(x)wisdom

He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. (Malachi 1:6-14)

The sons of Levi were the priests of Israel, set apart for service to God and Israel. Unlike all the other tribes of Israel, they were given no land for an inheritance, instead God said that He himself would be their inheritance (Deuteronomy 10:9). As a result of having no lands the Levites became dependent upon the people of Israel for the things they could not grow themselves. Therefore, God gave them the tithes and offerings to meet their needs (Deuteronomy 18:1). Even though their provision came from God, through the Israelites, He still commanded the Levites to give the best portion of what they received back to Him (Numbers 18:26,29). They were required to rejoice in their dependence by giving back the best of what they received. This was a continual reminder to them that their provision came from the Almighty God who alone could provide for them through a fickle people (Malachi 3:10).

Even though, or especially since, they were set apart for holy service refinement was necessary in order to bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. The Lord is the Great King who is zealous for his reputation, His Name. Therefore, He hates unrighteous offerings (Malachi 1:6-14). In Malachi's day the priests where just going through the motions. They would bring defective offerings to the Lord and He was so angry with them that He told them that He would rather they close the doors to the temple and stop making offerings to Him than for them to continue dishonoring Him with half-hearted and defective offerings.

The Levites were messengers of God to the Israelites and were to love wisdom and true knowledge. They were to teach and guide the Israelites in the ways of God and to help them to fear and honor their God. Instead, they had led many astray and corrupted the covenant that God made with them. But, God would not allow even their corruption to destroy the covenant. He would purify them so that they would stand in awe of Him again. He rebuked the priests, and the ones who honored God as Lord and esteemed the name of God gathered together in repentance. When they did this the Lord inclined himself to them (Malachi 3:16-18, 4:1).

Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. (Proverbs 13:24)

My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. (Hebrews 12:6)

The Sovereign Lord of the universe will refine those who have been set apart to bring Him glory. As a father corrects a son, so the Lord will purify His elect. All of this is designed to bring our understanding of God into alignment with His understanding of himself. It is designed to make us value what is truly valuable, God in the person of Jesus Christ, the final and ultimate sacrificial Lamb.

You are alive because Christ jumped in front of the bus of God's wrath to save you (Romans 5:8). What a tremendous dishonor to God are those who will not recognize what He did for them. Therefore, be quick to return to the Lord with repentance for your sin and new found value in the death of Christ as your substitute! Do not grumble or complain, hold on to God's promises so that you will be a light in this sin-cursed world, always showing them the value of Christ (Pilippians 2:13-16).