Malachi 3:13-4:2a,5-6

The Book of Malachi (the name means "my messenger" or "my angel" and may not be a proper name at all) is the last book in the Old Testament, and one of the last - though not the very last - to be written. Ezra, Nehemiah, I and II Chronicles are almost surely later; probably Zechariah and possibly Ruth and Jonah as well. But in any case, it clearly addresses the period after the Return from Exile in Babylon under the auspices of the Persians, and the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. In other words, somewhere around 450 CE.

The writer is pre-occupied with "proper" worship, and much of the book denounces the disrespect to God of offering defective animals as sacrifices. In spite of an occasional criticism of social injustice (e.g. at 3:5), the message mostly has to do with Judah's impure and insincere ritual worship. This is characteristic of a period in which political sovereignty has been lost and only a form of distinctive religion is left on which a people can rely.

It is not hard to criticize this point of view, and to see Malachi as one principally concerned with triviality. Yet we Anglicans have fought many a battle over forms of worship, and who are we - or who is anyone - to say that liturgical issues are trivial?

Today's passage, a sort of climax to the book, continues dire warnings, but also promises great rewards for those who conform. "the sun of righteousness" who is to "arise with healing in his wings" (4:2) is one of the great images of the Bible, inspiring a verse of Charles Wesley's beloved hymn, "Hark! the herald angels."

Suddenly, in the final two verses of the Book, the prophet switches to an apocalyptic vision, more concrete than that of the Sun of Righteousness, and foretells the return of Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord. It will be recalled that many of the folk in the New Testament interpreted this as referring to John the Baptist, and some even to Jesus. No doubt our prophet was influenced by the tradition that Elijah did not die, but was taken up bodily into the heavens in a fiery chariot (II Kings 2:11), and was thus available, as it were, to return to earth. Yet, as one recalls the career and message of Elijah, one may wonder if he is really likely to do what it is said he will do in the final verse of all.