MALACHI 4:1-6
Reading:
Songs:
Theme:
INTRODUCTION
A. In the final words of God in the Old Testament we read a promise to God’s people that there would be more to come. It was to begin again with the fulfillment of God’s having sent Elijah back them. It took place four hundred years later.
B. Years had passed since the people of Israel had returned to their homeland from the Babylonian captivity. The Temple had been rebuilt; the walls were rebuilt; the sacrificial system had been reinstituted. Most of their goals, which had been set for them upon their return, had been achieved. They were safe from the nations around them. However, their initial enthusiasm wore off over the years. Their worship had become ritualistic that is their hearts were not involved.
C. Let’s consider the way of success Malachi mentioned to the Jews.
Discussion
I. SEPARATION (4:1-3).
The Wicked
A. and the day that cometh burn them up (4:1).
1 ¶ For, behold, the day <03117> cometh <0935> (8802), that shall burn <01197> (8802) as an oven <08574>; and all the proud <02086>, yea, and all that do <06213> (8802) wickedly <07564>, shall be stubble <07179>: and the day <03117> that cometh <0935> (8802) shall burn them up <03857> (8765), saith <0559> (8804) the LORD <03068> of hosts <06635>, that it shall leave <05800> (8799) them neither root <08328> nor branch <06057>.
1. With the word behold (2:3; 3:1; 4:1, 5) Malachi pointed the reader’s attention to a unique event which was to be proclaimed.
2. The reference was to a time of judgment at which God was to bring the wicked and rebellious to account for themselves.
a. Some claim the reference was to the end of the world
(1) John the Baptist used the same “he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Mat 3:12).
(2) Jesus too used it “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels” (Mat 25:41).
(3) As did Jesus so did his apostles “the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men” (2Pe 3:7).
b. Some place the reference to Acts chapter two with the pouring out of the Holy Spirit in (cp. (cf. Joe 2:31; Act 2:17-20).
c. Some would place the reference to 70 A.D. when God left the Jews desolate (cp. Mat 23:36-38).
d. The messenger mentioned that we read of further down in the chapter, that God was to send before that day of judgment, gives us a clue as to the proper dating of the event.
e. Regardless of whether the date is past or yet future, a day of God’s judgment on all will come and though many will remain unconcerned or unaware of it, as with any other judgment mentioned in the scriptures, it will occur.
(1) Many people the religious and non-religious don’t believe it, at least not by their behavior, and so they will continue toward it as did the people in the days of Noah we read about in Mar 24:38 - “eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark.”
(2) Knowing what was to befall the wicked and unfaithful in this passage, we must consider what Malachi wrote of the faithful.
The Faithful
B. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing (4:2-3).
2 But unto you that fear <03373> my name <08034> shall the Sun <08121> of righteousness <06666> arise <02224> (8804) with healing <04832> in his wings <03671>; and ye shall go forth <03318> (8804), and grow up <06335> (8804) as calves <05695> of the stall <04770>.
1. Some claim “Sun of righteousness” is not a specific reference to Christ himself, but rather as the light of truth (Hos 6:5; Amo 5:18-20; Zec 14:6; Mic 7:8-9; Isa 49:6), perhaps to the messianic era.
a. They understand Malachi to be saying, "In the day the sun of righteousness comes (v 1) it will burn the proud and they that do wickedly .... but for the righteous, the same sun of righteousness will bring healing.”
(1) The reason some give for denying the reference here is to Christ hinges upon the use of a Hebrew feminine pronoun to agree with the word "sun," which is also here is feminine (cf. the physical sun - Gen. 15:17; Jer. 15:9; Nah. 3:17, and Isa. 45:8) [1]
b. However, as the rising sun is the light and source of life to all the earth, so the Christ is the light and giver of life to the faithful.
(1) "The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning” (2Sa 23:4).
(2) The scriptures tell us God” (Psa 84:11).
(3) “Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luk 1:78-79).
(4) “He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (Joh 1:8-12).
(5) “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (Joh 8:12).
(6) “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light” (Eph 5:14).
(7) “until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (2Pe 1:19).
(8) Righteousness is of God (Jer 33:16) and clearly the “sun of righteousness” is a reference to Jesus who is our source of righteousness (cf. Rom 3:22).
(9) ... “it must be affirmed that "the Lord's coming suddenly to his temple" (Malachi 3:1), the forerunner "Elijah" sent to prepare the way before him (Mal. 3:1; 4:5,6), and the "Great and terrible day of the Lord" (Malachi 4:5) point squarely to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to no other.” [1] Coffman
(10) He brings to our once were darkened spiritual to eyes sight, helping us see things as they are really.
(11) Thereby he brings to us spiritual security where there once was spiritual danger.
3 And ye shall tread down <06072> (8804) the wicked <07563>; for they shall be ashes <0665> under the soles <03709> of your feet <07272> in the day <03117> that I shall do <06213> (8802) this, saith <0559> (8804) the LORD <03068> of hosts <06635>.
2. This happened one time before in Noah’s time in which the wicked were destroyed and the righteous so to speak, walked on the ashes.
3. In this passage
Transition: There is only one way to avoid the outcome of the proud, the wicked, the rebellious, the unfaithful; there is only one way for us to be separated from them and found among the faithful.
II. OBEDIENCE (4:4-6).
A. ¶ Remember ye the law of Moses ... for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments (4:4).
4 ¶ Remember <02142> (8798) ye the law <08451> of Moses <04872> my servant <05650>, which I commanded <06680> (8765) unto him in Horeb <02722> for all Israel <03478>, with the statutes <02706> and judgments <04941>.
1. Malachi reminded Israel of the law given through God’s servant (Heb 3:5) “for all Israel.”
a. It wasn’t given to the Gentiles but to the Jews (Deu 4:8).
b. This law came with statutes and judgments and Malachi’s word’s regarding them were similar to Moses’ (Deu 4:13-14).
2. We too would do well in considered what Israel was called to remember for it has bearing too on us (cp. Heb 2:1-4).
B. ... Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD ... (4:5-6).
5 Behold, I will send <07971> (8802) you Elijah <0452> the prophet <05030> before <06440> the coming <0935> (8800) of the great <01419> and dreadful <03372> (8737) day <03117> of the LORD <03068>:
1. The Jews may have generally understood this to mean that the same Elijah the Tishbite who was taken by God (2Ki 2:1-12) would be the one who would return, however, that is not what God meant.
a. In the gospel account br John, John the Baptist was asked “Art thou Elias?”
b. It would seem they had asked John if he was who was prophesied to come, specifically if he was Elijah the Tishbite, for John said he was not (Joh 1:21), though Jesus declared John was the Elijah who was to come, that is in the manner Elijah the Tishite (Mat 17:12-13).
c. Before John’s birth, the angel Gabriel appeared in the temple to Zacharias announcing that had that Elizabeth was to bear a son whom they were to call John, and thereby announced the time of the coming of Elijah.
(1) John was to “go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, ... to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luk 1:13-17).
(2) The passage informs us that John the Baptist's mission was to prepare the people for the coming of Jesus.
d. “the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD” was a reference to the end of the Jews as a nation (Mat 24).
6 And he shall turn <07725> (8689) the heart <03820> of the fathers <01> to the children <01121>, and the heart <03820> of the children <01121> to their fathers <01>, lest I come <0935> (8799) and smite <05221> (8689) the earth <0776> with a curse <02764>.
2. Almost contrary to the New Testament purpose given to John the Baptist and Mal 3:1 “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me ...” Malachi declared in chapter 4 that John’s mission was to “turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers.”
a. Homer Hailey in his commentary on the Minor Prophets wrote of this, "He was to restore a right relationship between parents and children and to turn the hearts of the children to the ancient religion of their fathers" (p. 45).
b. Only the power of God’s word in guiding the family will accomplish this outcome (Eph 6:4).
c. The family which consciously, intentionally and purposely utilizes God’s word will build for their children a godly heritage.
d. Father’s especially must work to use the power of their influence to powerfully persuade their children to follow God’s word.
e. If we want to build a strong likelihood our children will grow up as strong, committed Christians, then the motivation must begin with us who are parents.
f. One man (Jonathan Edward’s) had as a legacy for the impact of his influence on his children, 300 preachers, 30 judges, 60 authors, 14 university presidents and 1 vice president of the United States. Another man Max Jukes) who lived in New York city, had among his known descendants 310 were vagrants, 440 had their lives wrecked by godless living, 130 were sent to prison, 7 were murders, 100 were alcoholics, 60 were habitual thieves, and 190 were prostitutes. Collectively they cost the state of New York $1.2 million dollars. (see Oswald Chambers, A Spiritual Clinic, 1958, p. 90).
(1) Looking in the mirror you should not only see yourself, but you will most likely also see evidence of your parents in yourself.
(2) If you look even deeper you will not only see physical resemblance’s, you’ll will also notice character, temperamental and even spiritual resemblances.
g. What character, temperament and spiritual influence will you pass on to your children.
(1) In turning the hearts of the fathers tot he children and the children to the fathers, people were prepared for the coming of Jesus.
(2) The same is still true for his return.
(3) This need for preparation comes with a warning.
3. “lest I come and smite the earth with a curse “
a. the Old Testament Canon closes with an admonition for "those who fear God's name" to keep the sacred Law, and to wait for the great Herald who would usher in the age of Messiah by calling the people to repentance and identifying the Christ himself, a mission gloriously and faithfully fulfilled by John the Baptist, whose witness of Christ is as eloquent as any found upon the sacred page: "Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the World."
Conclusion:
Sources Considered:
??, Father Power: How to build a godly heritage
[1] James Burton Coffman, Malachi 4, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, Abilene Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. 1983-1999
in charity through Christ, R a ym ond Wi se man
What the world says about
god and
and also
shall
Fastest
SFTP
on the planet
Go FTP FREE
Program