MAJOR TRUTHS FROM THE MINOR PROPHETS (1)
Reading – Malachi chapter 3
Today we start a series of messages from the Minor Prophets, those books
that to some people are tucked away at the end of the Old Testament and not
usually read or studied.
These books are a personal favourite of mine, I guess that I have always
liked the underdog, the one not quite in favour, the also rans.
This is probably why I support Leeds United, although after they beat
Manchester United and drew with Tottenham Hotspur, they may be looked upon as
giant killers.
Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament and signalled a period of
400 years of prophetic silence, only broken when John the Baptist arrived on the
scene with his battle cry ‘PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD’.
Malachi is a real treasure trove of truths and promises even though it is
only 4 chapters long.
I would like us to look at chapter 3 today and see what mighty truths are
found here.
Firstly we have the promise of the Lord’s messenger in verse 1
‘Behold, I will send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before
Me’
Malachi here 400 years before Christ foretells of the messenger – John
the Baptist – look at the words of Malachi and what Luke says of John the
Baptist in chapter 3 where he quoted from Isaiah 40 v 3 ‘The voice of one
crying in the wilderness Prepare the way of the Lord’, they are the same.
Some people can’t stand surprise visitors arriving or other things
happening without notice.
In our reading the Lord, through Malachi, gave 400 years notice of the
arrival of John and also of Jesus. You would have thought that the Jews would be
ready for the arrivals, but they were not. The Jews did not accept that Jesus
was the Messiah promised by Malachi and indeed many other prophets before him.
We are also sent by God to be His messengers to our world, and we must
prepare the way for Jesus to come to the people who we come into contact with.
Secondly we have the promise of the Lord’s coming from the second half
of verse 1
‘And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple…..
Behold He is coming says the Lord of Hosts’
Due you remember the scene when Jesus was brought to the temple at 8 days
old and Simeon's reaction. He was waiting for the Messiah like all good Jews and
yet until God revealed Jesus to him he was not aware that the Messiah had been
born or had arrived on the scene of time. But when he saw Jesus he said ‘Lord,
now you are letting Your servant depart in peace. According to Your Word. For my
eyes have seen Your salvation.’ Luke 2 vs. 29 &30
Malachi foresaw the coming of John the Baptist and also the coming of
Jesus, into a world that was in a terrible state and he was faithful in telling
the people.
When we witness to the people we should always point them to the Lord
Jesus, as both Malachi and John the Baptist did.
Malachi said ‘He will prepare the way before Me (that is the Lord) and
John said ‘But One mightier than I is coming’ (Luke 3 v 16).
It is easy to try and win people to ourselves and try and be popular but
our mission is ‘not self but Christ’
Thirdly Malachi saw the state of the world when Jesus was to come.
Look at verses 5 and 7a, 8 & 9, 13 to 15
When Jesus came in Bethlehem the world was in a terrible state and the
Jews were also in the same state. The Romans had taken over and were harsh
rulers, taxing the people heavily, doling out rough justice of their own kind
and not necessarily right justice, there was evil in all areas, with people
taking advantage of others less able to look after themselves, godlessness,
lies, witchcraft, immorality, and countless other ills.
Is this not also a picture of the world in which we live? Men turning
away from God, turning to false doctrines, the occult, there are more witches
and warlocks now than there has ever been, people taking advantage of others,
look at the number of elderly who are being conned by rogue traders, the number
of muggings, the sexual depravity that we read of in the papers, look at the
church today and what is happening there with church leaders appointing those
who are in clear breach of God’s law into the clergy, etc. etc.
Is the state of the world not a sign that the Lord is due to return again
as He did 2000 years ago.
Fourthly Malachi saw the restoration of God’s chosen people and the way
of salvation. See verses 2 to 4, 6 and 7b,
Malachi saw that those Jews who returned to faith in God, and obeyed the
call of His messenger and indeed Himself when He came, would be restored to
salvation.
We who are of the New Covenant of God are the mirror of the Jews because
we too are God’s chosen people and if the ‘church’ repents and turns back
to God and stops it’s false message and life then God will restore those who
call themselves Christian but have not the experience or lived the life
according to God’s instruction.
Can we see the restoration of Israel and the church to its rightful
place, can we see the plan of salvation for those who are lost in sin, including
false doctrines and teachings. Let us always be telling of the opportunity to
turn back to God and show the people we meet the way of salvation.
Finally Malachi saw the promise of God’s blessing upon His people and
final victory.
See verses 10 to 12, 16 & 17
Malachi saw what we see, in that when we put our trust in God and follow
His will then there is much blessing. The enemies of God’s people are
eventually brought down, the Lord provides for all the needs of His chosen ones,
Malachi saw opened a book of remembrance for all who feared God and considered
His Word. We are reminded by God’s word that there is a book ‘The Lambs book
of life’ in which all of us who have
Trusted the Lord for salvation and who follow Him are recorded and this
book will be opened when Christ come again for His own.
But while His people are here on Earth He promises His presence, His
provision and His blessing.
Let us rejoice and be thankful and determined to work for Him that others
may share in the wonder of salvation and the blessings of living for and with
Jesus.