Page 1340 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

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DECEMBER 31
He has married the daughter of a
foreign god.
May the LORD cut off from the tents of
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Jacob 3:1 My messenger. It was a custom of the
The man who does this, being awake Near Eastern kings to send messengers before
and aware, them to remove obstacles to their visit.
Employing a wordplay on the name of Malachi,
Yet who brings an offering to the LORD “the LORD’s messenger”, the Lord Himself
of hosts!
announced He was sending one who would
13 And this is the second thing you do: “prepare the way before Me.”This is “the voice
You cover the altar of the LORD with of one crying in the wilderness” (Is. 40:3) and
tears, the Elijah of 4:5 who comes before the Lord.
With weeping and crying; The New Testament clearly identifies him as
So He does not regard the offering John the Baptist (Matt. 3:3; 11:10,14; 17:12ff.;
anymore, Mark 1:2; Luke 1:17; 7:26,27; John 1:23).
Nor receive it with goodwill from your
hands. And who can stand when He appears?
14 Yet you say, “For what reason?” For He is like a refiner’s fire
Because the LORD has been witness And like launderers’ soap.
Between you and the wife of your youth, 3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of
With whom you have dealt silver;
treacherously; He will purify the sons of Levi,
Yet she is your companion And purge them as gold and silver,
And your wife by covenant. That they may offer to the LORD
15
But did He not make them one, An offering in righteousness.
Having a remnant of the Spirit?
And why one? 4 “Then the offering of Judah
He seeks godly offspring. and Jerusalem
Therefore take heed to your spirit, Will be pleasant to the LORD,
And let none deal treacherously with As in the days of old,
the wife of his youth. As in former years.
5 And I will come near you for judgment;
“For the LORD God of Israel says I will be a swift witness
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That He hates divorce, Against sorcerers,
For it covers one’s garment with
violence,” Against adulterers,
Says the LORD of hosts. Against perjurers,
“Therefore take heed to your spirit, Against those who exploit wage
earners and widows and orphans,
That you do not deal treacherously.”
And against those who turn away an
You have wearied the LORD with your alien—
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words; Because they do not fear Me,”
Yet you say, Says the LORD of hosts.
“In what way have we wearied Him?” 6
In that you say, “For I am the LORD, I do not change;
“Everyone who does evil Therefore you are not consumed,
Is good in the sight of the LORD, O sons of Jacob.
7 Yet from the days of your fathers
And He delights in them,”
Or, “Where is the God of justice?” You have gone away from My
ordinances
3 “Behold, I send My messenger, Return to Me, and I will return to you,”
And have not kept them.
And he will prepare the way before Me.
And the Lord, whom you seek, Says the LORD of hosts.
Will suddenly come to His temple, “But you said,
Even the Messenger of the covenant, ‘In what way shall we return?’
In whom you delight. 8 “Will a man rob God?
Behold, He is coming,” Yet you have robbed Me!
Says the LORD of hosts.
But you say,
“But who can endure the day of His ‘In what way have we robbed You?’
2
coming? In tithes and offerings.
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