The Day of the LORD
1 "Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire," says the LORD Almighty. "Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. 3 Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things," says the LORD Almighty.
4 "Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.
5 "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. 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 cynical, weary people of Malachi’s day forgot about the Day of Judgment. Notice the language
of v2 being referenced in the lyrics of our Christmas song, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” where it says, “Hail
the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Risen with
healing in His wings.” And surely v3 refers to Genesis 3:15, where Satan’s head is crushed beneath the feet
of the woman’s seed. The bottom line here in Malachi is to humbly repent before the Lord and acknowledge His
righteousness no matter your circumstances. We can encourage one another to trust the Lord in every aspect
of our lives as both a result of past prophecy (Jesus has come) and future prophecy’s certain fulfillment
(Jesus is coming). In fact, we see it in Malachi 3:16, that “those who feared the Lord talked with each
other, and the Lord listened and heard.” Take heart in that glorious truth and trust Him, and encourage
others to do so as well.
Bible text from
Gospelcom.net. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by
International Bible Society.