The Day of Judgment – Malachi 1:1-4:6
“But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’ – Malachi 1:7b
Seven times in the book of Malachi we see a similar phrase. God makes an accusation against the people, and the people respond by saying “How have we ________?” They had apparantly become so wrapped up in their disobedience that they were oblivious to it. Like a teenager texting their way through the mall, the Israelites are unaware of their actions and the truth of their situation.
It’s been said that the primary role of the prophet is not “foretelling the future,” but “forthtelling the Word of God.” In this way, Malachi functions as a mirror–telling the people the truth about their circumstances… and their sins.
Mirrors never lie! When I went to the barber this week, he held up that pesky hand-held mirror to show me the back of the head… and the ever-growing bald spot! Mirrors tell us the honest truth, whether we like it or not.
A few weeks ago, one of the children in our church said that confession was “like telling the truth.” And she was exactly right! Confession is telling the truth about our situation to God and to the people around us… whether we like it or not. Repentance is the next step, when we stop doing the wrong thing we’re doing, and start doing the right thing that God wants us to do! But it all starts with looking into the mirror of God’s Word… the mirror that never lies.
23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says
is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror
24 and, after looking at himself, goes away
and immediately forgets what he looks like.