The Messenger

By Rebecca Asbury
One-time first rights
To Glorious Gospel
Copyright 2013

Malachi said Christ would
Come to His dwelling place,
Would suddenly come,
Blest Herald of grace.

So we think of the bleating
And cooing and selling,
Space for dove cages,
Lamb cotes and stalls,

And the clink of coins
Within fair hallowed walls:
Barter and profit
In the courts of the Lord!

We think of the tables
Of rude money changers,
And a foretaste of judgment
In a scourge of small cords.

But Christ came before,
In brave questions to delve,
And sat with the sages
As a grave Lad of twelve,
While others His age
Were so without care!


He came first to His temple,
As an infant of days,
To Simeon and Anna,
Who marveled in praise.

“The One whom you seek
Shall come to His temple”
The new covenant’s Messenger
Was suddenly there.


“…the Lord, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in: behold, He shall come, says the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 3:1