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Excerpt:
The Coming Messenger
Malachi 3:1-4
3 See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, 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 descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. 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.
Meditation
Nothing says, “get ready” more than the Lord saying, “I am sending my messenger . . . .” Messengers (or angels) from the Lord are scary and at the same time awe inspiring. They can be angels (like Gabriel); they can be prophets that are reminiscent of the old days (like Moses); or they can be a host that fills the night sky with praise (like the angels with the shepherds). The messenger Malachi talks about is none other than the long-awaited Elijah (taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot), who God promised would return before the Messiah appeared.
So, being prepared for the Messiah includes noticing that Elijah has returned to “turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents.” (Malachi 4:5-6) This line is nearly quoted (word-for-word) to Zechariah (John the Baptist’s father) in the temple when he is told by the angel, he would have a son. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says that John the Baptist is Elijah.
The interesting thing about the Malachi’s messenger is that he is not sent to the general population—he is meant to “refine” or “purify the descendants of Levi.” The descendants of Levi are the priests and religious leaders for the Hebrew people. And the message is going to sting—not just a little bit, but a whole lot—like burn the skin or lye soap in the eyes is painful. The logic seems to be that if the leadership is pure in the eyes of God, then the offerings of even the followers, will be pleasing to God. Thanks be to God that the messenger has come (in the person of John the Baptist) and prepared the way for the Lord.
Prayer Prompt
Dear Lord, May my preparations be acceptable in your sight. Amen.