Malachi 4
Mal 4:1
The LORD now elaborated on the day of judgment, to which He
had just referred (Mal 3:17). This day of the LORD would be a day of judgment,
which He compared to a fiery furnace in which all the arrogant and every
evildoer would burn like chaff (or stubble; cp Mal 3:2,3,15). He would so
thoroughly purge them that they would be entirely consumed, like a shrub thrown
into a hot fire is totally burned up. The judgment of wicked unbelievers, at the
return of Christ, is in view (cp Mat 13:41,42; 25:46; Isa 66:15,16; 2Th 1:7,8;
Dan 12:2,3).
Mal 4:2
BUT TO YOU WHO REVERE MY NAME, THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
WILL RISE WITH HEALING IN ITS WINGS: In contrast, the Israelites who fear
Yahweh (1:14; 3:5, 16-17) will experience a reign of righteousness compared here
to sunshine (cp Isa 60:1-3). Jesus as the Light of the World (John 8:12), will
be the "sun" of that day! The sun can blister and burn (as in v 1), but it can
also bless, and its blessing effect is in view here. The prophet visualizes the
rays of this "Sun of righteousness', like the wings of a bird stretching over
the earth. This righteous day will have a healing effect on the inhabitants of
the earth, healing them, and the planet, from the harmful effects of past
millennia of sin (cp 2Sa 23:4).
AND YOU WILL GO OUT AND LEAP LIKE CALVES RELEASED FROM THE
STALL: The figure of vigorous calves cavorting in open pasture after having
been cooped up in a stall pictures the joy and freedom that the righteous will
enjoy in that day (cp Isa 65:17-25; Hos 14:4-7; Amos 9:13-15; Zep 3:19-20).
"The glorified in the Kingdom are likened to calves which have
been fed, fattened, and kept in small dark pens waiting to be slaughtered -- who
then suddenly break out into the daylight, and go prancing away through the
meadows. This will be our leap of joy and taste of true freedom" (DH).
Mal 4:3
THEY WILL TRAMPLE DOWN THE WICKED; THEY WILL BE ASHES UNDER
THE SOLES OF YOUR FEET: The righteous would also enjoy superiority over the
wicked in that day, the opposite of the situation in Malachi's day. The wicked
would be as ashes trampled under their feet (ie Gen 3:15) in that the wicked
would suffer judgment and offer no resistance (cp Psa 58:10,11; Isa 66:24; Mat
3:12; Mark 9:48). Almighty Yahweh was preparing that day, so it would inevitably
come.
Mal 4:4
Vv 4-6: A concluding promise and warning. The final three
verses of the book, which are also the final message in the OT, are sufficiently
different from what immediately precedes to indicate another message from
Malachi. Essentially Malachi says, Be prepared for God's coming.
"Malachi began with an illustration from Genesis (Jacob and
Esau) and spent most of the first half of the book reminding priests and people
of the need to keep the Mosaic Law. Now, close to the end of his book, he gives
another terse reminder of their continuing obligation to those laws"
(EBC).
REMEMBER THE LAW OF MY SERVANT MOSES, THE DECREES AND LAWS
I GAVE HIM AT HOREB FOR ALL ISRAEL: Moses' last words to the Israelites in
Deuteronomy contain numerous exhortations to remember the Law that God had given
them. Malachi closed his book, and God closed the OT, with the same exhortation.
The Israelites had forgotten and disregarded God's law, and Malachi had pointed
out many specific instances of that. Now he urged the people to recall and to
obey their Law. By calling Moses "My servant", the LORD was reminding Malachi's
audience of how faithful Moses had carried out God's will. He was to be their
model of obedience.
Mal 4:5
SEE, I WILL SEND YOU THE PROPHET ELIJAH BEFORE THAT GREAT
AND DREADFUL DAY OF THE LORD COMES: An angel later told John the Baptist's
parents that their son would minister in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke
1:17). Yet John denied that he was Elijah (John 1:21-23). Jesus said that John
WOULD have been the Elijah who was to come if the people of his day had accepted
Jesus as their Messiah (Mat 11:14). Since they did not, John did not fulfill
this prophecy about Elijah coming, though he did fulfill the prophecy about
Messiah's forerunner (Mal 3:1).
This interpretation has in its favor Jesus' words following
the Transfiguration (and John the Baptist's death). Jesus said that Elijah would
come and restore all things (Mat 17:11). Whether the original Elijah will appear
before the day of the LORD or whether an Elijah-like figure, similar to John the
Baptist, will appear remains to be seen. Since Jesus went on to say that Elijah
had come and the Jews failed to recognize him, speaking of John (Mat 17:12,13),
the view that yet another Elijah-like person will come would seem the more
likely.
What John did for Jesus at His first coming, preparing the
hearts of people to receive Him, this latter-day Elijah will do for Him at His
second coming. Evidently the two witnesses in the Tribulation will carry out
this "Elijah" ministry (Rev 11:1-13), which could last 3 1/2 years. (The
ministry of the first Elijah also had a significant 3 1/2 year phase: Jam
5:17.)
Mal 4:6
HE WILL TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS TO THEIR CHILDREN,
AND THE HEARTS OF THE CHILDREN TO THEIR FATHERS; OR ELSE I WILL COME AND STRIKE
THE LAND WITH A CURSE: The Last Days "Elijah" will unite the hearts of the
Jews -- young and old alike -- to turn back and worship Yahweh. (Or, possibly,
the hearts of the "fathers" in Israel will become like small "children" -- ie
Mat 18:3; and the hearts of the "children" of Israel will be turned back to
their "fathers" -- ie the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.)
At his first coming Jesus said that because of him families
would experience division. Some fathers would believe on him but their sons
would not, and daughters would disagree with their mothers over him (Mat
10:35-36; Luke 12:49-53; cp Mic 7:6). When this new "Elijah" comes, he will
cause the Jews to believe on their Messiah as they had in the past. In this new
belief all generations will be united, and no longer divided.
OR ELSE I WILL COME AND STRIKE THE LAND WITH A CURSE:
Without the work of this coming "Elijah", and the resultant repentance of
Israel, the LORD will come (in the person of Jesus Christ) only to bring a
curse! But, thankfully, this will not be the case: after the preparatory work of
the new forerunner, the coming Messiah will initiate a righteous worldwide rule
that will last 1,000 years (Rev 20:1-6) -- bringing, not a curse, but the
greatest blessing!