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A Year Held in His Hands| A New Year Sermon

By Ekombe Hau -
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A Year Held in His Hands| A New Year Sermon Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash Every time a new year comes close, something in me start feeling that weird mix of excitement and heaviness. Maybe you know the feeling too—like you’re standing at this invisible doorway. One foot in the old year (the stuff you want to forget but somehow still sticks to you like stubborn glue), and the other foot stepping into something you still can’t see clearly. And sometimes you’re hopeful, sometimes you’re scared, sometimes you’re… well, both at the same time. I was thinking about all that while reading some Scriptures again, and honestly, it hit me harder this year. Maybe because life been kinda loud lately, or maybe because I’m tired of pretending everything always makes sense. But the Bible does this thing, right? It sneaks into the parts of your heart you thought you cleaned up, and suddenly you realize God is trying to talk to you again. Even if it feels like you weren’t exactly listening. S...
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Malachi Chapter 3 – Commentary and Explanation

By Ekombe Hau -

 

Malachi Chapter 3 – Commentary and Explanation

Photo by Scott Major on Unsplash


Malachi chapter 3 is one of those chapters where you just stop, reread, and realize—wow—God’s Word doesn’t play around. It’s not soft-pedaling anything here. The chapter takes us right into the heart of God’s justice, His refining work, and His call for His people to turn back. It’s like a spiritual heart-check moment.

This is a chapter where God basically says, “I’m coming, and I’m coming to set things straight.” And that statement alone is both comforting and terrifying, depending on which side of the fence you stand on.

Verse 1 – “Behold, I will send my messenger…”

The chapter kicks off with God making an announcement. He says He’s sending His messenger to prepare the way before Him. Now, in the New Testament, Jesus Himself connects this to John the Baptist (Matthew 11:10). John was the forerunner, the one crying out in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord.”

The wording here paints a strong picture—God isn’t just casually strolling into the scene. He’s arriving like a king, and the road has to be prepared. In ancient times, when a king visited a city, a messenger would go ahead to make sure everything was in order. Crooked roads straightened, garbage cleared, people warned. Spiritually, that’s what John did. And here, Malachi is pointing hundreds of years ahead to that moment.

But here’s the twist—the second part of the verse says, “The Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to His temple.” That’s Jesus showing up in the temple, yes, but it also has this deeper end-times echo. There’s this element of surprise. He comes suddenly. People have been waiting… and waiting… and then He’s just there.

Verses 2–4 – “Who can endure the day of His coming?”

These verses just cut through any casual religious comfort. They ask a blunt question—who can stand when He appears? Because He’s like a refiner’s fire and like laundry soap. That’s not the fluffy “gentle Jesus” image people sometimes prefer.

A refiner’s fire doesn’t destroy the gold—it burns away the impurities. That’s a process of intense heat. And fullers’ soap? That was strong, biting stuff used to scrub fabric clean. Both metaphors show cleansing, but they also show discomfort.

God says He will purify the Levites so they can offer righteous sacrifices again. That’s important because in Malachi’s day, the priests were corrupt and careless. God isn’t okay with worship that’s half-hearted or impure. He wants the people leading worship to actually be clean—inside and out.

And maybe that’s where this chapter starts pressing into us. Because we can nod our heads at the idea of “God cleaning up the corrupt priests,” but when we realize we are also His temple, and we also offer spiritual sacrifices (1 Peter 2:5)… suddenly that refining fire feels a little closer to home.

Verse 5 – God as the Witness

Here’s where God basically lists the charges: sorcerers, adulterers, liars, those who cheat workers out of fair wages, oppress widows and orphans, and turn away foreigners in need. And then He adds, “They do not fear Me.”

Notice something—it’s not just “religious sins” like idolatry. It’s also social sins. In God’s view, injustice, exploitation, and lack of compassion are right up there with witchcraft and adultery. That should make us pause. Sometimes people think “serious sins” are just the spiritual ones, but here God is saying how we treat others is deeply spiritual too.

And there’s a sting in His words. He says, “I will be a swift witness against them.” Meaning, He’s not dragging His feet on judgment. When the time comes, it’s coming fast.

Verse 6 – “I the Lord do not change…”

This is one of those verses that could be embroidered on a pillow, but here it’s actually in a judgment context. God says, “I do not change, so you descendants of Jacob are not destroyed.” His unchanging nature is the only reason they’re still alive. His mercy is part of who He is—if He was as unstable as humans, they would have been wiped out already.

This verse also speaks volumes about His promises. If God made a covenant, He’s not breaking it. That’s both comforting and sobering, depending on where we stand with Him.

Verses 7–12 – The Tithes and Offerings Confrontation

Now comes one of the most famous passages in Malachi—maybe in the whole Old Testament—about tithing.

God starts by saying, “Return to Me, and I will return to you.” But the people ask, “How shall we return?” And God answers, “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me.”

That’s such strong language. Robbing God? And they’re like, “Uh… how exactly are we robbing You?” And He says, “In tithes and offerings.”

In Israel, the tithe was not optional—it was part of the covenant law. A tenth of everything was given to support the temple, the Levites, and the work of God. Not giving it wasn’t just “bad budgeting,” it was breaking covenant.

God tells them, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse… and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing you won’t have room for it.” That’s one of the few times God literally says, “Test Me.” Normally, testing God is a bad idea—but here, He invites it. He’s challenging them to trust His provision.

And notice—this isn’t just about personal wealth. In verse 11, He says He’ll prevent pests from devouring crops, and the vines will not fail to bear fruit. This is about community blessing, agricultural stability, and protection from loss. It’s like God saying, “Put Me first, and watch how I take care of you.”

Verses 13–15 – The Cynical Complaints

Here, God turns to another issue. The people have been saying harsh things against Him. Not necessarily screaming blasphemy, but muttering under their breath: “Serving God is useless. What’s the point? The arrogant are blessed, the evildoers prosper, they even test God and get away with it.”

If we’re honest, we’ve probably felt that way at some point. You’re doing your best to obey God, and life is still hard, while the guy next door—who lives like God doesn’t exist—seems to be doing great. Malachi records that God hears these complaints.

And He’s not ignoring them—but He’s also about to separate the faithful from the cynical.

Verses 16–18 – The Faithful Remnant

This is one of my favorite parts. While some are grumbling, others fear the Lord and speak with each other. And here’s the beautiful image—God is listening. It says a “scroll of remembrance” is written in His presence for those who fear Him and honor His name.

Think about that. Every faithful conversation, every whispered prayer, every word of encouragement between believers—it’s noticed and recorded by God. He doesn’t forget the ones who stay loyal when it’s not popular.

God says, “They will be Mine… my treasured possession… I will spare them as a father spares his son who serves him.” And then He says the difference between the righteous and the wicked will be clear. No more confusion about who truly serves God.

Themes and Takeaways from Malachi 3

This chapter hits on so many important points:

  1. God keeps His promises – He’s sending His messenger, and He’s coming to set things right.

  2. God refines His people – Purification isn’t always comfortable, but it’s necessary.

  3. Justice matters to God – How we treat others is part of our spiritual standing.

  4. Faithfulness in giving – God calls us to trust Him with our resources, and He promises to bless obedience.

  5. God notices the faithful – Even in a cynical, corrupt world, He writes down the names of those who stay true.

Living This Out Today

It’s easy to read Malachi 3 and think, “Wow, those Israelites really messed up.” But the truth is, the same issues can creep into our lives.

  • We can get casual about worship, offering God leftovers instead of our best.

  • We can treat giving as optional instead of an act of trust.

  • We can slip into complaining when life feels unfair.

The refining fire still burns today. God still calls us to return to Him, to trust Him enough to obey, even when it doesn’t make immediate sense.

Final Thought

Malachi 3 is both a warning and an encouragement. God is coming, and He’s not coming to be a silent spectator. He’s coming to purify, to judge, to bless, and to set things right. That reality should sober us—but it should also give us hope. Because if we belong to Him, we are His “treasured possession.” And He will not forget us.

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