Anticipate The King Series

Malachi 3:1-4 [3:1]"Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare 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 refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD. [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. (ESV)

As much as people love seeing Christmas movies and Norman Rockwell-esque nostalgia, if this year has taught us anything, it’s that the life that we have now never seems to live up to that ideal. For those who have lived long enough, they tend to say that life has always been hard, and those depictions were always just ideals. Yet, are those ideals then something to just amuse ourselves or ideals to be desired? A new study from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds that some traditions are changing, and for many, some of the true meaning of Christmas has been lost. In 1988, 27 per cent of Canadians said this season was primarily “a religious celebration”. Today, just one-in-ten (10%) say the same. (https://mailchi.mp/angusreid/in-canada-christmas-traditions-change-as-fewer-people-see-religion-as-the-reason-for-the-season?e=b3c1619622)

In Malachi 3, even though the people of God had returned to the Promised Land and the temple had been rebuilt, many were distressed at the apparent failure of the prophetic promises of restored prosperity, international prominence, and wealth (Haggai 2; Zech. 1:16ff.; 2:1–13; 8:1–9:17). Instead, Israel was experiencing only continued social and political oppression and economic hardship (Neh. 1:3; 9:36ff.; Mal. 3:10ff.). Still worse, it had been promised that God would return to Jerusalem and to His temple, which he would again inhabit with His own glorious presence (e.g., Zech. 1:16ff.; 2:4ff., 10–13; 8:3–8; 9:9–17). Haggai 2:9 promised that the rebuilt temple would be filled with an even greater measure of glory than Solomon’s. But far from enjoying such radiant glory, the temple of Malachi’s day was devoid of any visible manifestation of God. Yet it would not always be so, for Malachi promised, “the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple” (Mal. 3:1). Simeon witnessed at least a partial fulfillment of this prophecy when he encountered in the temple the infant Jesus, who had come “for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:32). The NT unfolds further fulfillment, for only the glory of God in the person of Jesus Christ would be this greater glory (Luke 2:29–32; John 1:14; 2 Cor. 4:6) (Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1777). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.).

For this time of 2020, there is little peace. Many are looking for a ruler, a king, who will bring peace to this current instability. People become distressed when restricted from seeing their friends and family, their job prospects, health challenges and general disruptions on daily life. Advent reminds us that an earthly king will not bring the peace that we currently desire. We are to “Anticipate the King”, looking to the heavenly king. Although the outward manifestations of peace may seem absent, when Christ the heavenly king rules our hearts, we can enjoy peace now.

Malachi in Malachi 3:1-4 calls us to “Anticipate the King”, in the promise of the coming of Christ through a series of predictions (i.e., announcements regarding the future). In verses 1-4 we can see: 1) The Reassurance of the Coming King (Malachi 3:1), 2) The Refining of the Coming King (Malachi 3:2-3) and finally 3) The Result of the Coming King (Malachi 3:4).

First, we experience the peace of God to “Anticipate the King”, in the promise of His Son through:

1) The Reassurance of the Coming King (Malachi 3:1)

Malachi 3:1 [3:1]"Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare 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. (ESV)

The beginning of verse one is a call of attention, with the word: Behold, literally ‘Behold me’. God is saying:' Here I am, about to send my messenger’. God’s promise to send his messenger calls attention to the name Malachi, which in Hebrew means “my messenger.” He probably lived at the same time as Ezra and Nehemiah, around 450 B.C. (Crossway. (2017). ESV Systematic Theology Study Bible: Notes (p. 1143). Wheaton, IL: Crossway.)

While Malachi serves as God’s spokesman to communicate his will to his people, he is also pointing toward another messenger who will prepare the way before the Lord. It was a custom of the Near Eastern kings to send messengers before them to remove obstacles to their visit. Employing a wordplay on the name of Malachi, (“the LORD’s messenger”), the Lord Himself announced He was sending one who would “prepare the way before Me.” That He would "prepare the way before Me". Immediately, from verse 5, this messenger is the prophet Elijah. Yet as a further fulfilment, this verse is quoted in the NT. Matthew (11:10), Mark (1:2), and Luke (7:27) include its first half. They all refer it to John the Baptist. Thus, the NT settles the identity of the one called “my messenger.” He is the forerunner of Christ, John the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. The Lord who then follows is none other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Alden, R. L. (1986). Malachi. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Daniel and the Minor Prophets (Vol. 7, p. 719). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)