OT Notes Mal. 3:1-4

Malachi 3:1-4, an Advent reading
1) this section answers the question at 2:17.It is a theodicy question-how have we wearied the Lord? where is the God of justice? They are rightfully furious that it seems as if evildoers are good in the eyes of God and God is pleased with them.this is stronger than Hab. 1:13 on the seeming inactivity and silence of god before evil.Just as love in absent in 1:12m, so is justice.
2)Is messenger human or an angel, especially since the name of the book is that of my messenger? Is the messenger a purifier of the temple, a la Dead Sea Scrolls and then God comes in v. 5? Dating of this passage is uncertain, but most place it in the Persian period.
3)Is the day of coming justice or judgement or both? How one translates this indicates how one sees the Day of the Lord.
4) Is the messenger like that of Isaiah 40:3 paving the way for the great king?
5)Some hear an echo to Ex. 23:20
6) the temple is once again the portal for the presence of God
7) Reflect on your acceptance or rejection of the image of refining as suffering.How do you see purification here and elsewhere? does the metaphor work well today? If so, why? If not, why not?
8) I'm uncertain if the offerings are in righteousness (right relations) or right offerings.
9) Notice that intent may well be indicative if an offering is pleasing. Note then it is not legalistic.Note too the expectations that the Levites need purification as an antecedent to popular cleansing.
10) How much do you want to bring this into line with Advent themes? Certainly the gospels line up the messenger with John the Baptist.
11) What is the nature of the covenant here, do you think? We may be seeing some cute wordplay here with covenant- berit and the separating metallurgical agent- borit (3:2).
12) days of old and former years (related to former things in Isaiah?)olam has a sense of eternity. This could be a really good preaching entry point or wedge.
13) Notice the lectionary skips over judgement in its frequent fear of using punishment texts but one could go further to to look at judgment, both negative, immediately following, and notice in vv 16-18.