The Coming Messenger
Study note
In response to the people asking 'Where is the God of justice?' God promises to send a messenger to prepare the way. Then the Lord Himself will suddenly come to His temple. But His coming will not be comfortable -- He will be like a refiner's fire, purifying the priests and judging sinners. This prophecy was later fulfilled through John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus.
1 "Watch closely! I am sending my messenger ahead of me to prepare the way. Then suddenly the Lord you are looking for will show up at his temple. The messenger of the covenant you have been longing for — he is already on his way," says the LORD of Armies. Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
2 But who will be able to handle the day he arrives? Who can remain standing when he shows up? He will be like a metalworker's hottest fire and like the strongest bleach used to scrub fabric clean. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
3 He will sit down like a craftsman who purifies precious metals. He will purify the priests — the sons of Levi — refining them like gold and silver until they bring proper offerings to the LORD. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
4 Then the gifts from Judah and Jerusalem will please the LORD again. They will be like they were in the old days, long ago. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, says the LORD of hosts. And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
A Call to Return
Study note
God reminds the people that He does not change. His faithful nature is the only reason Israel has survived. He calls them to come back to Him and promises that He will come back to them. But the people stubbornly ask, 'How are we supposed to return?'
6 "For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed." For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
7 "From your ancestors' time right up to now, you have wandered away from my rules and ignored them. Come back to me, and I will come back to you," says the LORD of Armies. But you ask, "What do you mean, come back? How should we return?" Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
Robbing God
Study note
This is one of the most famous passages in the Old Testament. God accuses the whole nation of robbing Him by withholding their tithes and offerings. He challenges them to test Him -- bring the full tithe into the storehouse, and He will open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings they cannot contain. He also promises to protect their crops from destruction.
8 "Is it possible for a human being to rob God? Yet that is exactly what you are doing — robbing me!" But you say, "How are we robbing you?" "By holding back your tithes and offerings." Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 "A curse hangs over your entire nation, because every one of you is robbing me." Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and prove me now with this," says the Lord of hosts, "if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 "I will keep insects and disease from destroying your crops. Your grapevines will not lose their fruit before it ripens," says the LORD of Armies. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
12 "Then every nation will call you blessed, because your land will be truly wonderful," says the LORD of Armies. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
Those Who Fear the LORD
Study note
Some people complained that serving God was pointless. They saw wicked people getting ahead and wondered why they should bother being faithful. But those who truly respected the LORD spoke with each other, and God heard them. He wrote their names in a special book of remembrance and called them His treasured people. One day, the difference between the righteous and the wicked will be perfectly clear.
13 "You have spoken harsh words against me," the LORD says. Yet you respond, "What did we say?" Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?
14 "You said, 'Serving God is a waste of time. What did we get out of following his commands and walking around looking sorry for ourselves?'" Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?
15 "Now it seems like the arrogant are the lucky ones. People who do evil keep getting ahead. People who test God never face any consequences." And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
16 Then the people who truly respected the LORD gathered together and talked with one another. And the LORD listened closely and heard every word. A special book was written in his presence — a book recording the names of everyone who honored the LORD and valued his name. Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
17 "They will belong to me," says the LORD of Armies. "On the day I take action, they will be my treasured possession. I will treat them gently, the same way a father is gentle with a child who serves him faithfully." And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
18 Then once again you will clearly see who does right and who does wrong. You will see the difference between those who serve God and those who do not. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.