Malachi

3:1-5
During the last few weeks, we have been enjoying God speaking to us through the words of the ‘lesser’ prophets.
One thing that has struck me as I read the texts is the various ways that the Word has been brought to us by the prophets. By that I mean, sometimes the prophet just tells it like it is – you did this and so deserve the
consequences. Other times poetry or other forms of picture language are used to bring the message. Last week, we heard a lament, the prophet pouring out his emotions to God “How long O Lord will you not hear….”

Although in all the books, God addresses his people through the mouth of the prophet, firstly in a disciplinary way due to their sin, his final word is grace and compassion. Even though we may not always realise it, God cares. Now in the final book of the Old Testament, Malachi, God speaks directly to his people, and that is you and me. Here, it is the way that he does that is different – more like a parent speaking to their wayward child. A parent who is so full of
love and compassion that they will go to the extreme giving of themselves to show it. All of which points to God’s extreme Easter suffering and sacrifice in Jesus who died on the cross for us.
Pastor Darryl

Photo by Sebastián León Prado on Unsplash