On Malachi, The Messenger

A modern dictionary describes Malachi as “One Minor Prophet of the 5th century BC” Malachi was the last of the twelve prophets whose writings were included in the Old Testament. In Hebrew the name Mal’akhi means literally “my messenger,” others have translated it to mean “My Angel”. Malachi was hardly a minor prophet, from my point of view. He brought forth more truth in these last days than did many of the other prophets identified in the Old Testament. In these next few lines I am going to try to elaborate on what Malachi actually taught us in the simplest terms. In honoring the Lord’s name, Malachi stated in the opening chapter, “…my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts, But you have profaned it…ye have snuffed at it… (Speaking of the former people of Israel’s, as well as some of us today). Referring to sacrifices and offerings the Lord said: “… ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: (Speaking of the time when Israel was making animal sacrifices, supposedly w/o blemish.) But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificed unto the Lord, a corrupt thing:” “…should I accept this of your hand? saith the Lord.” (Mal 1:14) .

Malachi is warning us to offer an acceptable offering (for example, a full ten percent tithing) unto the Lord. Too, we should serve with joy when we make the sacrifices of our time and service. Each of us might ask ourselves if our sacrifices are such that they are going to be accepted of the Lord. How do we know, when we are ready to go to the other side, whether we will be accepted of the Lord? Malachi answers that question by saying; “But who may abide the day of his coming and who shall stand when he appeareth, for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.”(Mal.3:2).

Some may feel that he is referring to only the priests who made sacrifices in times past. I would rather believe that he is referring to us all. A simple Silversmith (purifier of silver) described what Malachi was saying; ‘The silversmith sits in front of the furnace as the silver ore is fired in a stone container. When he sees his image in the silver as it melts away from the ore that is when he must take it from the furnace. The Lord revealed to Alma, a book of Mormon prophet, what he meant by that when he asked. “Have Ye Received His Image in Your Countenances?” (Alma 5.43-48) Malachi’s description from the Lord, referred also to the furnace – or the world we now live in. The world that we all must experience. There is definitely a purging we go through on earth and to qualify, to go on, we must accept the Master, the God of Earth and Heaven. One who truly believes, will have His image in his countenance; an image of love, kindness and sacrifice. The Lord, Himself having made the greatest sacrifice of all.