My response to these words is also to ask: ‘How have we wearied him?’ Looking out at our world today – where refugees are turned away, young children are trafficked for the sexual exploits of others, where those who live on the margins of society, the homeless, the disabled, the old and vulnerable are disregarded and given little value – I think Malachi would still be saying to us: ‘You have wearied the Lord.’

The people of Israel had forgotten God’s character and heart for justice. It was easy to look at surrounding nations prospering, without noticing their own behaviour (v 17). Despite their grumbling, God doesn’t give up on them. In response to Malachi’s prophecy of a messenger who would prepare the way for the Messiah (v 1; Mark 1:2), there is also a challenge for God’s people to be prepared, for their lives to be refined and purified (vs 2,3). 

Refining silver is a delicate and painstaking process. The silversmith sits, attentively watching the molten metal in the furnace until all impurities have gone and he can see his reflection in the blemish-free metal. God comes not to destroy, but to purify and when we choose to sit with the Silversmith, God patiently refines and restores us, until we reflect the likeness of Jesus in our own lives and communities.

… the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will … show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!’¹

Malachi began by confronting those who questioned God’s love. Now he confronts those who questioned God’s justice. Jeremiah, among others, asked God, ‘why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?’² There is nothing wrong in such questions. Malachi, however, exposes an attitude of cynicism about God’s justice. His audience was probably looking enviously at some of the foreigners the Babylonians had settled in Judah, who had grown wealthy and oppressed the Judaeans. They had grown cynical as they waited for God to judge these people in the way they wanted. This led them to flout the covenant laws, as listed in 3:5. For Christians, the antidote to cynicism is the assurance that Jesus’ resurrection gives of his return as judge.³

God declares that he will come to execute justice. When a dignitary visited a city in the ancient world, a herald went ahead to prepare the way, in part by removing obstacles from the road. God’s messenger will remove spiritual and moral roadblocks. The phrase ‘my messenger’ (3:1) plays on Malachi’s name but refers to someone yet to come. Mark 1:2 sees this promise fulfilled in John the Baptist. We don’t know whether Malachi’s hearers would have understood ‘the Lord’ and ‘the messenger of the covenant’ as the same person, but both designations fit Jesus. Malachi warns the Judaeans that in their desire for God’s judgement they should remember that God will deal with them first. However, God’s intention is not to destroy but to refine, first the Levites and then the whole community. Their worship will only be acceptable to God when there is a return to moral behaviour and social justice for all. Paul warns Christians to avoid a similar refining judgement.⁴

Ask God to begin refining you now with the help of the Holy Spirit’s power, using the prayer in Psalm 139:23 and 24.

¹ Isa 30:18  ² Jer 12:1; Hab 1:2–4; Ps 73  ³ Acts 17:30,31  ⁴ 1 Cor 3:10–15