Exploring Malachi 3-4: Messages of Judgment and Hope

Please read Malachi chapters 3-4 

The last book of the Old Testament has four chapters addressed to all covenant people of God.  God’s very first words in Malachi to His people are “I have loved you” (Malachi 1:2).  God is expressing to the people here that His love was expressed in fact long ago, but the effects remain strong even in the present.  God expresses His unchanging love for His people.   

Chapter 1, Malachi talks about the love God has for Israel and how the priests of Israel are corrupt. 

In chapter 2, Malachi continues his admonition to the priests in their corruption. 

Chapter 3, Malachi talks about stealing and giving and about the divine love God has for Israel. 

In chapter 4, Malachi predicts a day when judgment will come, but will also be a day of hope for many. 

Malachi 3:1-5 describes that one day a messenger from God would come and he would help direct the people before the Messiah comes.  When the Messiah arrives on the scene, in keeping with repentance language, He will refine the people with fire and burn away all the corrupt ingredients of their faith and leave them with a pure faith.  He will also cleanse them as soap and leave them forgiven and purge sin from their lives leaving them purified.  Malachi is of course speaking of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. 

Jesus cites this passage in reference to John the Baptist. John prepares the way for Jesus’ first coming in the same way believers usher in His second coming similarly to the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. “Prepare the way” is the job of Christians now which continues the ministry of John the Baptist (focusing on repentance).  

Those who are cleansed can endure His coming.   

Malachi 3:6-12 describes that the people of God are under a curse because they choose to rob God and not give their tithes to Him.  Not tithing is a sin.  Not tithing money and not giving to God means stealing.  When you and I do not give to God from our money, we rob Him.  There is no way to spin or study away the meaning of God’s Word in Malachi… you don’t give then you rob God. God wanted to purify His priests (and the rest of the people).   

In verses 6-7, God promises that He will draw near. God is always present, but there are times when God is nearer. This is our perception for God does not move away. We can fully trust God. We can fully be in a relationship with Him seeking life. 

In Malachi 3:13-18, we find that the people of God are having an attitude problem.  This particular attitude problem focuses on quitting on God.  The covenant people of God, who have been the recipients of His unchanging love, are basically whining that they don’t want to follow God because they don’t see the benefit. 

Why should we follow God, we aren’t any richer! 

Why should we follow God, we never get anything out of it for ourselves! 

Why should we follow God, He just restricts our lives and other people get to have more fun! 

Why should we follow God, other people sin and God doesn’t punish them! 

Why should we follow God, other people push God to the limit and get away with it! 

Amid this attitude problem, Malachi describes something for us that is extremely important and very encouraging.  Among those who were wicked and had an attitude problem were some faithful people.  Verse 16 shares with us that in the midst of this attitude problem, the faithful encouraged each other with words.  We don’t know what they said to each other, but the words certainly seemed to honor God.  God kept His watchful eye on them and their names were even written down so nothing they said or did would be forgotten.   

Verse 17 shares with us something supremely important and deals with treasure and value and chosen-ness.  You see, God called those faithful people gathered before Him “cegullah” (seg-oo-lah).  That is a unique Hebrew word which means “special possession” or “treasured possession” which means a “possession exclusively belonging to YHWH.”  Hear this!  If you are in Christ, if you have in faith and repentance accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and you have been baptized with Him and received the gift of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38), then you are God’s “treasured possession!”  Period.   

With Malachi 4, we must keep John the Baptist (verse 1) and 70 AD in mind (verses 2-6). The destruction described in verse 2 is reminiscent of what happened in Jerusalem in 70 AD. In verses 4-5, the people and the land are stricken. After this event, we will see the Messianic Age.  

Malachi 4 focuses on the promises that He will bring to His people in the future. It is significant in verse 2 that the “Sun of Righteousness” will arise with healing. We should take note that this is the “Son of Righteousness” Who is Jesus Christ. We can be sure that God will bring about His will among people to save the nations. He will rightly pursue righteousness in people and in His Creation. 

When you see Elijah… here we go! 

When you see the destruction… here we go! 

When you see the Messiah… here we go! 

Keep in mind, that the Gospel of Matthew and the birth of Jesus occur next in the Bible! 

TMB BMD