"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. 6 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.” Malachi 4:1-6
When life is difficult, we are quick to doubt God's character and neglect our responsibilities to Him and our fellow human beings. This is what has happened to the returning exiles from the Babylonian captivity, as Malachi, the last writing prophet of the Old Testament, directly addresses perennial challenges to the people of God.
Their worship had become routine (v. 10). The destruction of the family was widespread and accepted (v.15), and social obligations were neglected and mocked (v. 3-5). Apathy needed to be replaced by renewal and hunger for the things of the Lord. Their hope was a powerful visitation from the Lord on high that would be ushered in by one who had come in the power of the prophet Elijah.
"...And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” Luke 1:17
Because of the coming of our Messiah and King, His resurrection, ascension, and present session in heaven, we live in the “already, but not yet”.
THE DAYS OF ELIJAH, AND THE AFTERMATH WILL INCLUDE:
1. Foundational reality: those who revere my name (Malachi 4:2).
"And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it." Jeremiah 33:9
“But the fear of God which is the basis of godliness, and in which godliness may be said to consist, is much more inclusive and determinative than the fear of God’s judgement. And we must remember that the dread of judgment will never itself generate within us the love of God or hatred of the sin…Punishment has itself no regenerating or converting power. The fear of God in which godliness consists is the fear which constrains/promotes adoration and love.” John Murray, Principles of Conduct, p. 236
“Right fear of God is not a minor key, gloomy, flip side to proper joy in God. There is no tension between this fear and joy. Rather, this trembling ‘fear of God’ is a way of speaking about the sheer intensity of the saints' happiness in God. In other words, the biblical theme of the fear of God helps us to see the sort of joy that is most fitting for believers. Our desire for God and delight in him are not intended to be lukewarm.” Michael Reeves, Rejoice and Tremble, p.31
2. ...Healing/restoration, renewal in the reality of Christ.
"And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us[a] from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:76-79
"But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—everyone—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:5-6
(1 Peter 2:24)
3. …Joy “you shall go out leaping like calves from the stall” (v. 2b).
“The webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight
is what the Hebrew prophets call shalom. In English we call it peace, but it means far more than
just peace of mind or ceasefire between enemies. In the Bible shalom means universal
flourishing, wholeness, and delight—a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied
and natural gifts fruitfully employed, a state of affairs that inspires joyful wonder as the creator
and savior opens doors and speaks welcome to the creatures in whom he delights. Shalom, in
other words, is the way things are supposed to be.” Cornelius Plantinga, Not the Way It's Supposed to Be
4. Remembering God's word (v.4).
"Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name.
Turning the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers." Malachi 3:16
“Because we recognize that God has ordained the institution of the nuclear family and called us into the greater familial community of the body of Christ, we celebrate and strive to build strong families within individual homes and across the generations within our church.” ECBC Core Value - We are a Family
“And here again we ought to observe that we are called to a knowledge of God: not that knowledge which, content with empty speculation, merely flits in the brain, but that which will be sound and fruitful if we duly perceive it, and if it takes root in the heart.”
John Calvin, Institute, 1.5.9
APPLICATION:
May we seize the day and live with resolve.