Malachi 3:1-5 is the central text for today.
“Look! I’m sending my messenger on ahead to clear the way for me. Suddenly, out of the blue, the Leader you’ve been looking for will enter his Temple—yes, the Messenger of the Covenant, the one you’ve been waiting for. Look! He’s on his way!” A Message from the mouth of God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
2-4 But who will be able to stand up to that coming? Who can survive his appearance?
He’ll be like white-hot fire from the smelter’s furnace. He’ll be like the strongest lye soap at the laundry. He’ll take his place as a refiner of silver, as a cleanser of dirty clothes. He’ll scrub the Levite priests clean, refine them like gold and silver, until they’re fit for God, fit to present offerings of righteousness. Then, and only then, will Judah and Jerusalem be fit and pleasing to God, as they used to be in the years long ago.
5 “Yes, I’m on my way to visit you with Judgment. I’ll present compelling evidence against sorcerers, adulterers, liars, those who exploit workers, those who take advantage of widows and orphans, those who are inhospitable to the homeless—anyone and everyone who doesn’t honor me.” A Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
The name, "Malachi" means "messenger", and the theme of messengers is one that runs throughout this book. Indeed, with this book being the last in the Old Testament, it is followed by approximately 400 years of "silence". During that period of time, there are no prophets sent from God, no new (messages) ecclesiastical writing given by inspiration of God, etc. Malachi 3:1 is a clue to how God will once again appear on the earthly scene.
Malachi refers back to Isaiah 40:3, which refers to a forerunner who will prepare the way for the Messiah.
A voice of one calling: "In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
We see this fulfilled in the person of John the Baptist, the flaming prophet of the gospels, the first prophet in 400 years! Linkages to these passages in Isaiah and Malachi can be found in Matthew 21:25-26 and John 14:10-11.
Malachi 3:2-5 goes on to describe how the Messiah in His first and his second comings will purify "the priesthood". The first and most obvious priesthood is the God-established Levitical priesthood of the Jews, called "the sons of Levi". The second is the priesthood of Christ-followers, referenced in 1 Peter 2:5.
5 you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
When Christ came for the first time, He brought the message of the covenant to the Jews. He WAS and IS "the Messenger of the Covenant", a phrase which appears nowhere else in Scripture. He is God's fulfillment of His covenant with the Jews. Some translations translate the phrase as "Prince of the Covenant." He came to "purify" to "transform" the Levitical priesthood. But, they rejected Him. This prophecy will be fulfilled, however. In the last days, with His second coming, this transformation of the Levitical priesthood will take place.
In the meantime, Christ has established a "royal priesthood" of His followers, the Church. His first coming established His Church and began the purification of it. We, the true believers, are His, and as such, are the objects of that purification, that transformation.
And the LORD told Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow.
They must wash their clothes.
Exodus 19:10 HCSB
This purification process goes beyond mere cleaning. There are many Bible verses about the cleaning aspect of purification, in order to approach a holy God. The Chosen People were commanded to ritualistically wash their clothes and their bodies for this purpose. It was representative of cleaning their souls. When something is cleaned, it is made more free from dirt; it is, however, essentially left in its same state otherwise. But, when something is purified, it is changed, transformed, metamorphosed into something better. That is what is referred to here.
So, what does this mean - - - this purification? What does it mean for us today?
True, transformative purification can only be accomplished by the Holy Spirit in our lives. The transformation begins with the salvation decision, of course. There can be no purification/transformation without that eternal, life-changing decision that must be made by each of us individually - - - between us and God. This "regeneration" is "the new birth", being "born again".
Next, there is an element of consecration to the transformative process. What is "consecration"? Also called "sanctification" it basically means to set something apart and dedicate it for a specific purpose. We see this in Exodus 19:10.
As Christians, we live in the world, but are not OF the world. God, our Savior, has set us apart for His purposes. As consecrated followers of Jesus Christ, His Holy Spirit is at work in us, battling the sinful desires of our flesh and molding us more and more into the image of Jesus Christ. Our part in that process is to submit to His work in our lives and to continually battle the sin we encounter.
The question we must ask ourselves is this: what is God working on in me right now? What areas of my life am I holding on to, not wanting to let Him change me? Pray about that today! If nothing comes to mind, ask Him to reveal this to you.
Most men don't care much for weddings. But, oh, most of us girls - - - we love them, don't we? Anytime I get an invitation, I try to attend those joyous occasions, which picture the relationship between me and my Savior, the Bride and the Bridegroom. In the days leading up to the wedding, the bride "makes herself ready" by doing many things in advance of the "big day". She tries to lose weight to look beautiful in that wedding gown, for instance.
That is our part in sanctification process- - - losing the weight! Look at what Hebrews 12:1-2 says about this:
...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith...
Then, one day in Glory, The Bride will.be.ready. Do you hear the Bridal Processional?
7“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 8It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Revelation 19:7-8
Dear Jesus, as part of Your Bride, I want to be made ready for when I have the privilege of seeing you face-to-face. Please purify and sanctify me so that I will be attired in "fine linen" on that glorious wedding day in Heaven! In Jesus' name, amen.
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