In this section, Malachi
begins by pointing out to the Israelites that their words are burdensome to the
Lord. He specifies these words as deductions that the people were making
concerning God’s providence. They had looked around, observed that evil people
were prospering, and concluded that the Lord must approve of them and was not
interested in justice. It is not clear if the workers of evil refer to foreign
nations who were enjoying prosperity despite worshipping idols or if the term
describes people in Israel who openly flouted God’s law. In any case, the
people assumed that the reason for their own problems was not connected to
their own attitudes but to God’s failures.
Of course, a dangerous
situation is reached for a people when the Lord becomes weary of them. A
similar situation is described in Isaiah 43:23-24: ‘You have not brought me
your sheep for burnt offerings, or honoured me with your sacrifices. I have not
burdened you with offerings, or wearied you with frankincense. You have not
bought me sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your
sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins; you have wearied me with
your iniquities.’
Not everybody had this
attitude as can be seen in those mentioned in 3:16 who feared the Lord and thought
upon his name. These people were a cause
of joy to the Lord, unlike the people in general who were complaining wrongly
about the Lord’s dealing in providence. The second group failed to realise that
the reason they were not being blessed by God was connected to their
disobedience to his will which was expressed in their shallow worship, sinful
religious leaders, and sinful actions concerning their wives.
Nevertheless the Lord has a
word for them. He himself is going to come suddenly to his temple. His coming
will not be immediately but suddenly. The Lord assures them that he will come,
but he does not tell them when he will arrive. Yet he gives one sign: his
messenger will be sent to prepare the way before him.
The description of the messenger in verse 1 is
fulfilled in John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus. Mark links this verse
with verses from Isaiah 40 in order to describe John’s role (Mark 1:2-3).
Therefore John the Baptist was the sign that the Lord was about to come to his
temple. It is obvious from the Gospels that many people were wondering about
this possibility. What would it mean? We will see tomorrow what Malachi had to
say about it.
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