Thursday - Malachi 4 - Waiting for the Sun to Rise

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T is often repeated that the same sun that melts wax, hardens clay. Similarly, the same Son who saves repentant sinners, destroys the impenitent. As we read in Luke 20:18, "Whosoever shall fall upon that Stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever It shall fall, It will grind him to powder." As we conclude our journey through the Old Testament of the Bible, it is appropriate to remind ourselves that all 39 books have pointed, in one way or another, to the coming of the Messiah. He will be the one who knows the difference between the wheat and the tares; between the sheep and the goats; between those on the Stone and those under it; between believers and unbelievers.  We end the Old Testament waiting for the Sun to rise on a new day; a day upon which the Messiah will come, when the proud will be damned, and the humble will be blessed (Malachi 4:1-2).

Malachi's contemporary audience had a long time to wait before the Sunrise. In fact, they were destined to die in the night. It would be centuries before the day would dawn and the Son would arrive. Appropriately, both Advents of Christ are forecasted here in Malachi 4. This prophet speaks of His incarnation and of His exaltation - with mercy at His first coming and justice at His second.

Malachi 4 has a very distinct "closing remarks" feel to it as you read it. In addition to the allusion to the spiritual Sunrise (which we have already noted), in verse 4 there is also a fitting reminder of the importance of keeping the commandments of God, and in verse 5 he points to the  fact  that the  next major event on God's prophetic calendar will be the coming of Elijah (consider Matthew 11:13-15 & Revelation 11:3-4). And, he points to the eventual climax of human history, the day when Christ will establish His kingdom on this earth. Let us pray with zeal and sincerity: “Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” This is our hope and our future.