malachi: 2:17-3:6

17. You have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet you say, "How have we wearied Him?" In that you say, "Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delights in them," or, "Where is the God of justice?"
1. "Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming," says the LORD of hosts.
2. "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap.
3. "He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness.
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.
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.
6. "For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.

likely hyperbole on the, "he delights in them" piece
"where is the god of justice" means one of two things:

- either they mean it in frustration that god hasn't yet judged sin on the earth.
- or they mean it as license that god will let them get away with their own sin.

frankly, god's response covers both potential objections. i kind of lean towards the second since the response is so specific to god's people...

variations:

1. god doesn't judge sin *today*
2. god doesn't judge sin unless it's big
3. god doesn't judge sin among his people

1. god doesn't judge sin *today*

the sneaking belief that god used to act against sin, but in our modern day and age does not.
these days, god doesn't intervene. everyone sins now.

2. god doesn't judge sin unless it's big

god doesn't bother with petty sin - god might act against child sacrifice or something though ("don't violate a grave", etc)

3. god doesn't judge sin among his people

christians are forgiven! god doesn't judge our sin!
"for there is no condemnation" means that my sin is unimportant.

god will purify his people - judgement is the process.

v1-5 1. "Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming," says the LORD of hosts.
2. "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap.
3. "He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness.
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.
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.
to the question of whether god will judge sin...he responds yes. god has plans to return (v1)

v.1 "i'm going to send my messenger, and he will clear the way before me."

"the lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple"

"the messenger of the covenant...behold, he is coming"

most folks say this is either the messenger or the lord, i.e. one of the two characters already mentioned

is this christ's first or second visit?

- both.
stuff in the first:

- this is quoted by the new testament a bunch...see mal 11:10 at which jesus quotes it about john the baptist.
- many believers also believe that elijah will literally return as well (see mal 4:5) as one of the two prophets in rev 11.

note that this is a consistent response for god - "don't worry, i'll get there"

- habakkuk, major prophets, romans 12 (vengeance is mine), revelation, etc

when he returns, he will judge the wicked

in the bible, the presence of god is a terrifying thing.
god's holiness means that sin is judged and sinners are consumed.

when he returns, he will purge his people (v2-4)

- god's coming will bring holiness like:

a refiners fire
fullers soap
a smelter of silver

for those not covered by christ's blood, this means death. (v5)

v5 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.
this seems to be a separate group from god's people who he has purified

god is holy regardless of words/thoughts

- god is holy regardless of perception

those with doubts about his judgement/questions/

- beliefs/attitudes we need to have:

we must believe that god hates our personal sin.

next time you pout, get angry, or are self-centered ... remember that god is angry.
next time you want someone to understand you and help you justify your sin ... realize that god hates your sin.

god's holiness is to be applied against his people. see rev.

3:1-3 to sardis

1. "To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: `I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2. `Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 3. `So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.

3:15-20 to laodacia

15. `I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.
16. `So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
17. `Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
18. I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
19. `Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
20. `Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

(outline)

1:1-1:5 - how have you loved us?
1:6-2:9 - how have we despised your name?
2:10-2:16 - for what reason (are our offerings no longer accepted?) (actually stated in 2:14)
2:17-3:6 - how have we wearied him?
3:7 - how shall we return?
3:8-3:12 - how have we robbed thee?
3:13-3:18 - what have we spoken against him?
4:1-4:6 - (day of the lord)