Malachi 3:1-3 English Standard Version

¹ “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; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. ² But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. ³ He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.

As we return to these passages in Malachi let us extinguish the notion that soap is used in the forging process. A refiner’s fire is used on molten metal to remove impurities but the metal has not been formed into any usable shape. The association between the forge and the finished shape requires a fuller to be used in the blacksmithing process. Associating the term fuller here with that process is an error which is a mistake easily made.

The Hebrew word for fuller in Malachi is kâbaç, kaw-bas’; a primitive root; to trample.

The use of the word was in reference to the trade of washing clothes by stomping on with the feet, hence the need for soap. This is meant to illuminate the garments to be cleansed which are used to identify ones status within the community. It matters not your position, but rather the need for a clean wardrobe. No one should be ashamed.

This can take us back by way of remembrance to a comment about the trampling under of His feet.

Psalm 91:13 English Standard Version (ESV) You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

Malachi 3:1-3 English Standard Version

¹ “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; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. ² But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. ³ He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.

Before we explore the fire and the fuller’s soap, let us point to those being purified. Who are the sons of Levi? Levi was the son of Jacob, then named Israel, that was assigned no portion in the inheritance of land but their portion was God Himself. They became the priest of Israel. What does that mean to us?

1 Peter 2:4-5 English Standard Version

⁴ As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, ⁵ you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

The priesthood by the law has been surrendered to Jesus our high priest (Hebrews 7:17) and as such He dwells in our hearts by faith, we are His temple and we offer up spiritual sacrifices that are required to be burnt by fire.

Now we can explore the fire and the soap.