The Weekly Word - A Devotion for the Week of December 18
In today’s verse, Malachi, a prophet during a challenging time in Israel, assures that God will send a messenger. The people in Israel had become complacent in their worship, it was less relational and more ritual. They were neglecting God’s commands and were living disobediently.
The verse begins with Malachi assuring that God will send a messenger. This messenger’s role is to prepare the way before the Lord. For example, John the Baptist—in the New Testament—prepared the way for the ministry of Jesus Christ. He helped call the people to repentance and a renewed commitment to God.
Malachi says, “the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple.” This is a powerful declaration of the Lord’s imminent arrival. The temple during this time in history was a central place of worship. The idea of God coming to the temple foreshadows the incarnation of Christ, where God, as Jesus, came to dwell among His people.
The verse also says, “the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming.” This phrase points to Jesus, the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy. Jesus came not only as a messenger but as the embodiment of the covenant between God and humanity. His sacrificial death on the cross established a new covenant, offering salvation to all who believe in Him.
As we meditate on God’s promise of His second coming, let’s ask ourselves if we have prepared the way for the Lord in our lives. Are there areas of our hearts that need repentance and renewal?
Let’s embrace His covenant and recognize the depth of God’s love and redemption available through His son, Jesus.