Malachi 2:17-3:5, The Underlying Root of Unbelief

Most of us are familiar with the process of smelting silver or gold in order to remove the impurities. This is a common metaphor of judgment in Scripture. But another metaphor is cleansing by fuller’s soap, where the alkaline salt or natural lye is used to break down oils in and bleach clothing to cleanse it. Both these metaphors are used in Malachi’s message to Israel.

^2:17 You have wearied Yahweh with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of Yahweh, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

^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 Yahweh 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 Yahweh. ⁴ Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to Yahweh as in the days of old and as in former years.

⁵ “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says Yahweh of hosts.

God does not get angry with us for struggling with seeing His justice, but those who deny His character as just because He hasn’t given them the luxury they desire, that angers Him. And that is what Yahweh is blaming Israel for. They’ve wearied Him with their complaining that He only gives good things to those who do evil and they ask, “Where is the God of justice?”

You want justice, He says, I’ll give you justice. Yahweh makes a remarkable statement of His coming justice, coming to Israel. Yahweh says He will send His messenger (Hebrew, malachi, my messenger, my angel, most likely Elijah, whom he mentions in 4:5) to prepare the way for His coming, a clear reference to the prophecy of Isaiah 40:3, “A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for Yahweh; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Yahweh is going to come, but the way for His coming must be prepared, leveling and straightening the road. Yahweh’s messenger will be that road-preparer who calls God’s people to repentance. The messenger comes first.

Then Yahweh will “suddenly,” unexpectedly arrive at His temple. He is the messenger of the covenant whom Israel claims to be desiring, but His coming will be like a refiner’s fire or like fuller’s soap, purging and purifying Israel of her sin. Then, once again, she will offer sacrifices in righteousness, with pure hearts and in obedience (unlike the way they had been doing, with blemished sacrifices).

Then, after the purification of the corrigible He will judge the incorrigible, the sorcerers, adulterers, liars, and oppressors who do not fear Him. Judgment begins in the house of God, then lights upon the unbeliever (1 Peter 4:17).

Malachi’s prophecy is fulfilled in two stages. John the Baptist, whom Jesus identifies as an Elijah-like preparer of Yahweh’s path (Matthew 17:11-13) came before “the Lord” (Hebrew, adonai, master, a term used of Yahweh), who is Yahweh, Jesus, who, however, was rejected by his people (John 1:12). A second stage of fulfillment will happen when Jesus comes again, to finish the judgment.