September 1, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Malachi? Here’s today’s reading:
Malachi 4 (NIV)
Judgment and Covenant Renewal
1“Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them.…..Continue Reading
4“Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.
So the final words of the Old Testament remind us about the law and reference the new covenant coming. Jesus made a way for us for salvation and on no works of our own could this be done but we must still remember obedience, respect, honor to the one who sent His Son. We are saved by grace but our gratitude for that should motivate us to follow His commands, walk in His ways, and be a vessel to bring Him glory in all we do!
MAL 4:2 “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.” Old memory verse.
Luke 8:45 “Who touched me?”
An obscure promise of the Lord God in Malachi was believed by a woman suffering centuries later, and her faith made her whole. Incredible!
Great comment, Kelly. Sufficient to say that all that preceded was immediately fulfilled in the NT. We do celebrate the Lord Christ’s sacrifice until he returns to earth. Book end to OT. We patiently wait for Christ, “Surely, I come quickly! Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus.” Book end, NT? grace!
The end will not be good for those who defy God by their disobedience and yet it will a time of rejoicing for those who believe and revere God. How good it is to know that in the end God will make things right and we will be glad for all the things we did in obedience to Him. Also it is always important to remember that those who may seem like they are winning in the ways of the world, will be on the losing side. And yet God will always strive until the end to draw people to Himself..
Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. This seems to apply that this will happen in the end times. But we also know that Jesus referred to John as Elijah and also that John said he wasn`t Elijah. We also know that Elijah was taken up to heaven without dying. Also that John was born six months before Jesus. We also know that John only preached and didn`t do great wonders as Elijah did in the Old Testament. Also that Elijah and Moses appeared before Jesus and three disciples at the transformation. We also know that the two witnesses in the tribulation performed wonders like Elijah and Moses did in the Old Testament. So was Jesus referring to John as a type of Elijah. In a refence source [ The Bible Knowledge Commentary] it doesn`t seem to be conclusive. They gave many of the reference scriptures but I just didn`t write them down. Pastor what do you think. I know in the end it doesn`t really matter for God can do anything He wants. I like my who dun it mysteries. I like to have the best answer if possible. God bless us all as we study God`s Word together.
Not sure what you are referring to Dennis, but if it is the question of Elijah coming before the day of the Lord, I do believe it is an end times reference to one of the 2 witnesses in Revelation.
Malachi 3-4
But to you who fear My name
The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
With healing in His wings;
And you shall go out
And grow fat like stall-fed calves.
You shall trample the wicked,
For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet
On the day that I do this,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
When we despair of the injustice, deception, lawlessness and wickedness that takes place around us, we can be sure of this: one day God will destroy them. And our sorrow will turn to joy, there may even be dancing over their ashes, because they will be no more : )