This reading is another great example of how God used the prophets of old to speak about the coming judgment. The timing of Malachi, the last book in the Old Testament, is after the exiles return from Babylon and the temple has been rebuilt. Malachi speaks of a messenger, believed to be John the Baptist, preparing the way for Jesus, and a second messenger to bring the new covenant.
The people must be getting a little lazy in their faith and allegiance. The priests weren’t leading the people into the knowledge of the one true God. God was sending a wake-up call through Malachi to get their attention. There would be a gap of several centuries between the Old and New Testaments, and it would be wise to pay attention to these prophetic words. Continue reading “Malachi 3:1-4 – Refining Fire”
