Malachi Chapter Three, The Day Of The Lord

 

Malachi 3:2 “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap. [3] He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness.

 

The first two questions address a theological topic of great import to the Jewish mind: the Day of the Lord. To commence even touching on this topic the question must be asked: what is the Day of the Lord? The prophets spoke much of it, so we begin by simply quoting them for context.

“Be silent in the presence of the Lord God; for the day of the Lord is at hand, for the Lord has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests…the great day of the Lord is near; it is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the Lord is bitter; there the mighty men shall cry out. The day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of devastation and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness…for He will make a speedy riddance of all those who dwell in the land,” Zephaniah 1:7, 14, 15, 18.

 

Haggai mentions the events simply as “that day,” a day when God shakes the heavens and the earth, Haggai 2:21-23. Micah likens the time to a gathering of nations in conspiracy to overthrow Judah, which God in turn shall overthrow, Micah 4:11-13. Amos inquires, “Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! For what good is the day of the Lord to you?” Amos 5:18. The prophet says that it is a dark day, lacking light, Amos 5:18-20. Joel, speaking of the day also describes the multitudes (the nations) gathering to the Valley of Jehoshaphat for judgment. Though heaven and earth will shake (as Haggai also described) God will preserve His people, Joel 3:2, 12-16. Not to be left out, Zechariah, inspired by the Holy Spirit, incorporates numerous details about the day of the Lord. All nations will gather against Judah for its destruction, yet God will defend His people and destroy their supposed destroyers, Zechariah 12:2-9. When this moment terminates, united Israel, saved by divine interposition (Matthew 24:21, 22, Romans 11:26, 27, Jeremiah 30:7-9) will behold their Savior. “Then they will look upon Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn,” Zechariah 12:10.

 

Malachi likewise touches on this subject once more near the end of his burden, stating that “the day” is coming, and its arrival will incinerate the proud, but conversely heal the faithful, Malachi 4:1, 2. We’ll touch on this passage in due time. Sufficed to say, the prophets speak much of the Day of the Lord as a time of judgment, salvation, and divine government. Many views are held concerning this controversial subject. I believe the Day of the Lord involves the 7 year tribulation period (Daniel’s final seven, Daniel 9:27), followed by the advent of the thousand year Davidic kingdom and the fulfillment of all of the promises given to the Jews.

 

The HCSB translates “launderer’s soap” as “cleansing lye.” Lye is a metal hydroxide obtained by leeching wood ashes, and undiluted or chronic exposure can cause chemical burns. It is an ingredient in soap and serves as a powerful cleansing agent. Both the refiner’s fire (for purifying metals) and launderer’s soap (for removing filth from clothing) symbolize Christ’s intentions for the house of Levi upon His return. If the temple is truly rebuilt in the thousand years as Ezekiel envisioned then the house of Levi would need purgation before recommencing their ancestral duties.

 

And we are told without doubt that it is Christ Himself that sits in His temple, as a refiner of precious metal, cleansing the sons of Levi. Silver, for instance, is purged of impurity or dross by melting it and allowing the dross to float to the surface where it can be scooped out. That which does not belong is excised by fire until something clean and pure remains. In one respect this is one job the Holy Spirit has in every believer on earth. It is an ongoing salvation from sin’s power in our lives that is referred to as sanctification. Of course, “sanctify” simply means to set apart, like the holy items in the tabernacle or temple. So as the Levites were once offered as a wave offering to God to cleanse them for service, Numbers 8:10, 11, so it shall be once more during the Messianic reign.

 

The Lord will purge them of their impurities, contrasting His work in the temple to the currently impure and disobedient priests of Malachi’s time who are fit only to be buried in the dung hill, Malachi 2:3. His purpose, as mentioned in Numbers, is to make them fit to present offerings anew. A clean or holy vessel, offering what is pleasant to the Lord in true righteousness: the imputed righteousness we receive as a gift of God’s grace.