is preparing the way for 'the Lord' himself, 'the messenger of the covenant'.
When John the Baptist appeared, he prophesied of the coming of one 'more powerful than I', who would 'baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire'.
The renewal of Israel was to begin in earnest!
The image of the Lord sitting 'as a refiner or purifier of silver' is evocative.
In ancient times the silver or gold would be heated in a furnace till the dross rose to the surface and could be swept away.
The refiner would know that the process had been successfully completed when he could see his own reflection on the surface of the molten metal.
Similarly God allows sometimes quite intense trials to come to us so that we may be refined to the point that the image of Jesus is seen in us.
Although it can be intensely painful at the time this is of course very much for our long-term good.
It's for God's glory and the blessing of others too!
The Levites (which probably refers here primarily to the priests, see 2:7,8) are specially mentioned as being the focus for refining (3:3).
This is so that offerings may be brought 'in righteousness', and be 'acceptable to the Lord' (3:3b,4).
God is looking for pure worship - whether in praise or in doing good and sharing with others (see Hebrews 13:15,16).
It is a pure heart, a clear conscience and clean hands that he is looking for.
Christian leaders especially need the Lord's refining discipline in their lives.
Be careful!
So next time you sing the song 'Purify my heart', think carefully!
The Lord may well answer such a prayer by sending you a lot of trials!
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