הנני שׁלח מלאכי ופנה־דרך לפני ופתאם יבוא אל־היכלו האדון אשׁר־אתם מבקשׁים ומלאך הברית אשׁר־אתם חפצים הנה־בא אמר יהוה צבאות׃
"Look! I am sending my messenger to clear the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple. Yes, the messenger of the covenant, in whom you take such delight -- look! Here he comes," says Adonai-Tzva'ot.
(Mal 3:1 CJB)
"Look! I am sending my messenger to clear the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple. Yes, the messenger of the covenant, in whom you take such delight -- look! Here he comes," says Adonai-Tzva'ot.
(Mal 3:1 CJB)
SHABBAT HAGADOL
This Shabbat preceding the Feast of Unleavened bread, is called "The Day of Preparation (Luke 22:1), is called Shabbat HaGadol. While the original reason for that appellation is forgotten, many are suggested, and one is that the Shabbat preceding the Feast of Unleavened bread generally saw a great influx of pilgrims in Jerusalem.
CONNECTION WITH THE PARASHA
The text for Shabbat HaGadol usually falls at the time of Parasha Tsav, which finishes the introduction to the main five types of offerings. This haftara contains a rebuke to Israel for their offerings being done in a cavalier, nonchalant, and disrespectful way, like an obligation instead of a blessing and a privilege.
ELIJAH/YOCHANAN THE IMMERSER
In the last passage of chapter 2, HaShem rebukes the people of Judah:
You have wearied Adonai with your words. Yet you ask, "How have we wearied him?" By saying that anyone who does wrong is good from Adonai's perspective, and that he is delighted with them; or by asking, "Where is the God of justice?"
(Mal 2:17 CJB)
In chapter three, HaShem will answer the question, "Where is Adonai?' He proclaims that He will send a messenger before the Lord whom they seek.
"Look! I am sending my messenger to clear the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple. Yes, the messenger of the covenant, in whom you take such delight -- look! Here he comes," says Adonai-Tzva'ot.
(Mal 3:1 CJB)
HEBREW NOTE: "my messenger" in Hebrew is the word, "malachi," the actual name of the prophet!
The identity of this "messenger is not told us until chapter four, where HaShem reveals his name, "Look, I will send to you Eliyahu the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible Day of Adonai." (Mal 4:5 CJB)
A calculation based on Luke 1:5 shows that Yeshua was born during the season of Sukkot. This automatically tells us that Yochanan, who came in the spirit of Elijah (Mat 11:14), was born during the season of Passover. Yochanan came to "prepare the way for Him that was to come after him (Luke 3:2-18).
At the Passover dinner, an empty seat is usually reserved for Elijah.
Our haftarah starts with the prophecy concerning "my messenger", before the coming of the long-expected cherished "Messenger of the Covenant," the Messiah.
Yeshua called Yochanan "great."
Yeshua began speaking to the crowds about Yochanan: "What did you go out into the desert to see? Reeds swaying in the breeze? No? Then what did you go out to see? Someone who was well dressed? But people who dress beautifully and live in luxury are found in kings' palaces. Nu, so what did you go out to see? A prophet! Yes, and I tell you he's much more than a prophet. This is the one about whom the Tanakh says, 'See, I am sending out my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.' I tell you that among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than Yochanan the Immerser! Yet the one who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he!"
(Luk 7:24-28 CJB)
Yochanan truly challenged every class of Israelite to godly living, including the Sadducee priests who jeered at him, and Herod who put him in prison. The common people repented.
But who can endure the day when he comes?
Who can stand when he appears?
For he will be like a refiner's fire,
like the soapmaker's lye.
He will sit, testing and purifying the silver;
he will purify the sons of Levi,
refining them like gold and silver,
so that they can bring offerings to Adonai uprightly.
(Mal 3:2-3 CJB)
JUDGMENTS AND OFFERINGS
Offerings can be brought in a manner displeasing to Adonai. Such was the offering of Cain as well as that of Saul (Gen 4:5; 1 Sam 13:8-14; 15: 13-20).
The regular Haftarah for parasha Tsav tells us of HaShem rebuke to the nation through the mouth of Jeremiah because of insincere offerings performed as substitutes for obedience and a repentant spirit (Jere 6:20; Jer 7).
The Messenger of the Covenant (The Messiah) will purify the priesthood and then:
Then the offering of Y'hudah and Yerushalayim will be pleasing to Adonai, as it was in the days of old, as in years gone by.
(Mal 3:4 CJB)
The believers will come before the Master, having already settled their sin/debt with HaShem through the advocacy and covering of Messiah at the beginning of the Messianic Age. The rest will appear at the end at what is called the Great White Throne Judgment. (1 Thes 4:13-18; Rev 20:11-15). We are all judged according to the precepts of the Torah as given to Moshe.
"Then I will approach you for judgment; and I will be quick to witness against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers; against those who take advantage of wage-earners, widows and orphans; against those who rob the foreigner of his rights and don't fear me," says Adonai-Tzva'ot." But because I, Adonai, do not change, you sons of Ya`akov will not be destroyed.
(Mal 3:5-6 CJB)
Malachi traces the "sin" of his contemporaries to their forefathers. They have gotten so dull to the Word and to the Spirit of God that they don't even know what's wrong. The people were faithful with their Temple offerings but their heart was far from HaShem and full of wickedness. They emphasized rituals before righteousness; the form and letter of the commandment above its intention and spirit.
Forgiveness as the result of a truly sincere repentant heart is still on the table.
Since the days of your forefathers you have turned from my laws and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says Adonai-Tzva'ot. "But you ask, 'In respect to what are we supposed to return?'
(Mal 3:7 CJB)
"IN WHAT RESPECT?"
Having no clue as to what they did wrong, HaShem points out some of their wrongs to the people.
ROBING GOD
Malachi continues his lawyer-style indictment of Israel by asking the questions and giving the answers.
The people robbed HaShem of His due tithes, which brought on a plague on the country, which cursed the land with poor, unproductive crops.
The idea of robbing HaShem from His due is something that Yeshua also brought out in His generation (Mark 7:10-12).
Can a person rob God?
Yet you rob me.
But you ask, 'How have we robbed you?'
In tenths and voluntary contributions.
A curse is on you, on your whole nation, because you rob me.
(Mal 3:8-9 CJB)
HaShem puts a test in front of the people. "Accurately and faithfully bring your tithes, and see how I will bless your land!"
Bring the whole tenth into the storehouse, so that there will be food in my house, and put me to the test," says Adonai-Tzva'ot. "See if I won't open for you the floodgates of heaven and pour out for you a blessing far beyond your needs. For your sakes I will forbid the devourer to destroy the yield from your soil; and your vine will not lose its fruit before harvest-time," says Adonai-Tzva'ot. "All nations will call you happy, for you will be a land of delights," says Adonai-Tzva'ot.
(Mal 3:10-12 CJB)
CYNICISM
HaShem brings another issue to the attention of the people of Judah. Again, they are so deep in their erroneous ways, they have so rationalized their sinful behavior, that they are not even aware that they are sinning.
"You have spoken strongly against me," says Adonai.
"Yet you say, 'How have we spoken against you?'
(Mal 3:13 CJB)
Yeshua presents the same problem of people thinking that they are serving him, but being blinded by their sin rationalization, they do not even see that they are off the spiritual target. He says:
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, only those who do what my Father in heaven wants. On that Day, many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord! Didn't we prophesy in your name? Didn't we expel demons in your name? Didn't we perform many miracles in your name?' Then I will tell them to their faces, 'I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!'
(Mat 7:21-23 CJB)
As he was teaching Timothy the ropes of leadership in the Kingdom and how to vet people, Paul puts it this way:
Having a form of godliness,
but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
(2Ti 3:5 KJV)
In what way did Israel show cynicism? They had lost their hope in the blessings, both present and future, of serving HaShem by obeying His commandments. They suffered spiritual despondency. They had no vision as to its necessity, and as King Solomon said, "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." (Pro 29:18 KJV)
By saying, 'There is no point in serving God.
What good is it to obey his orders
or to walk about as mourners before Adonai-Tzva'ot?
We consider the arrogant happy;
also evildoers prosper;
they put God to the test;
nevertheless, they escape.' "
(Mal 3:14-15 CJB)
THE 'BOOK!"
It is easy to fall into apathy in a world where right is wrong and wrong. It is easy to become despondent when the wicked seem to flourish and the righteous seem to diminish. It is easy to let go and yield to the flow or ardent negativity, selfish individualism, and hedonism, all while thinking, "Let's drink and be merry for tomorrow we die!" It is easy to fall into the deception that unless we do it ourselves, HaShem will not care for us. But we should not.
In the days of Malachi, not everyone fell to the spirit of apathy and despondency. Those who remained faithful to Adonai banded together to encourage each other in deeds and words.
Then those who feared Adonai spoke together;
and Adonai listened and heard.
(Mal 3:16 CJB)
HaShem saw it and took note of it in a book.
A record book was written in his presence
for those who feared Adonai
and had respect for his name.
(Mal 3:16 CJB)
Light glorifies itself against darkness and it takes courage to stand against the majority opinion, especially in a world of religion. HaShem honors these few who do not succumb to the spirit of the day.
"They will be mine," says Adonai-Tzva'ot, "on the day when I compose my own special treasure. I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.
(Mal 3:17 CJB)
HaShem will use these few faithful as an example to teach right from wrong and true from false.
Then once again you will see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between the person who serves God and one that doesn't serve him.
(Mal 3:18 CJB)
THE END OF TIMES WILL TELL ALL
As opposed to those who became despondent thinking that there was no use in serving HaShem, HaShem reminds the people that in the days to come, the wicked do get the deserved punishment for their actions, while the righteous will receive his true and deserved reward.
For the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the proud and evildoers will be stubble; the day that is coming will set them ablaze," says Adonai-Tzva'ot, "and leave them neither root nor branch. But to you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will break out leaping, like calves released from the stall. You will trample the wicked, they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I take action," says Adonai-Tzva'ot. "Remember the Torah of Moshe my servant, which I enjoined on him at Horev, laws and rulings for all Isra'el.
(Mal 4:4 CJB)
THE CUP OF ELIJAH
It is said that if Messiah comes twice, Elijah needs also to come twice. Yeshua said that he came as John the Immerser the first time. We are waiting for the second time, that is why we save a place for him at our Passover Seder.
Look, I will send to you Eliyahu the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible Day of Adonai.
(Mal 4:5 CJB)
Again, "Elijah" will prepare the way for He who comes after him.
He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers; otherwise I will come and strike the land with complete destruction." [Look, I will send to you Eliyahu the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible Day of Adonai.]
(Mal 4:6 CJB)
On the Isle of Patmos, Yochanan the disciple was told of 2 prophets who would come before Yeshua returns. These prophets seem to have the same anointing as Elijah as it is said that they can shut up heaven. Could one one them be Elijah preparing the way for Messiah ben David as he did for Messiah ben Joseph?
"Also I will give power to my two witnesses; and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth." These are the two olive trees and the two menorahs standing before the Lord of the earth. If anyone tries to do them harm, fire comes out of their mouth and consumes their enemies -- yes, if anyone tries to harm them, that is how he must die. They have the authority to shut up the sky, so that no rain falls during the period of their prophesying; also they have the authority to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
(Rev 11:3-6 CJB)
May it be soon HaShem, even in our days.
SHABBAT SHALOM!R' Gabriel
R' Gabriel Lumbroso
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