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The Great Day of the Lord
4 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts.
“Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
(ESV)
Malachi 4 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and playfully jump like calves from the stall.
Malachi 4:2 HCSB
In the final chapter of the Old Testament, Malachi offers a beautifully symbolic prophecy. Perhaps he meant the Son of Righteousness? Grace and forgiveness were coming soon.
“In many passages God is related to a planet or star (Psa 84:11, Isa 60:19, Rev 22:16, Num 24:17). Here, the Messiah is not only a Sun, but also the Sun of Righteousness who brings healing.”
David Guzik
But I think the most fitting ending for the Old Testament is found in the final word – curse. As Malachi pens that last word, the curse of sin is very much alive and well. The law and sacrificial system of offerings only served to affirm the chains of bondage that could not be broken by man.
It would be Christ’s first sermon that would contain a much different word – liberty.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Luke 4:18-19 ESV
The human race once cursed by God would now be blessed by Him. It never gets old. The contrast of the Old Testament curse and the image of Christ setting the captives free provides a backdrop for the heart of God.