In the first two chapters of Malachi, the wickedness of God's people in Israel was presented. Their unholy sacrifices were exposed, their immoral conduct brought to view. God's intention through all the prophets, Malachi included, was to bring His people back to faithfulness, to encourage sanctification on their part. Thus, chapter 3 reveals the need for a change.

THE REFINER AND LAUNDERER (1-5)
God had prepared a messenger to come, in preparation for the Messiah who would come. At this point, we're not told much of his mission, except that it was to prepare the way of the Lord. Isaiah also spoke of this messenger, as "...the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God." (Isaiah 40:3). When we come to the New Testament, we find that these prophets were speaking of John the Baptist (Matthew 11:10; Mark 1:2). He came to ready the way for the Saviour.

Seeing the Lord, John the Baptist bore witness, "This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.'" (John 1:15). Again, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (1:29, 36). And yet again, "...I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God." (1:34).

What will result from the Lord's coming? Purity among the people of God, "For He is like a refiner's fire and launderer's soap." (Malachi 3:2). He calls His people to return, a constant theme throughout the prophets. Joel implored the people, "‘...Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.' So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful..." (Joel 2:11-12). Isaiah reasoned, "...Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18).

The intent of the purification is so that the offering of the people of God before the LORD might be acceptable. Our choice is simple: either be refined and purified, or fall in judgment. Those who have been cleansed shall given "an offering in righteousness", but upon those who do not turn, He "...will come near you for judgment.." Friend, in Christ Jesus, we have been called to be "a living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1-2), and to "...continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God..." (Hebrews 13:15-16); but our sacrifice will only be acceptable if we've been purged of sin, and are walking the way of righteousness.

THE UNCHANGING GOD (6-7)
"...I am the LORD, I do not change..." What a comforting statement. And indeed, immediately, He says, "...therefore you are not consumed..." We serve a God with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning, a God who can be relied upon to deal with justice and longsuffering and mercy. The Psalmist speaks of how God dealt with His people of old, "...He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath; for He remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes away and does not come again." (Psalm 78:38-39).

Having revealed His consistency, again, the LORD's call is, "Return to Me, and I will return to you." It is we who have left the mark, not God. It is we who must change our station, not the Lord. But so many are as these unfaithful servants of ancient time, "In what way shall we return?" (3:7; cf. 1:6, 7; 2:17). There are none so blind as those who will not see. Some simply refuse to acknowledge their iniquity; they resist the thought that they have separated themselves from the Lord. Such was the spirit of those who put Stephen to death, and of their forefathers (Acts 7:51-53). And again, the people of Israel in the day of the apostle Paul, for "...they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God." (Romans 10:3). If there is a separation between man and God, it is not because the LORD has changed in any fashion, but because we have moved from the way of God to our own way.

WILL A MAN ROB GOD? (8-12)
In departing from obedience to the will of God, man becomes a thief before the LORD. But, the stubborn, stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart will exclaim, "In what way have we robbed You?" Offerings and serviced directed towards God, which is not in accordance with His will is evidence of the crime! The people of Malachi's day had robbed the Lord in their polluted offerings, and by failing to give honour and reverence to the Lord. We must take care that we do not do so also. Have we robbed God with regard to the collection for the saints? Have we stolen from the Lord the better share of our time and energy? Does our service, praise and honour towards Him resemble more a helping of leftovers than the firstfruits?

God challenges His people: "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." (3:10). The Old Covenant, established through Moses, expressed a correlation between their service before the LORD and the blessings which they would receive. If they were faithful in keeping the will of God, and rendering the honour due Him, they would be abundantly blessed (Proverbs 3:9-10).

The same type of relationship between faithful service and being blessed by the LORD is found in the New Testament. Jesus taught that if we "...seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33). Paul revealed that "...he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." (2 Corinthians 9:6, 8). Those who faithfully serve the LORD will be blessed by the LORD. But know, the relationship is not linear or exponential, as some suppose. It is a general promise of God that our needs will be met.

The spiritual implications of sowing and reaping before the LORD ought to be our highest concern. Paul wrote, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life." (Galatians 6:7-8).

HARSH WORDS AGAINST THE LORD (13-15)
We have already seen that the people wearied the LORD with their words (2:17), and now, He again addresses their troubling speech. What is the trouble? They have said, "It is useless to serve God; what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance..." The thought is much the same as expressed by those spoken of in Job, who declared, "Depart from us, for we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways. Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?" (Job 21:14-15).

We too are in a day when many do not desire the knowledge of God or His way (Romans 1:28). It is sad when those who have not come to the LORD continue in their rejection of His grace and mercy; but how much more distressing when the children of God turn from walking with Him, and no longer seek to have the knowledge of God?

THE BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE (16-18)
In contrast with those who are characterized through the chapter, the LORD hears them that fear Him and meditate on His name. These are recorded in the "book of remembrance", or what is elsewhere called the book of life (Revelation 20:12-15). What a wonderful thing, to be among those whom God shall remember, and whom He shall bless in eternity!

These are described as His "jewels". In Exodus 19:5, they are called "...a special treasure...", and in both Titus 2:14 and 1 Peter 2:9, "His own special people". What a blessing to be a jewel or treasure of the LORD!

Friend, there are many great places that our name might be recorded: on plaques and medals, in newspapers and history books. But there is only one place that truly matters — the Lamb's book of life. The prophet calls upon us to return to the Lord; to make the necessary changes in our lives, so as to be found faithful before our great God and Creator. It's time for a change.