The Day of the Lord in Malachi: Salvation and Judgment
The Day of the Lord, as described in Malachi 4:1-3, signifies a time of divine intervention and visitation for God's people. It is portrayed as a day of salvation and judgment, with profound implications seen throughout the Bible. This concept is characterized by significant events like the pouring of the Spirit, cosmic upheavals, and a great divide between the wicked and the righteous. Malachi vividly illustrates the contrasting fates awaiting these two groups on that impending day.
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THE DAY OF THE LORD MALACHI 4:1-3
DEFINITION CONT. . . The subject of the day of the lord is broad based in the Bible. Basically refers to the day of the Lord s visitation or special intervention for his people. It is a day of salvation as well as judgment. Such a day happened in Exodus 14:30. On this day the Lord s presence will dominate the scene that as put by Isaiah, all hands will go limp, [and] every man s heart will melt" (Isa. 13:6-7). Such was the case in 722 BC and 586 BC. (see 2 Ki. 24:1-3)
DEFINITION CONT. . . Joel says this day is coming with upheavals of cosmic proportions (Joel 2:31) Peter in Acts 2:17, quoting Joel 2:27-32 interprets the pouring of the spirit in light of the last days.
DEFINITION CONT. . . Note according to Peter the words of Joel were finding fulfilment in the events of the day of Pentecost. This can however only be interpreted as an inaugurated form of the eschatological expectations of the Old Testament prophet It therefore hardly matters that all the events of Joel 2:27- 32 occur on the same day. It is essential that the Bible student appreciates the fact that prophets often saw merged horizons. In the same manner, those who quoted them filtered that material and brought out that which circumstances. directly applied to their
THE GREAT DIVIDE The day will be a dreadful day to the wicked, but for his people it will be a day of deliverance. Malachi gives us the exact picture of each of the two camps, the fate of the wicked and that of the righteous on that day.
I. The fate of the wicked on that day (v. 1) There will be fire that can only be likened to that of a furnace. Fire has before rained in Sodom which fittingly parallels day of the Lord. In this case it will rain on all evil doers, those who claim that there is no difference between the righteous and the wicked (See 3:14-15). On the day of the Lord, the wicked will be like chaff i.e. i. Worthless ii. Weak and defenceless
II. The fate of the righteous (v. 2). In 3:14-15, the wicked have said it doesn t matter. In response God says he will spare the righteous and they will be His (vv. 17-18). God is often presented as an eagle that carries his people on her wings, (Ex. 19:4) or a hen that protects her chicks from danger using her wings (Lk. 13:34). Presently God protects, provides and sustains His people. In the future we await a restoration that parallels Isaiah 65:17- 25, when we who experience the pain of broken families, disease, and need will witness a complete reversal (See. Rev. 22:3)
Results of the restoration of the righteous 1. Joy likened to gambolling of a calf. 2. triumph over the wicked who will be like ashes, that is in mourning, sorrowful and distressed. (Esther 4:1; Ps. 102:10). Being treaded on under soles of the righteous, denotes humiliation, defeat, subjugation of one s enemy (Josh. 24:10) The bottom line is the fact that the righteous victory over the wicked will be specific, explicit, unambiguous and certain.
Let the wicked continue in his wickedness The wicked continue to live the lie that there is no difference between the righteous and the wicked. It is possible that the richest persons today are heathen. On the other hand, we sweat, grieve, struggle, puff, and suffer need. We wish something drastic happened and brought an end to our difficult situations but the more we pour our hearts to God the more deaf He appears to be. There can only be one long lasting and trustworthy solution to this state of affairs the day the Lord will act. Therefore, let the wicked continue in his wickedness, and may the righteous increase in his righteousness, but knowing this the Lord will come and reward each according to his deeds (Rev. 22:11- 12).
To Him who alone can preserve you from falling, may he keep you without spot. Thank you.
