(REFLECTIONS ON Malachi 4:1-6)

In the end, when judgment comes to creation from the Creator, the coming day will reveal the righteousness of the Lord. For the arrogant and the evildoer, that day will be like a burning furnace.

It isn’t only the evildoer that will be chaff, so let us not think that our faith is only about being a good person. The arrogant will also be chaff and burn ablaze.

The arrogant may not necessarily look like an evil person by society’s standards. A person may be loving, generous, productive, and respected, yet still refuse to surrender their life to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

The sun of righteousness, for those who fear the name of the Lord, will rise with healing in its wings and go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. Those that fear the name of the Lord will tread down the wicked, “for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing,” says the Lord of hosts.

4 “Remember the law of Moses My servant, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel.
5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.

The last book of the Old Testament, the final chapter before we go into the New Testament, serves as a bridge from the law of Moses, to Elijah the prophet, preparing the way for the Messiah.

This should lead us to Matthew 17 and Jesus’ transfiguration,

1 Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.

Jesus’ face shone like the sun, the sun of righteousness, and with Him were Moses and Elijah. Jesus came not to replace, or abolish the law of Moses, or the prophets, but to fulfill them. For those who put their trust in Him, surrender to His authority, turn from their wicked ways, and give glory to God through Christ by the Holy Spirit, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.

Let us learn to fear the name of the Lord, revere Him, glorify Him, and worship Him by the grace poured upon us through Jesus Christ, and by the work of the Holy Spirit. Let us not just turn from wickedness, but stay on the path of arrogance, because just being a good and productive citizen on earth won’t save us from the sun of righteousness.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Malachi 4