Refined Like Silver

Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness...

Malachi 3:1-3

Do you remember what happened when Jesus came to the temple? He made a whip of cords, overturned the tables of the moneychangers, and ran all the livestock out of the temple courts. Essentially, Jesus entered into judgment not only against the temple but also against those in charge of worship there. In other words, Jesus restored right worship to the temple so men could bring offerings in righteousness again... just as Malachi says.

So, this passage is definitely talking about Jesus’ cleansing of the temple. But look at how it describes Jesus’ purifying work. It says, “he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” The passage clearly applies this purifying work of Christ to the Levites. But it also gives us a glimpse, I believe, into how Jesus continues to work in the lives of Christians today. Let me explain.

Do you know how the process of refining silver works? The refiner heats up his furnace and places silver in it to melt away the impurities, imperfections and ores. And do you know how the silversmith knows when the silver is pure? He knows it’s pure when it reflects his face... his likeness.*

It’s the same with Jesus, isn’t it? He takes a sinner and places them in the furnace of life. And what’s His goal? To purify us until we look like Him, until we reflect His likeness. That’s His goal and it should be our aim. Yes! Jesus is still purifying men and women today, removing sin from our lives so we can offer up worship that is pleasing to Him. 

That’s the only way you will be able to “endure the day of his coming” is for you to receive Jesus as Lord and let Him refine you until He can see His face in you… until you reflect His likeness. As Christians we need to participate in that process. We need to seek to be pure... to become more and more like Jesus so that we have nothing to be ashamed of on the day of His coming. 

* Jamieson, Robert, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997. Note on Malachi 3:3

Careful Investigation

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

Luke 1:1-3

The gospel is worthy of careful investigation. Far too often it is skimmed over or given only a cursory explanation, but it is worthy of so much more time and attention. 

Luke knew that many had already undertaken to write an account of Jesus' life. He knew that there were eyewitnesses and servants of the word (including the apostles themselves) who could testify to what had happened. Luke could have decided that these were sufficient to tell the world what Jesus had done and accomplished. But He didn't.

Even with all those testimonies already out there, Luke felt that it was still worth his while to carefully investigate all that Christ had fulfilled and write it down in an "orderly account." No doubt this was ordained by God, but it also sets an example for us to follow. 

Far too many of us fail to give the gospel (or God's Word as a whole) the time and careful attention it deserves. Far too of us many barely read our Bibles, let alone study them. There are precious treasures waiting to be discovered in the pages of God's Word. Yes, these pages are well trodden. Many have gone before you and written sermons and Bible studies and commentaries. And you may very well come across passages you have read countless times before. But they are still worthy of your time! They are still worthy of careful investigation and ordered explanation. These are the words of life and we dare not skim over them. 

Blind, Lame and Diseased Sacrifices

When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty.

Malachi 1:8

There was a problem with Judah's worship. The law gave very specific instructions for not only what kinds of animals but also what quality of animals were to be offered up to the Lord. Only animals of the highest quality... without blemish or defect were to be sacrificed to God. But Judah had been offering blind, lame and diseased animals. They were supposed to be sacrificing their best and they had been sacrificing their worst animals to God... animals that even their Persian governor wouldn’t have accepted.

This kind of worship was unacceptable to the Lord. In fact, verse 10 tells us that God would rather they have locked the temple doors and not worshipped Him at all, than bring these offensive offerings to Him.

We don’t sacrifice animals to the Lord anymore. But we do bring offerings of our own: tithes and worship and service. Let’s look at each in turn?

First, tithes. Whatever amount you give, do you give sacrificially, generously and cheerfully? Or do you give begrudgingly... not out of gratitude or love but because you feel like you have to? That kind of giving shows contempt for God’s name. It isn’t about the amount, but about the sacrifice and the heart with which your gift is given. (Mark 12:41-44)

Next, what about your worship? Do you worship in such a way that exalts the Lord and brings glory to His name OR when you worship do you look bored, unengaged and unimpressed with the God you are singing about? When people see you worship, does it hurt or help God’s reputation?

Lastly, do you serve the Lord through church or parachurch ministries? When you serve, is your service well-prepared, focused on others and glorifying to God? Or is it lazy? Do you give minimal effort, show up late, and often even miss your commitments? Or perhaps its self-serving? You pretend to serve the Lord but in reality, your motive is to gain attention and feel important. 

Make sure that the offerings you bring to the Lord are worthy of His name. Make sure you bring your best, so that His name might be great among the nations (Malachi 1:11) and so He might be pleased to accept yoru offering. 

Oracle

The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi.

Malachi 1:1

Do you know what the word 'oracle' means? It refers to a load, a burden, an utterance, or a message. This ought to remind us that God’s Word delivered to us through the prophet's is a weighty thing. A burden had to be borne for God's Word to get to you. Don’t take it for granted!

And who bore this burden? It says that this particular word of the Lord was delivered to us through Malachi. Interestingly, in Hebrew Malachi means “my messenger.” So, some question whether this is the prophet’s name or if it’s simply a title. It could be God’s way of saying that this prophet’s name isn’t important. What’s important is that he is God's messenger. While most think Malachi was this prophet's proper name, this ought to remind us that the prophets were God’s messengers. Their message, their books, matter because their source is found not in the prophets themselves but in the Lord.

As 2 Peter 1:20–21 says,

"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

That’s why the Bible matters. That's why the Old Testament matters. And that’s why even the minor prophets at the back of the Old Testament like Malachi matter. Because God wanted us... wanted you... to have this message. And He sent His prophets to bear this burden to get this message to you. 

What will you do with the oracle that has been delivered to you? Will you take it for granted? Will you neglect it or ignore it? Or will you take it to heart, read it and apply it to your life? I want to encourage you to treat all of God's Word as inspired and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16) Read and treasure it... even the minor prophets.