Context No. 3604 of 4322 · Malachi

Malachi 4:1-6: in context

1“For behold, the day comes, burning like a furnace, when all the proud and all who work wickedness will be stubble. The day that comes will burn them up,” says the LORD of Armies, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2But to you who fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings. You will go out and leap like calves of the stall. 3You shall tread down the wicked; for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I make,” says the LORD of Armies. 4“Remember the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded to him in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and ordinances. 5Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes. 6He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, ends with a day of reckoning: a day burning like a furnace for the arrogant and the evildoers, who will be stubble. But for those who fear God's name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.

What a beautiful image for those who revere God: the sun of righteousness, warmth and light and healing, dawning upon them, so that they go out leaping like calves released from the stall. The very day that consumes the proud brings healing and joy to the humble who fear God. And the Old Testament closes with a promise of Elijah to come, who will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and children to their fathers, preparing the way. The New Testament opens by identifying John the Baptist as this promised Elijah. So the last words of the old covenant reach forward to the coming of Christ, the sun of righteousness who rises with healing for all who fear God.

Do I fear God's name and look for the sun of righteousness to rise with healing on me, rather than standing among the proud whom the day will burn?

Sources

Malachi 4:2: "But to you who fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings. You will go out and leap like calves of the stall."
Malachi 4:1: "The day comes, burning like a furnace, when all the proud and all who work wickedness will be stubble."
Malachi 4:5: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes."