Malachi Sermon - 6

Lars Janssen

Malachi Series • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

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Malachi: A Refining Fire

Malachi 2:17-3:5

1. Introduction – This is the 4th disputation in the book of Malachi.

a. Remember this book is written with this repeating structure of Statement-question-answering.

i. We’ve seen 3 already, today the 4th.

1. Malachi is written like a courtroom drama, with statements, objections, rebuttals, and evidence given.

a. In today’s passage the people raise 2 separate objections.

b. I understand the passage in this way. This is not a hard and true fact; it is simply the way I understand it when I read it.

i. First, let’s acknowledge that this is a terrible chapter division. 2:17 obviously belongs with 3:1-5.

1. It has nothing to do with the previous section on the culture of the time, and has everything to do with the subject matter of 3:1-5. Why the chapter break was put in here, I have no idea.

ii. But 2:17 is an important verse because it introduces us to the subject matter on hand.

1. The passage answers 2 questions. “How have we wearied the Lord? This is the first question posed, but it’s actually the last one that’s answered.

a. It is posed in the first part of v.17, but its not answered until 3:5.

2. The second question and its answer take up the bulk of the passage.

a. “Where is the God of justice?” The question is posed in v.17, and the answer is given in 3:1-3a.

i. And what we have in 3b-4 is the result of the process that is spoken about in the previous verses.

1. Put it all together it looks like this.

c. This morning we are going to be focusing on the 2 questions posed. We’ll look at the historical context of the people of Malachi’s day.

i. We’ll see how it is they wearied the Lord. We’ll see that they should really be careful when asking about justice.

1. And as always, we’ll see how this passage applies to us today in 2019.

2. Wearied – The section starts off with a statement from God through Malachi – You have wearied the Lord.

a. But again, instead of admitting fault and repenting of this – they object.

i. How? This objection, along with the God’s response gives us another glimpse at the relationship between God and his people at this point in history.

1. How have they wearied the Lord? By calling evil good and good evil. They even come to the false conclusion that God delights in evildoers.

b. Let’s understand this – grasp the enormity of this statement…this is an assault on God’s very nature.

i. God does not delight in evil doers.

1. The people of Judah in Malachi’s day looked at the world around them, they saw the prosperity of other nations…nations that didn’t follow YHWH…

a. They saw their lack of prosperity – and wrongly concluded that God – YHWH – delights more in evil than he does in those who do good.

c. Now, let’s be clear about this – God doesn’t not delight in evil – he delights in the truth.

i. He delights in seeing his Law kept. He delights in seeing mercy extended and knowledge grown.

1. He delights in seeing acts of justice, acts of gracious love and acts of humility.

a. Saying that God delights in evil is an assault on who God is – gracious and merciful.

d. The people of Malachi’s day weren’t seeing supernatural acts being performed – the excitement of the new city walls and new temple had waned…

i. They weren’t seeing their territory expanded, they were small and insignificant…

1. And their conclusion was this – If God isn’t acting in our favour, why should we act in his?

e. But here’s the underlying issue here. This passage – when we combine it with others like it that I’ll mention in a bit – it shows us that there is a right way and a wrong way to question God.

i. Think of Asaph in Ps.73 – his world was thrown upside down. He too saw the wicked prosper…he saw the ease of their lives, and he saw the suffering experienced by the righteous.

1. Or think of Job…of even Jesus who cried out from the cross, My God, why have you forsaken me?

a. But what’s the difference between those passages, and this one from Malachi?

ii. The difference is this – when lamentations or questions arise from a deep longing for God – from a need to have communion with him, to understand his way with the life of his people – then God welcomes those lamentations.

1. With Job, or Asaph, of Jesus – the struggle is with God for God’s sake – it’s a spiritual movement toward God. Not a complaint or denial of who God is.

f. But Malachi 2:17 – the people clearly aren’t in the same spiritual headspace as Job or Asaph…or Jesus.

i. It wasn’t spiritual motives that caused this objection…it was cynicism, sarcasm, and a desire to see people get what they deserve.

1. Their objection wasn’t borne out of a desire to have a more intimate communion with God – they were actually doubting whether or not God actually existed and if it was worth it to follow him

g. But the answer to this objection is clearly statement in 3:5. Does God delight in evildoers? Is evil good and good evil? Absolutely not!

i. Look at the 7 sins that are listed in in 3:5 – this list of sins represents breaking the entirety of God’s covenant with his people.

1. God says he will be witness, judge, jury and executioner of those who do evil in his sight.

a. He doesn’t not delight in them, but will judge them according to these deeds.

3. Justice – And the second question is related to the first – “Where is the God of justice”

a. What the people want isn’t really divine justice, they want petty human justice – a happy ending where the good guys ride off into the sunset and the bad guys get theirs.

i. But God’s answer to their question is almost a ‘Careful what you wish for’ response.

1. God says, “My judgment will also be a time of refinement.’

b. Where is the God of justice, they ask – and God says, “I’m right here!” and then he sites to examples of his closeness.

i. He says, “I sent my messenger.” Now, this could be a play on words because the name “Malachi” literally means “God’s messenger.”

1. The people question – where’s God – and God points to the fact that he’s sent a prophet to his people as evidence of his closeness.

a. But as is so often the case, there’s a short-term answer and a long-term fulfillment.

i. Because we know, living this side of Jesus’ incarnation that God also sent a forerunner to Jesus’ earthly ministry.

ii. The ultimate example of God’s closeness to his people – one that will be prophesied about later in the book – his God sending his only begotten Son into the world…but before Jesus took centre stage…

1. God raised up John the Baptist as a forerunner, as an ancient times Paul Revere, to clear the way and prepare the people of Jesus’ ministry.

c. But the answer to their question, “Where is the God of justice?” has a much deeper answer.

i. And this is where it turns into a ‘careful what you wish for’ answer.

1. Israel was wanting God to come near and judge all those bad people over there…give them what they deserve.

a. What they weren’t paying attention to was all the ways THEY were breaking THEIR OWN covenant with God. Will God let that go unpunished?

ii. So, God says, When I come, not only will I come in judgment, but it will also be a time of refinement for my people.

d. God says there will be refinement through fire. Like the process of melting down metal to a liquid form in order for the impurities to be separated from the precious metal.

i. When precious metals like silver or gold are metal down to its liquid form, the impurities rise to the top and are skimmed off by the refiner.

1. The worthless impurities are separated from the precious metal in order to have a purer version of that same metal.

e. God also says there will be trail by water – God’s coming will be like laundry day.

i. His coming is described as the day when stubborn dirt and stains are removed from clothing.

1. But what’s so painful about a little soap? Just ask the dirt!

a. The dirt is dislodged from the garment and washed down the drain.

ii. The fire and water both do their purifying work by separating the valuable from the worthless and discarding the worthless.

f. So, the inevitable question is raised – who can stand? When the trial by fire and water stand, will anyone survive?

i. The surprising answer is “YES!”

1. This past spring, I witnessed firsthand the destructive nature of fire. My parents live down the road from the Grand River in Brantford, and a couple springs ago, it burst its banks…the power of flowing water is still evident as the city is still cleaning up walking paths along the river banks.

a. That’s destructive.

g. But notice this is a refinement, not destruction. The result of the refining process will not be an empty crucible devoid of metal after all the impurities have been skimmed off.

i. The result of the washing process will not be an empty tub after all the dirt has been rinsed out.

1. The passage says there will be a purified remnant ready to serve God in righteousness.

a. We looked at this when we studied Revelation – who can stand when the Lord comes in judgment – those who have been washed by the blood of the Lamb.

i. Those who walk in the way of the Lamb, those who have the name of the Lamb written on their lives…those who overcome.

ii. And we can add to that – those who are refined by God’s fire…washed with his soap.

h. But take not of where this refinement begins.

i. God will purify…who? The sons of Levi. The temple workers, the priests…the pastors of Malachi’s day.

1. The revival and reformation in Judah and Jerusalem will happen when the priests get their act together.

a. When the priests are refined and revived…when the Levites start worshipping God properly…

i. Then and only then will that refinement, reformation and revival happen across the rest of the land.

4. Application – So, how does this apply to us today? Honestly, a number of different ways. We’ll look at 2.

a. I want to draw your attention to 3:3. If we want to get the full scope of this passage – we need to understand this…God both sends the refining fire…but he is also the refiner.

i. But what does it mean for God to sit as a refiner? Well let me example the refining process to the best of my ability.

1. The refiner of metal, gold, silver, whatever…would heat said metal in a crucible or pot until it became a liquid.

a. It’s at this point that the precious metal and all the worthless impurities begin to separate.

i. The refiner would skim the impurities off the top of the metal until all the impurities were gone.

ii. But how would he know when he’s done? When he’s accomplished the task? When he’s fully refined the metal?

1. Well, in the refining process there comes a dramatic moment when the refiner looks into his crucible…

a. And he knows all the impurities have been removed when he looks in and suddenly the melted metal becomes a liquid mirror – in which the image of the refiner is perfectly reflected.

i. Then he knows the task is done.

b. So, let’s think about it…who’s the refiner? God. Who’s being refined? We are.

i. And when will the process stop? Well, honestly, never – we will only perfectly reflect the image of God in eternity, but between now and then, through God’s refining process God’s people are being transformed, refined, into the image of Jesus.

1. This idea of a refining fire can really help us when trial comes our way.

ii. The people of Malachi’s day were being refined and most of them didn’t pass the refinement phrase.

1. They questioned God -doubted his very existence.

c. And when trials come our way, we can react that way – or we can see them as a refinement process – burning away the worthless impurities in our lives so we can better reflect the image of the refiner.

i. I had a lot of impurities that needed to be burned up – I still do.

1. And when trials and hardships come my way – I try to keep this perspective in front of me.

a. What is God trying to wash way? What worthless impurities need to be separated from me?

i. How am I being refined through this process? What can I learn?

1. I would encourage you to adopt this same perspective.

ii. God’s fire is not a destroying fire – not yet anyway. As much as it feels like it is a destroying fire sometimes – it’s a refinement, a washing away of sinful impurities.

1. God’s trial by fire and water shows his concern for the holiness of his people.

a. The refining and the trials we go through his for our own holiness, so that we can better reflect the image of the Refiner.

d. How else does this passage apply to us today? I want to draw your attention to where this refining process is started.

i. Our text says that it started with the Levites, the priests…and the text implies that it moved out to the rest of the people from there.

1. So, what does this mean? Pastors need to get their act together, allow God to refine them so reform and revival can happen?

a. Get your act together Michael??? Is that what this passage is implying?

ii. Not exactly! Yes, I need to get my act together. I desperately need God to refine me, I have so impurities that need to be burned away…but so do you!

1. Remember, a couple weeks ago we established the fact that all of us who are God’s children, are also priests in God’s kingdom.

a. We believe in the priesthood of all believers.

i. So, what does this mean?

iii. It means reform in the church and revival in the land starts right here.

1. When we are refined, when the impurities in our lives are separated out and discarded…then others will take note.

e. It’s when God’s people are refined, when God’s people are washed clean of impurities…when God’s people are reformed,

i. When God’s people offer true and right worship, when WE better reflect the image the Refiner…that is when reform spreads in the land.

1. When we are clearly reflecting the image of God, when we are shining his light…when God is slowly burning off the impurities in our lives…

a. Then others will see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.