April 13, 2025

The Turning Point: Fearing the Lord: Malachi 3:16–4:6 (Sermon)

WELCOME

Thank you, Worship Team.

TEXT

We are continuing our series on the prophets in the Old Testament. This is our last sermon on Malachi. The book’s point is: The LORD’s covenant love preserves those who fear him. God was talking to the spiritual leaders of his people, but the message this morning relates to us all. [PAUSE] Let’s look at today’s passage. [PAUSE] Turn to Malachi, Chapter 3, verses 16 through Chapter 4, verse 5. I am going to have J.K. read for us. Would you please stand with me in honor of God’s Word?

Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name. “They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts.

“Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

(Malachi 3:16–4:6, ESV)

PRAYER

Thank you, let’s pray. Heavenly Father, help us to understand your Word. Guide and teach us about you and ourselves for your glory; in Jesus’s name, we pray, amen. You may be seated.

CONTEXT

Let’s go over the context. Malachi was written 2,400 years ago in the land of Israel. Israel spent seventy years in exile. Invaders had destroyed the capital, walls, and temple. They captured and enslaved God’s people, removing them from the land. [PAUSE] Time passed, and the Jewish people returned to rebuild. Israel had become the size of a postage stamp compared to the good old days of King David and his son Solomon. Edom, their southern enemy, prospered while they suffered. Persia, the oppressive superpower, protected their interests, not the Hebrews. Israel had no

King (1:8),
Great land,
Fantastic commodities,
Or international fame,

All of which God had promised their forefathers. Israel likely felt cursed, forgotten, and not loved. God counteracted such thoughts with a word of affection. He gave them a history lesson in a sentence reminding them that his love resulted from his mercy, not their merit. That didn’t sink in. All they could see was what they didn’t have. They didn’t prosper. Yet, they were only reaping what they sowed. They were experiencing a curse and would continue to if they didn’t return to God and his ways of worship, marriage, and obedience. God cared about their behavior and hearts. He wanted them to fear him. But they didn’t.

STRUCTURE

Verse 16 is the turning point of the short book of Malachi. It is like a peek at an undercover camera telling the story of a kid finally taking the parent seriously and the parent’s reaction. Verse 17 zooms out to show two different outcomes based on responses to God’s call to return to his ways. If you are taking notes, here are three points.

Section 1 Malachi 3:16–18 Remnant Hear and Fear

Section 2 Malachi 4:1–3 The Reckoning Days

Section 3 Malachi 4:4–6 Remember the Law & Behold Elijah

Let’s work through this first section.

3:16–18 Remnant Hear and Fear

Turn in your Bibles to Malachi Chapter 3, verses 16 through 18. Let’s read the passage once more.

Let’s look at several things.

FEAR

First, the people feared God. Proverbs tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10) and knowledge (1:7). It results in turning away from evil toward obedience and ends in favor of the Lord. It is good. At the same time, the Bible says that perfect love casts out fear. Fear can be bad. What is the difference between the two? Good fear is not like a phobia of dogs or public speaking. It is not a cowering, handwringing, and groveling before some sick tyrant or an abusive, dead-beat dad. This good fear relates to respect, reverence, honor, awe, and deference.

It is like a kid who does what is asked.
It is like an employee who takes the boss’s direction seriously.
It is like the guy who does what the officer says when pulled over.

This is an appropriate, understandable, and healthy fear. God desires it.

BOOK

Joe Koehler just finished a short book on the fear of the Lord, Rejoice and Tremble. I mentioned it in the announcements. I encourage you to pick up a copy and read it for yourself. God, through Malachi, wants his people to fear the Lord, and we should, too.

ATTENTION

Secondly, this passage tells us that God paid attention to these people who paid attention to him. He was not waiting for them to mess up and then zap them. They already messed up. No, he was paying attention, watching for obedience. He was looking for a heart response. It was like the prodigal son’s father waiting on the front porch for the sight of his son. God is all about a family reunion and reconciliation.

BOOK OF REMEMBERANCE

Thirdly, he says these people’s names would be in the book of remembrance. That is fascinating. A survey of the Bible shows this book is something other biblical authors wrote about. The first reference I found for it was in Exodus Chapter 32. Moses was seeking grace for his people and said,

“But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.” But the LORD said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book” (Exodus 32:32–33, ESV, italics mine).

King David penned a song stating,

You have kept count of my tossings;

put my tears in your bottle.

Are they not in your book? (Psalm 56:8, ESV, italics mine).

The prophet Daniel wrote:

“But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book” (Daniel 12:1, ESV, italics mine).

Jesus said to his disciples,

“Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20, ESV, italics mine).

The apostle Paul wrote,

“Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life” (Philippians 4:3, ESV, italics mine).

The apostle John had a vision from heaven and wrote,

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 21:22–27, ESV)

So there is some documentation, an ongoing file, with the names of God's redeemed children in heaven. It is like the census or roster.

TREASURED POSSESSION

What did God think of these people whose names are in this book? This is my fourth observation. Verse 17: they are his treasured possession. What do you treasure? What do you value? I have trinkets. I have knicknacks. One of my grandfathers was stationed in World War II in the Middle East. He collected a bunch of little lamps and jars. Some are newer, like this one. I treasure these artifacts. I also have a print of the Last Supper that a High School buddy gave me nearly thirty years ago. We bring that picture out this time of year. I treasure that picture. I have books. I love books. I treasure them. But I treasure most (besides my Savior) my wife and kids. They are my treasures. What do you treasure? Think about that. [PAUSE] How would you feel if someone stole, took, or destroyed it? That probably evokes deep emotion and demonstrates the object's value to you.

YOU ARE GOD’S TREASURE

Now, let’s shift gears and make a connection. What does Malachi 3:17 say God treasures? Again, we read that he treasures his people! That is not the first time we read this fact. In Exodus, a thousand years prior, God said,

“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:5–6a, ESV, Italics mine).

According to Exodus, God treasures those who obey him and keep his commandments. In Malachi, God treasures those who fear, esteem, and serve him. But what about today? What about non-Jewish people who have disobeyed, strayed, and been disrespectful? Peter, Jesus’s follower, documented God’s heart for the wayward Gentile who has seen the light. He gives hope for the one who turns from sin and desires to know and follow the Lord, writing,

But you [church] are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9–10, ESV)

Mercy is the neon sign of hope for all who believe in Christ. Mercy has saved us from our sins. This means God has chosen you! That means God calls you royalty by faith in Jesus! That means you are a priest by trusting in Jesus. You are on the worship team, by grace. That means you are holy, spotless, blameless, perfect because of Jesus’s blood atoning for your sin! Isn’t that incredible? You might have a voice that can’t carry a tune. But you can proclaim that God is excellent and merciful. You might not be able to play any instrument, but you can raise your hands in worship and clap with exuberance. You might not be able to do much more than pray, but you can pray a prayer of thanks to God for his mercy.

DISTINCTION

Then, we read in verse 18 that those God spoke to will see the difference between the righteous and the wicked. They will see those who served God and those who didn’t. The results will be plain.

SECOND SECTION

Let’s go to Chapter 4, the second section.

Section 2 4:1–3 The Reckoning Days

What do verses 1 through 3 state?

For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 4:1–3, ESV)

BURNING BURNING BURNING

A time is coming, friends, that will be unlike any before. Time marches to that end. This is a reckoning fire. The fire that refined God’s priests in Chapter 3 differs from this fire. Chapter 4’s fire will be one of judgment. The wicked, those who don’t have their name in the Book of Remembrance, and those who are arrogant evildoers will be decimated. John the Baptist brought this fire up when he was ministering, saying,

I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. (Matthew 3:11–12, ESV, italics mine)

John the Baptist was referring to Jesus. His fire will be frightening. Are you prepared to stand before your Creator and give an account for all of your thoughts, words, and deeds? God will adjudicate based on what you have done or what Jesus did. You get yours if you don’t cling to Christ’s track record. And that would not be pretty. The Lord’s standard of perfection exceeds ours. We will not meet his standards apart from Jesus. Are you ready?

JESUS SAID

The Bible records,

Then he [Jesus] left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. (Matthew 13:36–43, ESV)

Do you have ears to hear? Listen. Let us be like the ones in Malachi 3:16 and 4:2 and Matthew 13, who respond to God’s Word with fear, esteem, service, faith, and obedience.

FEAR HIS NAME

Some of the priests listened to what God was saying and responded well. They feared God’s name. They took God’s message to heart. They returned to God and his Law. In so doing, they would enjoy the sun of righteousness, physical healing, and victory over the wicked. They would become like hyper cows itching to get out of the barn and enjoy the field after being penned up for too long on a bright sunny day with lots of yummy green grass to eat and friends to frolic with. God offers his children incredible blessings of justice, righteousness, peace, and joy. It will be grand. Will you be there?

FINAL SECTION

That brings us to the last section.

Section 3 4:4–6 Remember the Law & Behold Elijah

Go to verses 4 through 6. Let’s wrap up for this morning.

Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.

(Malachi 4:4–6, ESV)

God called his priests to remember the Law of Moses given to them at Mount Sinai, also known as Mount Horeb. Why did he say that? Remembering the Law was the priests’ job. They should have remembered it. They were the teachers of it. They administrated it. But we have already read in Malachi that they didn’t! They disregarded it. They didn’t perform the appropriate sacrifices. They told people it was okay. They brought the rejected animals to sacrifice and did not bring the whole tithe. They divorced their wives for younger ones. They embraced other religions. On top of that, they slandered God, saying he wasn’t just and delighted in evil. God, therefore, called them to remember the Law of the first prophet, Moses. But that was not all.

ELIJAH

He told them to behold the prophet he would send. He had already said he would send a messenger, the Lord would come into his temple, and the messenger of the covenant would come. Now, he mentions Elijah. But Elijah had already come and disappeared hundreds of years before. Where did he go? He didn’t die. He ascended into heaven. Let that sink in. Elijah was taken up into heaven. A chariot of fire swept by, and a whirlwind took him (2 Kings 2:11). People had never seen anything like it. God was saying that Elijah was coming back. The people in Malachi’s day would wait and wait and wait for Elijah. The original audience would live their lives and die without Elijah arriving. Their kids would do the same, and their kids, and their kids, and their kids. It would be 400 years until he came back. And even then, he didn’t identify with him. Who was he? Jesus told us in Matthew Chapter 17:

And the disciples [Peter, James, and John] asked him [Jesus], “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. (Matthew 17:10–13, ESV)

John the Baptist was the Elijah mentioned in Malachi 4, verse 5. He came in Elijah’s spirit and power (Luke 1:17) and was a prophet of Elijah’s ilk.

PROPHET

There was one who would come after. He was the messenger of the new covenant. Moses spoke in Deuteronomy:

“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen” (Deuteronomy 18:15, ESV).

Moses wanted his people to listen to a future messenger. Who was he? He would be the subsequent prophets, like Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, and John the Baptist. However, one greater than all of them existed. Who? Hebrews tells us,

Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (Hebrews 3:1–4, ESV)

The builder of a house is greater than the house itself. Jesus is greater than Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, and John the Baptist. God calls the audience to remember the prophet Moses, who transmitted to them the Law. Malachi predicts a national revival in which some of God’s people will repent from their sins and bring a peaceful reality to fractured families. God’s people will return to fearing him and keeping his commandments, which can be summed up in loving him and his people.

APPLICATION

Let’s conclude with some application:

Do you fear the Lord? What does it mean to fear the Lord Monday through Sunday? [PAUSE]
Where do you see yourself: on the side of the wicked or righteous? Why? What can you do about that to move towards righteousness? [PAUSE]
What do you treasure? What do you value? How do you show it? [PAUSE]
What do you think of God seeing you as a treasured possession? How does God treasuring you sit in your heart? What goes on inside you when you think of God treasuring you? Does that make you uncomfortable? Why might that be? Does that make you happy? Or are you embarrassed? Do you believe it? [PAUSE]
When it comes to remembering Moses’s Law or God’s commands, how does that work for Christians in 2025? Are there commands of God that you are not following? What would it look like for you to follow God’s commands better this week? [PAUSE]

PRAY

Let’s pray.

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Robert J. Nash