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.

Malachi Chapter Three, Behold He Is Coming

 

Malachi 3:1 Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me, and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts.

 

Verse 17 of the previous chapter concluded with a flippant reversal of holy conduct, punctuated by the mocking inquiry, “Where is the God of justice?” The answer given in this verse is twofold, addressing both the Suffering Servant’s arrival, and the King coming to His temple to purge the dross from His people and judge the earth in equity.

The Point Of Contact, Part 2 (Of 2)

 

First we considered the Philippian jailer whose conversion was experiential. Then we looked at the Ethiopian eunuch whose conversion was from that of Judaism to Christianity. He had in embryo the truth of the gospel but needed deeper understanding to enter into truth. Now we look at the worldly intellectuals Paul confronted in Athens.

The Point of Contact, Part 1 (Of 2)

 

When the Philippian jailer came trembling into Paul and Silas’s cell, he asked the most important question in this life: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16:30. Contrary to the next verse, the answer isn’t always as simple as, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household,” verse 31. It is all about the point of contact with the inquirer, and where they stand as far as understanding is concerned. Paul and Silas had already been praying and singing hymns in their cell, and we are told the inmates were listening, implying that everyone else was quiet, Acts 16:25. It could be surmised that the jailer heard earlier what the prisoners were currently listening to: namely the disciples extolling God from their cell. An earthquake roused him from sleep and panic induced him to contemplate suicide when he believed the prisoners had fled. When Paul assured the man that the prisoners were accounted for, and the jailer saw for himself, he was afraid. The earthquake rousing him from sleep coupled with his near brush with death made him receptive to the supernatural nature of what had just transpired.