Malaquias 3
Charles Spurgeon · Citado em PreceptAustin
Malaquias 3
Spurgeon comments - When the Jew offered sacrifice righteously, that is, in a spiritual manner, he thereby set forth the Redeemer, the great sin-atoning Lamb; there is, therefore, the full gospel in this exhortation of the Psalmist. O sinners, flee ye to the sacrifice of Calvary, and there put your whole confidence and trust, for he who died for men is the LORD JEHOVAH. ILLUSTRATION: Why is silver mentioned in the refining process? The process of refining silver is more delicate and anxious than the process of refining Gold. “When the silver becomes molten it gives off some twenty times its own volume of oxygen with a noticeable hissing and bubbling. This phenomenon is known as ‘spitting’. But the task is not yet finished. Unless the molten silver is treated with carbon (charcoal was used by the ancients), the silver re-absorbs oxygen from the air and loses its sheen and purity.” The refiner knows that his metal is pure when he can see his own reflection in the mirror-like surface of the metal. In the same way, God will know that His work has been completed when He sees reflected in the Christian soul HIS own image. Warren Wiersbe aptly describes the process of divine testing writing that "When God puts His own people into the furnace, He keeps His eye on the clock and His hand on the thermostat. He knows how long and how much. (If we rebel, He may have to reset the clock; but if we submit, He will not permit us to suffer one minute too long. The important thing is that we learn the lesson He wants to teach us and that we bring glory to Him alone.) We may question why He does it to begin with, or why He doesn’t turn down the heat or even turn it off; but our questions are only evidences of unbelief. (Job 23:10-note) is the answer: “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come come forth as gold” (NKJV). Gold does not fear the fire. The furnace can only make the gold purer and brighter." (Wiersbe, W. Be Patient. An Old Testament study. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books) Alan Robinson - There is a dramatic moment when [the refiner] knows that all dross has gone from [the silver]. Peering over it, the silver suddenly becomes a liquid mirror in which the image of the refiner is reflected. Then he knows that his task is done. The Uses of Affliction "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"—Mal. 3:3 When Mr. Cecil went to college, he had much to bear, both from severe conflicts in his own mind, and also from insulting treatment at the hands of his profligate and ungodly companions. Not yet accustomed to the yoke, these things troubled him more than they would have done afterwards, and he went to walk one day, under their influence, very heavy and sad in heart. The Physic Gardens was the scene which he chose for meditation and relief; and here he observed a very fine pomegranate tree, cut almost through the stem, near the root. Struck with this singular sight, he asked the gardener for an explanation. "Sir," said the man, "this tree used to shoot so strong, that it bore nothing but leaves. I was therefore obliged to cut it in this manner; and when it was almost cut through, then it began to bear plenty of fruit." The answer produced a deep impression upon Mr. Cecil's mind, and he went back to his rooms comforted and instructed. It was then he received his first lesson in the usefulness of trial. Malachi 3:4 "Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.: the offering: Isa 1:26,27 56:7 Jer 30:18-20 31:23,24 Eze 20:40,41 43:26,27 Zec 8:3 14:20,21 as: 1Ch 15:26, 16:1-3, 21:26 29:20-22 2Ch 1:6 7:1-3,10-12 2Ch 8:12-14 29:31-36 30:21-27 31:20,21 Jer 2:2,3 Malachi 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries GOD'S DESIRE RIGHTEOUS WORSHIP Then - This expression of time is easy to overlook but should always be observed and interrogated, for in many passages it helps clarify the sequence of events, especially in eschatological (prophetic, future events) passages! Don't go over "then" too quickly. Always pause and ponder "What time is it?" (so to speak). Judah and Jerusalem - This would expand "sons of Levi" to non-Levitical Jews and presumably speaks of the refining of the entire nation as occurs when the Lord returns - Ro 11:25-27+. For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery–so that you will not be wise in your own estimation–that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.” 2 7“THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.” Parallel passages Zechariah 12:10-14+, “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. 11“In that day there will be great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 12“The land will mourn, every family by itself; the family of the house of David by itself and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself and their wives by themselves; 13the family of the house of Levi by itself and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by itself and their wives by themselves; 14all the families that remain, every family by itself and their wives by themselves. Zechariah 13:1+ “In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity. Zechariah 13:8-9+ “It will come about in all the land,” Declares the LORD, “That two parts in it will be cut off and perish; But the third will be left in it. 9 “And I will bring the third part through the fire, Refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ And they will say, ‘The LORD is my God (THIS IS THE LANGUAGE OF THE NEW COVENANT!).’” And once they are "refined" they will offer righteous offerings! Offering… pleasing-Righteous offerings from righteous offerers, offerings from a people now rightly related to Jehovah-Jesus by grace through faith in His Gospel. T V Moore - The prayer that rises from the broken and contrite heart is often the sweetest offering to God. The incense must be put on the burning coals before its fragrant smoke will ascend; the sandal wood must be crushed and bruised before it will give out its sweetest odor Will be pleasing (06149)(arab) describes that which is sweet (agreeable), pleasant (having the quality of tending to give a sense of gratification or joy) or satisfying (supplying to the full extent of one's desire). The idea is that which is something is acceptable (received with pleasure) or desired by someone. Things described as pleasing - meditation (Ps 104:34), sleep (Pr 3:24, Jer 31:26), a desire realized (Pr 13:19), sacrifices (Jer 6:20, Hos 9:4, Mal 3:4). Arab - 8 verses - Usage: pleasant(1), please(1), pleasing(3), sweet(2), took pleasure(1). Psalm 104:34 Let my meditation be pleasing (Lxx = eduno = to please, gladden, be sweet) to Him; As for me, I shall be glad in the LORD. Proverbs 3:24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. (Lxx = edeos = with pleasure, pleasant). Proverbs 13:19 Desire realized is sweet (Lxx = eduno = to please, gladden, be sweet) to the soul, But it is an abomination to fools to turn away from evil. Jeremiah 6:20 "For what purpose does frankincense come to Me from Sheba And the sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable And your sacrifices are not pleasing (Lxx = eduno = to please, gladden, be sweet) to Me." Jeremiah 31:26 At this I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant (Lxx = edeos = with pleasure, pleasant) to me. Ezekiel 16:37 therefore, behold, I will gather all your lovers with whom you took pleasure, even all those whom you loved and all those whom you hated. So I will gather them against you from every direction and expose your nakedness to them that they may see all your nakedness. Hosea 9:4 They will not pour out drink offerings of wine to the LORD, Their sacrifices will not please (Lxx = eduno = to please, gladden, be sweet) Him. Their bread will be like mourners' bread; All who eat of it will be defiled, For their bread will be for themselves alone; It will not enter the house of the LORD. Malachi 3:4 "Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing (Lxx = aresko) to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years. Be pleasing to the LORD - Notice that this is future tense and is therefore a prophecy of a time when Levites (and all Israel) would be enabled to offer pleasing sacrifices to the Lord. This should be the goal of all our offerings! His glory, and amazingly our gain! Yet never offered with a desire to merit His favor. This passage reminds us of the charge to believers… I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable (euarestos = well pleasing) to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And (this connects the following closely with our "pleasing sacrifice" to God) do not be conformed (present imperative with a negative) to this world, but be transformed (command is present imperative = calls for this to be our Spirit enabled lifestyle) by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Ro 12:1-note, Ro 12:2-note) David adds "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. 18 By Your favor do good to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, In burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then young bulls will be offered on Your altar." (Psalm 51:17-19-note) As in the days of old and as in former years - Offerings had been pleasing when the offerer was righteous (like Abraham - by faith - Ge 15:6) and presented his heart and then his offering (cf 2Cor 8:1-4, 5 "they first gave themselves" - the key to any offering that is pleasing to the Lord). Wholehearted (Spirit enabled) obedience is the quality which God desires in sacrifices. He makes the point many times in the Old Testament, notably, in 1 Samuel 15:22; Isaiah 1:11-14; and Amos 5:21-22. D. Greg Ebie: The people in Malachi’s day did not see their need for God. With prideful hearts they would bring their offerings to God fulfilling their religious duty, but they didn’t want God to change them. Instead they wrongly accused God of not loving them of not being fair or just… Offerings don’t make the worshiper acceptable to God; the worshiper makes the offering acceptable through humility and brokenness. We need the power of God to transform our lives! God has achieved His purpose when we reflect His image. The beauty of Jesus is seen in all we do and say. Occasionally reflecting the image of Jesus is not enough; God wants to purify our lives so we reflect Him in everything. Malachi 3:5 "Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien and do not fear Me," says the LORD of hosts.: I will draw near: Mal 2:17 Ps 50:3-6 96:13 98:9 Eze 34:20-22 Heb 10:30,31 Jas 5:8,9 Jude 1:14,15 swift: Mal 2:14 Ps 50:7 81:8 Jer 29:23 Mic 1:2 Mt 23:14-35 the sorcerers: Lev 20:6,10,27 Dt 5:11,17-21 Jer 7:9,10 Eze 22:6-12 Zec 5:3,4 1Co 6:9,10 Gal 5:19-21 Heb 13:4 Rev 21:8 22:15 against those: Ex 22:21-24 Lev 19:13 Dt 24:14,15,17 27:19 Pr 22:22,23 23:10,11 Jer 22:13-17 Jas 5:4,12) oppress: 1Th 4:6 fear: Ge 20:11 42:18 Ex 1:17 18:21 Ne 5:15 Ps 36:1 Pr 8:13 16:6 Lk 23:40 Ro 3:8 Malachi 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DIVINE JUDGMENT IS SWIFT AND SURE Malachi turns from the previous description of the blessing of future purification to the certainty of the dispensation of His justice (cf Mal 2:17) Messiah's return for some will bring refinement and righteousness, but for others retribution and recompense (punishment). This will culminate at the end of this present age in the time of the Great Tribulation (Begins - Mt 24:15+, named Mt 24:21+) which Jeremiah describes as follows "‘Alas! for that day is great, There is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s distress, But he will be saved from it (1/3 of Israel will be saved according to Zech 13:8-9+)." (Jeremiah 30:7+). Then - Always take note of (prayerfully pause to ponder the passage) expressions of time (See expressions of time), for example asking questions such as "To what time does this refer?" As you develop this discipline of questioning (interrogating) the Biblical text, you will find yourself growing in your ability to understand and interpret the Scriptures (on your own, without consulting commentaries first), as you learn to let the text answer your questions (of course, in prayerful, humble submission to and under the tutelage of your Teacher the Holy Spirit, cp 1Cor 2:12-16, 1Jn 2:20, 27). In this case God says the "then" is when He will draw near to them (Israel) for judgment. which takes us back to the description of God as like a refiner's fire and like fuller's soap in Malachi 3:2. In short, the then refers to the Second Coming of Israel's Messiah. I will draw near to you for judgment - Who is speaking? Messiah is still speaking. Recall that in Malachi 2:17 they had asked "Where is the God of justice?" and here He answers clearly. Be careful what you ask God for! Note that to in contrast to those who will be enabled to make righteous offerings at the Second Coming, here His coming brings only His righteous wrath against sin. While we may not always see the dispensation of God's justice, we can be assured it will be meted out in full, perfect measure (cp Ro 12:17-19-note)! As someone once said… The Mill of God’s Justice Grinds Slowly, But Exceedingly Fine! When will Messiah draw near? In context refers to Second Coming of Christ (see comments above on Malachi 3:1-2) I will be a swift witness against - The Righteous Judge Himself also serves as the perfect Witness, an all seeing One (Pr 15:3, cf His witness in Mal 2:14-note) listing seven representative sins. Malachi's description is reminiscent of Paul's charge to Timothy to encourage him to always strive to "Preach the Word" (2Ti 4:2-note)… I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing (Which will be "swift"!) and His kingdom (2Ti 4:1-note) (1) The sorcerers - The Hebrew word kashaph is translated in the Lxx with the noun pharmakos (Ex 7:11; 9:11; 22:17; Dt 18:10; Mal 3:5; Da 2:2, 27; 5:7-8; Rev 21:8-note; Rev 22:15-note, see study of cognate - pharmakeia). Pharmakos is "one who prepares and uses drugs for magical purposes or ritual witchcraft sorcerer, poisoner, magician." (Friberg) This word pharmakos (which gives us our word pharmacology) shows a clear link between drugs (including so-called "recreational drugs" which are epidemic in the United States and are ravaging countless individual lives and entire families!) and the spirit world. As a physician, I have no doubt that the use of recreational drugs opens the door for the user to encounter the demonic world (not saying all users become "possessed" but that illegal drug use is especially dangerous because it provides an entree for the forces of darkness). Tony
Malaquias 3
Spurgeon - Faith's Checkbook - Condition of Blessing “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me nowhere with, 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.”—Malachi 3:10 MANY read and plead this promise without noticing the condition upon which the blessing is promised. We cannot expect heaven to be opened or blessing poured out unless we pay our dues unto the Lord our God and to His cause. There would be no lack of funds for holy purposes if all professing Christians paid their fair share. Many are poor because they rob God. Many churches also miss the visitations of the Spirit because they starve their ministers. If there is no temporal meat for God’s servants, we need not wonder if their ministry has but little food in it for our souls. When missions pine for means, and the work of the Lord is hindered by an empty treasury, how can we look for a large amount of soul prosperity? Come, come! What have I given of late? Have I been mean to my God? Have I stinted my Savior? This will never do. Let me give my Lord Jesus His tithe by helping the poor and aiding His work, and then I shall prove His power to bless me on a large scale. Malachi 3:10 Robert
Malaquias 3
Spurgeon - Faith's Checkbook - Exceedingly Precious “They shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels.”—Malachi 3:17 A Day is coming in which the crown jewels of our great King shall be counted, that it may be seen whether they answer to the inventory which His Father gave Him. My soul, wilt thou be among the precious things of Jesus? Thou art precious to Him if He is precious to thee, and thou shalt be His “in that day,” if He is thine in this day. In the days of Malachi, the chosen of the Lord were accustomed so to converse with each other that their God Himself listened to their talk. He liked it so well that He took notes of it; yes, and made a book of it, which he lodged in His record office. Pleased with their conversation, He was also pleased with them. Pause, my soul, and ask thyself: If Jesus were to listen to thy talk would He be pleased with it? Is it to His glory and to the edification of the brotherhood? Say, my soul, and be sure thou sayest the truth. But what will the honor be for us poor creatures to be reckoned by the Lord to be His crown jewels! This honor have all the saints. Jesus not only says, “They are mine,” but, “They shall be mine.” He bought us, sought us, brought us in, and has so far wrought us to His image, that we shall be fought for by Him with all His might. The Messenger of the Covenant By Henry Mahan The preceding chapter (Malachi 2) is filled with rebuke and judgment against both the priests and the people for their sins. The priests were apostates from the way of the Lord and caused the people to stumble (Mal. 2:8-9). The chapter closes with these words, 'You have wearied the Lord with your wicked words, it saying that the Lord takes delight in your evil ways and that there is no judgment and righteousness in God. You ask, 'Where is the God of judgment?' Chapter Three begins with the answer of our Lord to this question. Malachi 3:1. 'Behold I will send my messenger.' This is John the Baptist, called the last of the Old Testament prophets, who was sent to 'prepare the way before him' (Isa. 40:3; John 1:6-9). The allusion is to kings and great men sending ambassadors before them to give notice of their coming. John said, 'I am not the Christ! I am not that prophet! I am not Elijah! I am the voice crying in the wilderness--behold the Lamb!' All of the prophets have written and preached of the Messiah's coming (Acts 10:43). Now the last of their number declares that the Messiah has been born of woman and is in the midst of them (John 1:29- 34). 'And the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple.' The Lord Jehovah is speaking of himself, the Son of God, the promised Messiah and Christ, the Lord and head of the church, the Redeemer of true Israel (John 4:25; Matt. 2:2-6). Some were seeking him as a temporal deliverer, to free them from national bondage and to restore the earthly glory to Israel; but some, like Simeon, believed the word and waited for 'thy salvation' (Luke 2:25-32). When the Lord speaks of coming to his temple, he is actually talking about coming to the material temple in Jerusalem (the second temple--Haggai 2:1-9). The temple was built to be HIS, devoted to his worship, to reveal his glory and his mercy to sinners through the sacrifices and the mercy-seat. He came to that temple on several occasions (Luke 2:22-27; Mark 11:15-17). 'He was in the world and the world knew him not,' and 'He came unto his own (temple, priesthood, nation) and his own received him not' (John 1:10-11). 'Even the messenger of the covenant.' This is the covenant of grace, the everlasting covenant of which our Lord Jesus is not only the surety and mediator, but called here the messenger. He is called the messenger of that everlasting covenant of grace (Heb. 13:20-21; 7:22; 8:6) because it is revealed, made known, and manifested in and through him (John 1:14; 1 John 5:20; Eph. 1:8-10). As our king he reigns, as our priest he perfects us, and as our prophet he reveals the mysteries of God's covenant. 'In whom ye delight; behold he shall come.' All believers delight in him. 'Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory' (1 Pet. 1:8); and all believers delight in his covenant. David's last words on earth were words of joy and confidence in the Lord's covenant of grace (2 Sam. 23:1-5). We rejoice in the messenger of the covenant and in the covenant--its antiquity (2 Thess. 2:13), its sureness (Rom. 4:16), its immutability (Rom. 11:29), its fullness (Col. 2.19-10), its beloved messenger, surety, and advocate (1 John 2:1; 1 Tim. 2:5). Malachi 3:2. 'Who shall abide the day of his coming?' Who shall stand when he appears? Who shall listen when he speaks? 'Who hath believed our report?' Is this not only Isaiah's question but the question of every prophet? When he says, 'I and my Father are one,' who shall abide? When he declares, 'My kingdom is not of this world,' my kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, a kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy, who shall abide? When he says, 'All that my Father giveth to me shall come to me,' and 'No man can come to me except my Father draw him,' who shall abide? When he preaches the gospel of the cross, the tomb, and the glorious resurrection as our substitute and saviour, who shall hear? When he talks of the new birth, eating his flesh and drinking his blood, of persecution and division caused by him, who shall abide? 'He is like a refiner's fire and like a fuller's soap.' His word is called a fire (Jer. 23:29). When it comes in power, it separates the gold from the dross, truth from error, genuine faith from false faith, and will try the works and preaching of men (1 Cor. 3:13- 15). These women would boil the garments in hot water. Then they were rubbed with fuller's soap, which whitened them and took out the spots. We are sanctified by his word of truth. Malachi 3:3. 'And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.' One can see the old refiner of precious metal. He made the fire; he knows how hot it should be; he knows when to put the metal into the fire, how long to leave it, and when to take it out. All the time he sits (unalarmed and untroubled) and waits for the purifying process to do its work. Our Lord Jesus Christ has come to this earth and finished the work given to him. He is exalted at God's right hand, seated until his church is called out and his enemies are made his footstool. This verse denotes his constant care over his church from the cradle to the grave. His eye is upon them in all their ways. He will purify these 'sons of Levi,' for they are all priests; and he will purge them that they may believe him, worship him, and offer sacrifices of faith, love, praise, and thanksgiving in righteousness; that is, in the righteousness of Christ (Jer. 23:5-6; 33:16). He began the work of purifying and purging, and he shall finish it (Phil. 1:6). Malachi 3:4. All spiritual worship, faith, praise, and offerings are acceptable to God through the Lord Jesus Christ if such are offered in the faith of his righteousness imputed and his atoning sacrifice. Without Christ, nothing we do or say is acceptable to God (Rom. 8:8; Heb. 11:6). Malachi 3:5-6. The Lord declares that he will be a swift witness against all ungodly men and women and 'their foot shall slide in due time' (Deut. 32:35). But as he is unchangeable in his judgments against sin, he is unchangeable in his love and mercy to his people! Our confidence and assurance is based not upon our faithfulness but upon his! We are often called 'the sons of Jacob' because, as Jacob was loved, chosen, called, and blessed by the sovereign grace of God, so are we! 'All that I am, even here on earth, All that I hope to be, When Jesus comes and glory dawns, I owe it, Lord, to thee.' (H. Bonar)