Snoopy Meanders through Malachi

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Snoopy's Snappy Review: Malachi 3: 1-5

Hmm. Snoopy is reminded of John the Baptist and the calls to repentance in the NT.

Snoopy is also reminded of Jesus and the inasmuch sayings. (Inasmuch as you have done it unto these the least of my brethren, you have done it unto me.)

So who is this Messenger and what is this process of refinement? Malachi is a puzzler. :unsure:
 
There is a passage in 3:5 that I find interesting to see how it is translated. The NET that you prefer seems to be pretty explicit with, "who refuse to help the resident foreigner" suggesting a reference to immigration and specifically to non-Jews living among the Jews.

But the NRSVUE is almost a bit cryptic, with "those who thrust aside the alien". Which makes no reference to residency, just to "alien" which does mean "foreign". And "thrust aside" seems a bit more aggressive than refusing to help, more like actively pushing them away rather than just ignoring them.

And the venerable KJV uses "stranger", which technically does not even mean a "foreigner", just someone unknown.

More a reflection on the vagaries of translation than the passage, but it is interesting how it has been handled by different translators and in different contexts.
 
I'm reading an article from a Jewish point of view, and one view of the messenger is possibly an angel or Malachi himself, the prophet that will be sent will be Elijah who was ascended to heaven alive in II Kings chapter 2.
 
So there's an ore of copper called malachite and, quite fascinatingly, it has nothing to do with this in spite of the resemblance in the names. Apparently that name comes from the Greek molochites lithos, meaning "mallow green stone", which is roughly the colour of the stone. It was mined in ancient Israel, along with other Copper and Bronze Age societies (e.g. the Great Orme Mine in Bronze Age Britain, which I watched a YouTube piece on recently).
 
GOD'S RESPONSE TO CYNICAL QUESTIONS ASKED BY THE JEWS:
This post will focus on just 5 of their many questions and complaints quoted by Malachi.

(1) “I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us (1:2)?"
APPLICATION: Beware a cynical sense of entitlement that complains, God, what have you done for me lately?

(2) But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord's table may be despised (1:6-7).
APPLICATION: Your sacrifice worship and service is worthless if you don't offer up your best and that means that you "honor" God and experience "reverential fear and awe" in the act of worship. Or as God puts it: "If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my reverential fear and awe? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests (1:6)."

(3) On priestly conscientious attention to detail and excellence in worship and sacrifice: "'And you say, ‘What a burden!’ and you sniff at it contemptuously,” says the Lord Almighty (1:13)."
APPLICATION: God places no value on worship and services that springs from a sense of burden rather than gratitude.

(4) "You have wearied the Lord with your words. “How have we wearied him?” you ask.
By asking, “Where is the God of justice (2:17)?”
APPLICATION; If you experience your spirituality as a burden, god will get tired of the burden your so-called service represents.

(5)“Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’ “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty (3:13-14)?"
APPLICATION: True spirituality means you don''t ask what's in it for me? Rather, you ask, "What's in it for God and God's people?:
 
Malachi 3: 6-12
www.biblegateway.com

Bible Gateway passage: Malachi 3:6-12 - New English Translation

Resistance to the Lord through Selfishness - “Since, I, the LORD, do not go back on my promises, you, sons of Jacob, have not perished. From the days of your ancestors you have ignored my commandments and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of Heaven’s...
www.biblegateway.com www.biblegateway.com
God has been gracious to the descendants of Jacob although they have ignored God's commandments.

"Return to me, and I will return to you," says God. The people must bring their tithes into the temple and God will pour out blessings. The plague will not ruin their crops and the vines will not lose their fruit before the harvest.
 
Snoopy's Snappy Review: Malachi 3: 6-12

A wonderful agricultural metaphor! And a beautiful verse for meditation. Return to me and I will return to you, says God. (3: 7)

Have a good weekend everyone. :)
 
Malachi 3: 13-18
www.biblegateway.com

Bible Gateway passage: Malachi 3:13-18 - New English Translation

Resistance to the Lord through Self-sufficiency - “You have criticized me sharply,” says the LORD, “but you ask, ‘How have we criticized you?’ You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God. How have we been helped by keeping his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD of Heaven’s...
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The people question how they have been helped by keeping the Lord's commandments. They consider the arrogant to be blessed and the evil to be successful.

The Lord takes notice of those who respect and serve God. A scroll is prepared which records their names.
 
Malachi 4: 1-6
www.biblegateway.com

Bible Gateway passage: Malachi 4 - New English Translation

(3:19) “For indeed the day is coming, burning like a furnace, and all the arrogant evildoers will be chaff. The coming day will burn them up,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. “It will not leave them even a root or branch. But for you who respect my name, the sun of vindication will rise with...
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The day is coming when all the arrogant evildoers will be chaff. Those who respect God's name will be vindicated.

Elijah the Prophet will be sent before this great and terrible day. Elijah will encourage fathers and their children to return to God.
 
paradox3 said:
Malachi 4: 1-6
www.biblegateway.com

Bible Gateway passage: Malachi 4 - New English Translation

(3:19) “For indeed the day is coming, burning like a furnace, and all the arrogant evildoers will be chaff. The coming day will burn them up,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. “It will not leave them even a root or branch. But for you who respect my name, the sun of vindication will rise with...
www.biblegateway.com www.biblegateway.com
The day is coming when all the arrogant evildoers will be chaff. Those who respect God's name will be vindicated.

Elijah the Prophet will be sent before this great and terrible day. Elijah will encourage fathers and their children to return to God.
Click to expand...
Sounds like Revelation at the end of the new testament.
 
It certainly goes to show how the apocalyptic strain of Christianity did have pretty clear Jewish roots.
 
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