As a response to the
question, “Where is the God of judgment?” which was posed
by the nation of Israel in chapter two and verse seventeen of the
book of Malachi, the Lord said He would send His messenger who would
be the forerunner of the Messiah. People within the nation of Israel
including the priest were offering contemptible worship, dealing with
their wives treacherously, and wearying the Lord with their words
which said evil was good, and because there seemed to be no judgment
for it, they asked, “Where is the God of judgment?” In
chapter three and verse two we discover more concerning the Lord's
appearing where we read:
But who may abide the
day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appears? for he is
like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
The
verse begins, “But who may abide the day of his coming?
and who shall stand when he appears?” Once
again we encounter the word, “But”
to begin a phrase. We remember that when we see this word we know
what is about to be stated takes precedence over what was before. In
this case, the forerunner of Christ would pave the path for the
appearance of the Messiah, and when the Messiah comes, two questions
are asked, “who may abide”
which means “sustain, maintain, contain and endure” “the
day of his coming?” which refers to when He is “brought in or
enters in to the world”, and “who shall stand” or
“remain, endure, set or maintain” “when he appears?” which
refers to when he “looks at, inspects, perceives, considers and
presents” Himself. When the Messiah would appear on the scene, no
one would be able to measure up to His holiness and righteousness,
and as if sharing a direct answer to the question, “Where is the
God of judgment?”, Malachi recorded that answer of the Lord.
The
verse goes on to say, “for he is like a
refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:” We might wonder, “how
strict is the Lord's judgment going to be?” the answer is found in
two examples provided through Malachi. The first, “he is like a
refiner's fire” which was the fire which was meant to “melt,
test or prove” the metals with which someone like a goldsmith would
use. The gold was to be “purified”, and the burning hot fire of
the goldsmith would burn all the dross and impurities of the gold to
the top of the cauldron where would scrape away that which was not
pure gold. The second example was “like fuller's soap”
which used by a “washer of cloths and clothing”, and was like
“lye, potash or alkali”. When the “fuller” washed clothes,
they became brilliantly clean, and no dirt was left within them.
The
forerunner of the Messiah, who was John the Baptist, was to pave the
path for the Messiah. The people of the nation of Israel thought that
because there was no apparant judgment for their contemptible
behavior surely the Lord had no difficulties with them, and they even
went so far as to believe that He approved of their behavior. If we
think in this way, let us take special note of this verse. The Lord
is like “fire” and “soap”, and there is no
unrighteousness that can stand before Him. Though the nation of
Israel believed they were somehow exempt from judgment or approved of
in their behavior, still the judgment would come. As we ponder these
things, let us keep in mind the two comings of the Messiah which was
unknown to Malachi at the time of his writing. First, the Messiah
would come as Savior, and all who receive Him within their hearts and
lives will know His grace, however, the Messiah shall also come as
LORD, and all who have rejected Him will know His “fire”
and “soap” like this world has never seen before. May we
humble ourselves before Him before He comes the second time.
Next
time we see more details concerning the Messiah of the Lord,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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