Malachi 3:5, 6 (For I, Yehovah, Not Transmuted)

Artwork by Douglas Kallerson

Malachi 3:5-6
For I, Yehovah! Not Transmuted

(Typed 23 September 2024 – day 15 of a 21-day water fast) In what is presented today, I will cite more Scripture than I may have ever done in a sermon before. It will be a journey through much of the Bible, explaining the relationship of Israel to the world around her.

The few words of these two verses are literally filled with truths about Israel, their conduct before the Lord and their attitude towards Him, their position in relation to the New Covenant, and their precarious and yet forever firm state before Yehovah.

If Israel would simply read and contemplate what is said in just these two verses, rightly considering them as they are given, they would save themselves an unimaginable amount of grief. And yet, they have been published and available to them for almost 2500 years, and they have never paid attention to them.

But it is so much easier to not be bothered with God’s word. That is what the rabbi is for, right? It’s like most people in churches today. They let the pastor, preacher, or priest worry about the Bible. Whatever is presented from them concerning it will be sufficient.

It is not a good way to handle one’s theology. Trusting someone else with your relationship with God is like trusting politicians with your money. It usually doesn’t work out so well.

Text Verse: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

Reread those words. Notice it does not say, “Jesus is the same…” It would be a false statement. Jesus was born. “…Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52). Jesus wept. Jesus got pretty miffed with the merchants and money changers in the temple. Jesus died.

There was potential in Jesus during His earthly ministry. He had the potential to do all these things and so many more –

“And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.” John 21:25

Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same…” God in Christ united with humanity. There is the Babe who became a Man, and there is the unchanged, untransmutable, immortal God in whom there is only pure actuality with no potential for change in any manner at any time.

Jesus is the One who came to make this unchanging and seemingly uncaring God knowable to us. He is the One who shows us that even though God cannot change, He is not uncaring. He is not One who created just to revel over death and destruction. Rather, He is the God. The One whom we change in relation to.

Jesus came to correct our thinking and to align His people with this unchanging God so that when we do change, even in a negative way, we will not be destroyed. At least Israel (as a nation) has that on her side. If not, she would have perished long, long ago.

Great truths such as this are to be found in His superior word. And so, let us turn to that precious word once again, and… May God speak to us through His word today, and may His glorious name ever be praised.

I. No Fear of the Lord (verse 5)

Malachi 3:5 is a head breaker. It is filled with plural verbs…

And I will come near you for judgment;

v’qaravti alekhem lamishpat – “And neared unto you to the judgment.” These words respond to Malachi 2:17 –

“Gasped, Yehovah in your words
And said, ‘In what gasped?’
In your saying, ‘All doing evil good in eye Yehovah.
And in them He inclined.’
Or, ‘Where God the verdict?’”

The people were saying that everyone doing evil was good in Yehovah’s eyes. It is the same mindset that much of Israel carries to this day. If they believe in God at all, they are ok doing whatever because God loves them for who they are, not for what they do or what their faith in Him is.

They believed and continue to believe that God inclined toward them because they are Israel. And so their natural, even mocking, question was, “Where God the verdict?” All is ok. We know God favors us.

If you tell a Jew that their exile and last two thousand years of punishment is their fault, they will normally either stare at you with a blank face as if, “What are you talking about?” or they will get angry and accuse you of being an antisemite.

On rare occasion, one will stop and think, “I never thought of it that way.” It is that type who is most prone to accepting the gospel. They know that they have a problem that has carried on seemingly forever, but they can’t put their finger on it.

All of a sudden, all of the lies about Jesus that have been heaped on them by their rabbis for eons are suddenly dispelled, and they think, “So this is the reason!” It is as if a lightbulb illuminates what the Lord has been trying to tell them all along.

Well, Yehovah is telling them right here in Malachi that He was going to near unto them the judgment, meaning He was going to purify them, just as He has been saying. Malachi 2:2-4 first addressed the house of Levi, meaning the priests and the Levites. Judgment begins at the house of the Lord. From there, it extends outward to the people. When He comes to judge, He next says…

5 (con’t) I will be a swift witness

v’hayiti ed m’maher – “And became witness hastening.” A purging of the people would come swiftly as the Lord Himself would witness against them. But one might ask, “How can this be when Jesus came to heal, restore, and give life, not judge?”

That would be a complete misunderstanding of what is going on. For example, the Pulpit Commentary says, “The announcement applies especially to the circumstances of Malachi’s time, though, of course, it has an extended reference.”

This is entirely incorrect. There is no reference to judgment after the book of Malachi was written. This is because Malachi closes out the Old Testament canon. The Lord just said in Malachi 3:1 that He was sending His messenger to prepare the way and then the Lord would instantly come to His temple.

The entire narrative hinges on that thought. The people were given warning. It is true that the people had a high expectation of the coming Messiah. That is evidenced in the gospels –

“Now some of them from Jerusalem said, ‘Is this not He whom they seek to kill? 26 But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ? 27 However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.’” John 7:25-27

This sentiment is repeated elsewhere in the gospels. It was even understood by those who were not considered the covenant people –

“The woman said to Him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming’ (who is called Christ). ‘When He comes, He will tell us all things.’
26 Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am He.’” John 4:25, 26

When the Sanhedrin was called together for Jesus’ trial, they specifically asked Him if He was the Christ. This demonstrates that it was fully understood that the Messiah was coming.

Based on the timeline of Daniel 9, of which every competent rabbi would have been aware, they knew Messiah’s coming would be before the temple was destroyed. And more, the prophecy told them the exact timing it would occur.

This is why the expectation of His coming was so high. They obviously believed the Scriptures, clung to them, and anticipated good things from them. And yet, they failed to actually consider them in context.

A destroyed temple meant they were out of favor with Yehovah. Malachi’s words told them that judgment on them, not the nations, was coming. This was a case of selective bias, and it was to be their doom. Jesus did come to heal, restore, and give life, not judge.

He did those things during His earthly ministry. Those who accepted Him would be provided those things abundantly by Him. But that is not the end of the story. When His earthly ministry was complete, and in the rejection of that by Israel, the Lord was set to purify the people –

“For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.” 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16

Jesus even told them this, in advance, so that they were without excuse –

“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Luke 21:20-24

Why did this come about? Because Israel rejected the Messenger of the covenant, Jesus. They failed to acknowledge Him, rejecting the New Covenant, and thus, the curses of the Mosaic Covenant came upon them to the fullest extent.

The God of grace and peace who stood among them was rejected. In His departure, He stood against them. If people, especially Israel, would just pick up the book and read it, they would see why all the disasters of the past two thousand years have come upon them.

The clan of the Levites has been addressed. Now, the Lord will speak against all of those who would likewise be purified from Israel. This judgment would start…

5 (con’t) Against sorcerers,

bamkhashphim – “In the incantings.” The word is kashaph, coming from an unused root signifying to whisper a spell, thus it is one who practices incantations, such as a sorcerer or a witch. This was expressly forbidden three times in the Law of Moses, in Exodus 7:11, Exodus 22:18, and Deuteronomy 18:10.

The penalty was death, “You shall not permit a sorceress to live” (Exodus 22:18). And yet, the people often practiced this. It was even spurred on and openly condoned by King Manasseh –

“He also built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem shall My name be forever.” And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. Also he caused his sons to pass through the fire in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom; he practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft and sorcery [kashaph], and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.” 2 Chronicles 33:4-6

This was still practiced in the New Testament, such as in Acts –

“Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.” Acts 13:6-8

To this day, sorcery is still practiced in Israel as has been seen in news articles over the past years. These are the types of people who are to be purged from the nation by Yehovah. Next, he says…

5 (con’t) Against adulterers,

u-vamnaaphim – “And in the adulterings.” It is one of the most common sins of man and is not limited to Israel. Unfaithfulness to the covenant of marriage is simply an extension of an attitude that begins with unfaithfulness to the Lord. As such, there is a dual meaning to the words.

It is true that the people were (and are) prone to physical acts of adultery against their wives or husbands. That is seen, for example, in John 8 –

“Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.” John 8:3, 4

The woman did wrong and was brought before the Lord for judgment. However, those who brought her forward were just as guilty of adultery against the Lord –

“The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death.” Leviticus 20:10

They played the harlot with the law in order to attempt to trap Jesus in the decision He rendered. For all we know, He may have written Leviticus 20:10 in the sand and asked them why they had betrayed the Lord through their actions, sparing the man, but accusing the woman.

As a nation, Jesus openly rebuked them for their attitude –

“Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, ‘Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.’
39 But He answered and said to them, ‘An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.’” Matthew 12:38, 39

Jesus accused them of being an adulterous generation because instead of going to the Lord, through His word, they wanted an easy end-around to obtain proof of His messiahship. It is like many Charismatic churches today. To neglect His word is an implicit reference to rejecting Him. Continuing on…

5 (con’t) Against perjurers,

u-vanishbaim lashaqer – “And in the swearings to the untruth.” The word is sheqer, an untruth. It is one of the Big Ten –

“You shall not bear false [sheqer] witness against your neighbor.” Exodus 20:16

This is something noted throughout the Old Testament, which included false prophesying. Israel was famous for it, continuing into the New Testament. It is as common as stones in a gravel pit in both the world at large and in the church today.

Inability to tell the truth is one of the most common infections that humans face. It is especially grievous when done in the name of the Lord. False prophecies, whether in Israel or in the church, are common.

The Lord, to Israel, said He would purge this from the people. This will be so much the case that in the future, this is prophesied –

“It shall come to pass that if anyone still prophesies, then his father and mother who begot him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, because you have spoken lies [sheqer] in the name of the Lord.’ And his father and mother who begot him shall thrust him through when he prophesies.” Zechariah 13:3

And the Lord, through Malachi, continues…

5 (con’t) Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans,

u-voshqe s’khar shakhir almanah v’yathom – “And in oppresssings salary salaried, widow, and orphan.” The first offense is specifically mentioned in the law a couple of times. For example –

“You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning.” Leviticus 19:13

The Lord, through Moses, explains why in Deuteronomy –

“You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether one of your brethren or one of the aliens who is in your land within your gates. 15 Each day you shall give him his wages, and not let the sun go down on it, for he is poor and has set his heart on it; lest he cry out against you to the Lord, and it be sin to you.” Deuteronomy 24:14, 15

The person who was hired as a wage earner had his own necessities to tend to. If they were not met, his life could be endangered or his home or possessions could be lost because of debts. For those who did not pay those as promised, the Lord would deal harshly with them, purging them from the people.

Likewise, the widow and orphan were protected by the Lord, as already stated eons earlier in the Law of Moses –

“You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry; 24 and My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.” Exodus 22:22-24

In failing to hold to this precept, Zechariah told Isreal that it was one of the reasons they were going into exile –

“Then the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts:
“Execute true justice,
Show mercy and compassion
Everyone to his brother.
10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless,
The alien or the poor.
Let none of you plan evil in his heart
Against his brother.’
11 ‘But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear. 12 Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the Lord of hosts. 13 Therefore it happened, that just as He proclaimed and they would not hear, so they called out and I would not listen,’ says the Lord of hosts. 14 ‘But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations which they had not known. Thus the land became desolate after them, so that no one passed through or returned; for they made the pleasant land desolate.”’” Zechariah 7:8-14

As the Lord is the Lord, Israel knew the Lord’s expectation for their treatment of others. Nehemiah understood this –

 “And I said to them, ‘According to our ability we have redeemed our Jewish brethren who were sold to the nations. Now indeed, will you even sell your brethren? Or should they be sold to us?’
Then they were silenced and found nothing to say. Then I said, ‘What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies? 10 I also, with my brethren and my servants, am lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury! 11 Restore now to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also a hundredth of the money and the grain, the new wine and the oil, that you have charged them.’” Nehemiah 5:8-11

This attitude remained at the time of Jesus, especially from those who were supposed to be the stewards of the law –

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.” Matthew 23:14

The repetitive nature of Israel’s sin is seen throughout Scripture. If there is one over-arching lesson we can learn, it is that law solves nothing. Rather, it only exacerbates the problem. It is the grace of Christ that alone can turn people away from constantly returning to their own vomit and grading themselves on a bell curve that does not exist.

5 (con’t) And against those who turn away an alien—

u-mate ger – “And deflectings sojourner.” The first word is natah. It signifies to stretch out or incline. However, in this case, it is figuratively used in the sense of moral deflection. One can see a stranger, a ger, being pushed away from the front door of the house.

Again, it is a precept found in the law. One time, it is listed as one of the heinous crimes worthy of an audible curse before the Lord –

“Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due the stranger [ger], the fatherless, and widow.” Deuteronomy 27:19

The word ger signifies a guest and, thus, by implication, a foreigner. He is someone sojourning in an area or land. Moses himself was an example to Israel of this lesson –

“Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. And they came and drew water, and they filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 Then the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
18 When they came to Reuel their father, he said, ‘How is it that you have come so soon today?’
19 And they said, ‘An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and he also drew enough water for us and watered the flock.’
20 So he said to his daughters, ‘And where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.’
21 Then Moses was content to live with the man, and he gave Zipporah his daughter to Moses. 22 And she bore him a son. He called his name Gershom, for he said, ‘I have been a stranger in a foreign land.’” Exodus 2:16-22

Job, who was outside of the covenant people and not bound to the law of Moses understood this precept –

“(But no sojourner had to lodge in the street,
For I have opened my doors to the traveler).” Job 31:32

And, of course, there are Jesus’ unforgettable words in Luke 10 that give us all we need to know about this principle –

“Then Jesus answered and said: ‘A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, “Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.” 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?’
37 And he said, ‘He who showed mercy on him.’
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:30-37

This is exactly the type of person the law demanded tending to and not deflecting away. Both the priest and the Levite, stewards of the Law of Moses, would have been fully aware. Despite this, they shunned their responsibilities under the law.

And yet, a Samaritan, one of those held in contempt by the Jews, was willing to not only tend to this person but to extend himself beyond anything the law required out of human decency.

James expanded on the words of this verse and said the following to his audience –

“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27

Such people were set to be purified from the people of Israel. This began at Pentecost. It has continued unabated for two millennia, and yet, the people, to this day, have not learned their lesson.

Next stop, the tribulation period, meaning the time of Jacob’s trouble. At that time, the refining process will go into overdrive making ready a people for the return of Jesus. And all of this…

5 (con’t) Because they do not fear Me,”
Says the Lord of hosts.

v’lo y’reuni amar Y’hovah ts’vaoth

“‘And no feared Me.’
Said Yehovah Sabaoth.”

These words were the basis for every evil and wicked thing the people did. They stood at the base of Mount Sinai and heard the words of the Lord. As they stood and heard, they feared and spoke to Moses about what should take place –

“Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. 19 Then they said to Moses, ‘You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.’” Exodus 20:18, 19

In the comparable account in Deuteronomy 5, Moses explained what the Lord’s reaction to their words was –

“Then the Lord heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me, and the Lord said to me: ‘I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken. 29 Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!’” Deuteronomy 5:28, 29

However, the problem is that they did not have such a heart in them. Instead, they almost immediately rejected Him and turned to idolatry. For the rest of their years, they tottered between obedience to the Lord and outright apostasy from Him.

As seen in Judges, by the time of Moses’ grandson, the people were steeped in idolatry. Time and again, the Lord brought judgment against them. Eventually, they would cry out to Him for help and He would return and tend to them.

But no sooner did they receive relief than they went right back to their wicked ways. With all of this ongoing warning, punishment, and return, one would think Israel would have learned its lesson. But such was never the case. The law, a device intended to instruct them and lead them to Christ, became their object of idolatry.

Instead of fearing the Lord, they feared the law, given by the Lord, ascribing it to Moses. He and what he epitomized became their focus. The Lord, incredibly, was relegated to an afterthought in all they did.

With Him out of their primary focus, they could manipulate the law in any way that suited them, ignoring or twisting anything inconvenient.

To this day, this can be seen in any rabbi or teacher of the law, right on YouTube. If you read and know the Bible, you will need Tums or Pepto Bismol because of what you hear.

However, Moses was only the middleman in the process of receiving the law. It came directly from the Lord. Moses carefully penned, letter by letter and dash by dash, every single precept so that there would be no mistaking in the Lord’s intent –

“For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” Matthew 5:18

The jot equates to the Hebrew yod (י), the tenth and smallest letter of the aleph-beth. It would be easy to miss a jot when transcribing a document. The tittle equates to a dash used in making a letter. Some letters are so close in appearance that the smallest mark distinguishes each –

כ ב – beith and kaph

ר ך – daleth and resh

תחה – he, kheth, tav

The slightest change in these or other letters can change the entire meaning of what is being said. As for Jesus’ words, the meaning is that there can be no change in the word of the Lord. It is fixed, unchanging, and binding. All who are under the law will be judged by every precept set forth in it… until all of it is fulfilled by them or for them.

That was done by Jesus. Any who come to Him by faith are released from that bondage and enter into a new economy under a New Covenant. Those who do not remain bound to the burdensome law by which they will be judged according to Christ’s perfect fulfillment of it. Their end will not be happy…

The Lord God Omnipotent! He reigns!
He in whom there is no change, no shadow of turning
He alone has broken our chains
It is for Him that our souls are deeply burning

We shall forever hail He who was, and is, and who is to come
The One who spoke it all into existence long ago
From age to age He directs every outcome
Because from the first, every moment after He did know

The Lord God! Hail the name of Jesus!
Who came to show us the perfect way
Look and behold what He has done for us!
God in Christ has introduced His perfect Day

II. Not Ended (verse 6)

“For I am the Lord, I do not change;

ki ani Y’hovah lo shaniti – “For I, Yehovah! Not transmuted.” The name Yehovah is not a predicate to the subject I, as in “I am Yehovah.” Rather the words are set in apposition, being grammatically parallel, one confirming the other – “For I, Yehovah, I…”

This is apparent from the next clause where the words “you” and “sons of Jacob” are likewise set in apposition. Thus, the Lord is making an absolute proclamation about Himself. As for that declaration, it is, “Not transmuted.” The word I is implied in the verb. The word itself, shanah, signifies to duplicate.

Thus, in this case, it means that there is no duplication in the Lord, meaning in form, nature, or substance. He is as stated in Exodus 3 –

“And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.”’” Exodus 3:14

God is. He does not bend to His creation, nor is He uncaring toward it. Time does not affect Him. Change implies an imperfection. In God, there is no change. Aristotle called this Act. There is no Act in God. God is.

On the other hand, there is potential. Potential implies the ability for something to change. I was young, now I am old(er). I had curly blond hair. Now, I have little hair, mostly gray. I am content, and then I am dissatisfied and angry. My car rusts and corrodes.

God does not “get” angry, something that would occur in time. Rather, like a person sitting on one side of a pillar or another, the individual is either on the right side of God or on the wrong side. But God is the unmoved Mover. He is the unchanging Force in whose sight we change.

Introducing the law does not change God. Setting aside the law and establishing a New Covenant does not mean God has changed. God set forth a plan that has been at work since the creation of the universe. It is we who are to respond to what He has ordained.

God is not uncaring about death, but it also does not affect Him, bringing sorrow. Each thing that occurs is in accord with His plan. We are the ones who respond to it and, thus, we are the ones who react inappropriately toward Him when things don’t go our way –

“You will say to me then, ‘Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?’ 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why have you made me like this?’ 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?” Romans 9:19-24

Indeed, how presumptuous for us to shake our puny fists in God’s face and call His purposes into question! A beginning to all things implies a Beginner. A Beginner implies immutability –

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

This is His ordered system and we are participants in it. It is our responsibility as mature humans to accept that and not act in nastiness against His perfection –

“Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said:
‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the Lord.’
22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.” Job 1:20-22

It is unconscionable to curse God for our misfortunes without understanding the simplest of His ways. And His ways include an absolute binding nature to His covenants. He will faithfully uphold them without ever missing the fulfillment of a jot or tittle of what He has said…

*6 (fin) Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.

v’atem b’ne ya’aqov lo kh’litem – “And you, sons Jacob, not ended.” With Israel under the sternest condemnation for their appalling attitude and conduct toward the Lord, why would He say this to them now?

It is because He had already told them that, despite their conduct, He would preserve Israel forever. The words signify that it is for this, and only this reason that He would not just utterly swat them away –

“And He said: ‘Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.’” Exodus 34:10

“Thus says the Lord,
Who gives the sun for a light by day,
The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night,
Who disturbs the sea,
And its waves roar
(The Lord of hosts is His name):
36 ‘If those ordinances depart
From before Me, says the Lord,
Then the seed of Israel shall also cease
From being a nation before Me forever.’
37 Thus says the Lord:
‘If heaven above can be measured,
And the foundations of the earth searched out beneath,
I will also cast off all the seed of Israel
For all that they have done, says the Lord.’” Jeremiah 31:35-37

Unfortunately, the Jews, even to this day and as I have personally seen, take these words to mean that the Lord will always favor Israel, no matter what they do. This is entirely incorrect according to His word through Malachi. Rather, it is solely because the Lord covenanted with them.

They will be brought into the New Covenant and they will loathe themselves and their conduct for eons of ignoring Him and bringing disgrace and discredit upon His name –

“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on 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. 11 In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.” Zechariah 12:10, 11

These words are a prophecy of the future and they will come in their due time. It is because the Lord is not transmuted that they will come to pass. He has spoken, and it will come to pass. Amen.

Closing Verse: “That which is has already been,
And what is to be has already been;
And God requires an account of what is past.” Ecclesiastes 3:15

Next Week: Malachi 3:7-12 Something mandated upon Israel the nation… (The Tithe and the Oblation) (8th Malachi Sermon)

The Lord has you exactly where He wants you. He has a good plan and purpose for you. He has sent His Messenger to carry the good news to all people. Jesus! God promised, and God delivered. The time of the law has ended, and grace has come. Praise God for Jesus.

Malachi 3:5, 6 (For I, Yehovah! Not Transmuted)

5 And neared unto you to the judgment.
And became witness hastening,
In the incantings,
And in the adulterings,
And in the swearings to the untruth,
And in oppresssings salary salaried, widow, and orphan,
And deflectings sojourner,
And no feared Me.’
Said Yehovah Sabaoth.”

6 “‘For I, Yehovah! Not transmuted.
And you, sons Jacob, not ended.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I will come near you for judgment;
I will be a swift witness
Against sorcerers,
Against adulterers,
Against perjurers,
Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans,
And against those who turn away an alien—
Because they do not fear Me,”
Says the Lord of hosts.

“For I am the Lord, I do not change;
Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
Yet from the days of your fathers
You have gone away from My ordinances