God has spent the first three chapters of Malachi telling the Israelites what they've been doing wrong. Their priests have been disobedient by presenting less than God required for sacrifice. They have treated His sacred commands as annoyances, causing many to stumble. They've married women who worship foreign, false gods. Even those who have married fellow Israelite women have not treated their marriage as a covenant, but have treated it deceitfully and faithlessly. They then had the audacity to mourn when God didn't receive and bless their filthy offerings. They've been robbing God by refusing to give their tithes, the 10% required by the law to fund the workings of the temple.
The people have counted the cost of following God and His requirements for righteousness, and they have decided it's worthless. They recognize no gain for serving Him; in fact, they consider the arrogant more "blessed", they even envy them for escaping punishment for their wickedness. Sin looks like too much fun from the other side, and they are filled with resentment at their demanding God.
God starts chapter 4 with "But look..." Famous last words that suggest everything will be wrapped up in these last few words, much like the last paragraph of a letter. He tells them the day IS coming when the arrogant, wicked people they have admired will face their final judgment. It will consume them, leaving no trace of riches, wealth, or success.
But for the ones who have lived their lives in awe of the Name of the LORD, "the sun of righteousness will arise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and playfully jump like calves from the stall." I love this imagery!!! When the sun of righteousness rises, the Israelites will realize what they saw as a prison has been true freedom all along! They will rejoice like a calf just released. They will trample over the wicked as they follow the Lord.
God gives them a sign to look for that their redemption is drawing near. The prophet Elijah will come. (That still to this day means a lot to the Jewish people looking for their Messiah. At Passover meal, they leave an empty chair at the table for Elijah. Pray they recognize their Messiah has already come and their freedom and ours has been paid for!!) The coming prophet will prepare the way for the coming of the Lord, and the Lord will make all things right. Until that day, they are to remember the law, let it be the guardian over their lives it was meant to be....if not, God will come with a curse.
Famous last words. We can live our own way, or we can live God's Way. There is no third way. God's Way doesn't jive with the way of the world, and sometimes we feel jipped. But when the sun of righteousness shines, we see freedom. We can stretch our legs, finally out from under the curse of sin. We can explore and leap playfully. Joy, unspeakable joy.
O come, O bright and morning star, and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night and turn our darkness into light!
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