Malachi 3

God answers that cynical question: “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple... the messenger of the covenant.” But who can endure His coming, “for he is like a refiner’s fire”? He will purify the sons of Levi and bring swift judgment against sorcerers, adulterers, liars, and those who oppress the worker, the widow, the fatherless, and the sojourner. Grounding it all is the great promise of His constancy: “For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.” God calls, “Return to me, and I will return to you,” and confronts the people for “robbing” Him in tithes and offerings, inviting them, “Bring the full tithe... and thereby put me to the test... if I will not open the windows of heaven for you.” Finally He assures the faithful, who “spoke with one another” and feared the LORD, that a “book of remembrance” is written before Him, and that they will be His treasured possession.