I recently completed the second section of the Tanakh which is on the prophets. It starts with the book of Joshua and the conquest of the land of Israel. It ends with the book of Malachi, which takes place shortly after the construction of the second Temple. Much of this section is narrative history. It often focuses on the kings of Judah and Israel with particular attention to the religious state of the people. A common topic is HaKadosh Baruch Hu rebuking the nation for forsaking Him, His Torah, and their low moral state. There are also prophecies of national suffering and repentance followed by a never ending era of opulence, honor, peace, and joy.
Malachi was one of the last three prophets with the other two being Hagai and Zechariah. He was a member of the Anshei Knesset Hagedolah, the Great Assembly that met in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the beginning of the Second Temple period. After him there were no prophets, HaKadosh Baruch Hu stopped talking to Israel and humanity, and the result was a different world.
The book of Malachi is short, only three chapters. The tone of the book is rebuke and exasperation. Nevertheless a part of it addresses itself to the spot in the Jewish heart that is yearning for true redemption. In line with that the final chapter starts with Hashem saying that he is sending angel to clear the way for Him to come and the master that you seek will arrive at His sanctuary suddenly.
It then asks who could possibly deal with such a new world? This is because God is such a powerful detergent to clean filthy laundry and a such powerful fire to refine silver. The purification will be so great that in the end they will be able to bring offerings to Hashem in the Holy Temple, with total sincerity.
The question is who could make such a transformation, especially if it's sudden and extreme. The idea is that Israel will recognize how horrible they've been, want to clean up their act, but wonder, is it possible to exit from this miserable situation. It's as if to say my whole life is garbage, but if You throw out all the garbage, there will be nothing left of me.
The reply is a tirade against the many heinous sins of the Jews. However buried in this litany is a complaint against those that do not fear Hashem. It's later praises those that fear Hashem and says that on the terrifying day of religious revelation they will be spared and treated kindly.
The question is, what is fear of Hashem? It would seem it's a combination of religious guilt and paranoia. The person fears that they will be exposed as a low life and that the Lord will strike them dead. It comes out that the sinner who is yearning for redemption will half welcome the birth pangs of the messiah because they are enabling him to be part of a greater tomorrow.
לע"נ האמא מלכה בת חיים ז"ל נלב"ע טז ניסן תשנ"ח
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