Malachi 4
1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.
4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Common Questions About Malachi 4
What does chapter 4 (or the Hebrew 3:19-24) say about the coming Day of the LORD?
The chapter describes a coming day burning like a furnace for the arrogant and evildoers, but promises that for those who fear God's name, 'the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings,' a picture of restoration and joy following judgment.
How does the entire Old Testament conclude in this final chapter?
The book, and the entire Old Testament, closes with a call to remember the Law of Moses and a promise that God will send the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful Day of the LORD to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, a passage the Gospels apply to the ministry of John the Baptist.
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Questions to Think About
- The Old Testament's closing image is healing 'rising' like the sun, a picture of gradual dawning restoration rather than instant fixing. How do you stay patient during a slow process of healing or change in your own life?
- The Old Testament ends by looking forward rather than simply concluding, anticipating what comes next. How does this shape your understanding of Scripture as an ongoing story rather than a closed, static document?
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