『Malachi 4:1-6 - A Day of Deliverance (Rev. Erik Veerman)』のカバーアート

Malachi 4:1-6 - A Day of Deliverance (Rev. Erik Veerman)

Malachi 4:1-6 - A Day of Deliverance (Rev. Erik Veerman)

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 Malachi 4:1-6 A Day of Deliverance Please turn to Malachi 4. This is the last chapter in Malachi and our last sermon. Last week we considered the distinction that God would make between the righteous and the wicked. On the one hand are the righteous who reverently fear the Lord and who demonstrate their fear by serving and honoring him. On the other hand are the wicked, who do not fear nor honor the Lord. That distinction comes down to whether you know and follow Christ. And also last week, we touched upon the day of the Lord. That phrase is introduced in chapter 3. It’s described as the day of the Lord’s coming. It’s the day, as chapter 3 says, when God will make up his treasured possession. Well, this morning’s text continues and expands on that day. It answers the question of what that day is like and how we should prepare for it. As I read, be thinking about Malachi’s audience. They were in a dicey and unsettling situation in Jerusalem. Despite their situation, some of them feared the Lord… but others rejected him. So, as you hear these words, think about how each group would receive this prophecy. Reading of Malachi 4:1-6 Prayer In the summer after graduating high school, I worked at a summer camp. One of my responsibilities involved leading a group of teenagers on a long multi-day canoe trip. We were in northern Wisconsin. One day, after a long journey through the various lakes we decided to set up camp on a small island. We thought it would be fun. And it was until the middle of the night when a massive storm rolled in. We woke up to thunder and lightning and then heavy winds followed by a downpour. On top of that, when the front rolled in, the temperatures dropped about 20 degrees. We were cold and wet and since we were on an island, there was no place to go. Well, the rain stopped just before dawn. As soon as it started to get light out, we scrambled to get a fire going. But that was difficult given all the rain. Some of the kids were literally shaking because they were so cold. The fire helped some, but it was still breezy and we had limited wood. But then it happened. The clouds parted, the sun came up, the wind died down. We all just stopped and soaked in the rays. It was like instant warmth. Physically and emotionally… and spiritually. We had been praying for help and within minutes the sun warmed us. In Malachi 4, the people had been enduring a period of life storms in different ways. They had been enduring a period of darkness. They couldn’t see how the future promises of God would be fulfilled. Yet, they are told that when the day of the Lord comes, the sun of righteousness will rise. That’s spelled s-u-n. He will come. The promised Messiah will come. And his coming will be like the rising of the sun after a long cold night. As I mentioned, these verses are centered around the day of the Lord. That day is spoken of multiple times here. · Look at the first sentence there in verse 1. “For behold, the day is coming.” · Then the very next sentence in the same verse says the same thing: “the day that is coming…” and it goes on. · Now jump down to the end of verse 3. It says, “on the day when I act, says the Lord of Hosts.” · And the last one is there in verse 5. “I will send Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.” …or as some translations say, the great and awful day of the Lord. I mentioned last week that the day described is a day of judgement. Well, that same idea is mentioned in chapter 4 verses 1 and 3. That final judgment will happen when Christ returns. So, there’s definitely a sense in which this day will be fulfilled in our future. However, the returned exiles are told that Elijah the prophet will come before that great day. That prophecy has been fulfilled in John the Baptist. We considered a similar prophecy earlier in chapter 3. In other words, there’s also a sense that Jesus first coming (you know, his first advent) fulfilled this prophecy about the day of the Lord. John Calvin held that view, and it makes sense considering the reference to Elijah. I think the best understanding is to consider that the “day of the Lord” began at Jesus first advent and will come to completion at his second advent. In other words, for us, there’s both a “now” and “not yet” to this “day of the Lord.” In the apostle Peter’s sermon at Pentecost, he quotes the prophet Joel’s prophecy about the day of the Lord. And he indicates that it is being fulfilled. Other New Testament texts speak of the last days that we are in, which will come to a final completion when Christ returns. So, the day has come, and it will come. However, from the perspective of the people in the Old Testament, it appeared to them be one event. Think about it this way. It’s kind of like driving through a mountain range. This last May we were driving through the Rocky Mountains. If you’...
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