COMMENTARY ON MALACHI
LESSON NUMBER 24
Mal 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. 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.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(Malachi 4:1-3)
FEARFUL, BUT NOT FOR THOSE WHO FEAR GOD
INTRODUCTION
The Lord speaks in a manner that warns the ungodly, and comforts the godly. There is a remarkable consistency in this Divine manner, and we do well to take due note of it. There is never a time when the Lord totally ignores either the righteous or the unrighteous. The subduing of His wrath is not to be interpreted as Divine tolerance, and the lavishing of rich grace upon those with faith is not to be seen as a license to walk contrary to the Lord. All of this is made very clear in the way God addresses the people through Malachi. There is a remarkable scope in the view of humanity that is maintained by the Lord. Once seen, it checks the tendency to think of God only in extremes – whether it is His love or His wrath. For example, a society that is tottering on the edge of eternal ruin must be warned of the Divine reaction to such conduct, while those who are walking by faith must be reminded that the Lord will fully vindicate and reward their faithfulness. Where there is a weak grasp of the nature of God, there is a tendency to extend an inordinate degree of favor to the ungodly, while treating the righteous with a kind of disdain. It is good to pay particular notice to the way God addresses the people as a whole, holding out warnings to the wayward and the promise of good to the righteous. This Divine manner is consistent throughout Moses and the Prophets, as well as in the ministry of John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus Himself, and the apostles. No religious or social circumstance moved these men to ignore, or become tolerant of, the ungodliness or the righteousness of men. Throughout the Gospels, the book of Acts, the Epistles, and the Revelation, there is such a consistency in this matter that it is nearly staggering to the mind of the readers. It is by no means popular to think in this way, but wee must do it.
THE DAY IS COMING
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.”
This text presumes that the presence of the ungodly is a source of inner disappointment and agitation – else, there would be no real point to what is said. It is apparent that those who feared the Lord and spoke often to one another were discontent with the presence of the wicked. That is one of the reasons for their frequent and productive gatherings.
Those who have learned to live with the ungodly will find little comfort in these words, for they postulate the anticipation of deliverance from the wicked, and their removal from the presence of the righteous. Whatever kind of attitudes we culture toward those who do not live by faith, and are in a state of perpetual disobedience, we must conduct ourselves in such a manner as not to remove the relevance of this text, or dull the sweetness of its promise.
THE DAY COMETH. This is the language of a Sovereign God: “the day cometh.” Whether the text speaks of a day of retribution or of blessing, of punishment or of reward, or praise or of condemnation, Divine appointments are sure to come. Paul sought to move the Athenian philosophers with the announcement of an appointed day in which the world would be judged (Acts 17:31. Believers are taught by the grace of God to anticipate the coming of the Lord, at which time they will appear with Him in glory (Tit 2:11-12; Col 3:4).
Men must not live only for the present, or for the mere gratification of earthly appetites. Rather, they must live in an acute awareness of Divinely appointed times, for it is not possible that they will not come to pass precisely as the Lord has affirmed.
IT SHALL BURN AS AN OVEN. Other versions read, “burn as a furnace.” NASB A furnace, or oven, can be used for cooking or for destroying; for refining or for consuming. The same oven or furnace that cooks bread (Lev 26:26) and refines silver (Prov 12:6) and gold (Prov 17:3), also destroys the wood, or “stubble,” that fuels it. Only the “ashes” of the consumable material are removed from the furnace (Ex 9:8). Egypt was an “iron furnace” for the refining of Israel (Deut 4:20). Once Isaiah spoke of God making Jerusalem “a furnace” in which His judgment would be executed (Isa 31:9). He also spoke of “the furnace of affliction,” in which the people of God were purged of defilement (Isa 48:10).
However, the oven of which Malachi speaks is primarily for the destruction of the wicked, and will not destroy the righteous. Jesus spoke of the wicked being cast into a “furnace of fire,” in which they would be destroyed, or absolutely removed from the face of the Lord and the presence of His people. He identified that the day in which this would ultimately occur was the time when He comes again. “The Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Mat 13:41-42). This is the kind of oven, or furnace, to which Malachi refers, as confirmed in the next clause.
ALL THE PROUD AND WICKED WILL BE AS STUBBLE. Other versions read, “the arrogant and every evil doer,” NASB “the proud, and all that work wickedness.” ASV The “proud,” or “arrogant,” are those who are insolent [impudent, brazen, audacious, and shameless]. They continue in their sin shamelessly, and cannot “blush” in the presence of the Almighty, because they live in total unawareness of both His Person and will (Jer 6:15). They boast of self-worth, and view their own wretched will as superior to the revealed will of God. They are not afraid to oppose the saints of God (Psa 86:14). They are cursed of God, and “err” from His “commandments” (Psa 119:21). God has promised, “I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible” (Isa 13:11). These shall be the “stubble” that fuels the oven of God’s indignation. They themselves will cause the fire to burn hotter.
THEY SHALL BE COMPLETELY CONSUMED. The promised day will “burn them up,” and will “leave them neither root nor branch.” This language does not speak of annihilation, or rendering the wicked extinct, for they will suffer “everlasting punishment” (Matt 25:46) – that is, punishment that will never end, or be brought to a conclusion. Here, the idea is that the wicked will never be able to recover – “neither root nor branch” will be left. They will not be able to again flourish, or regain their strength. For them, this will not be a chastening, from which God’s people recover. The intent of this fire is to render the wicked utterly useless, so they will never again have the ability to be industrious, productive, or a thorn in the side of the godly. In anticipation of this time David once wrote, “For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be” (Psa 37:10). There will be no place for them to gather together and plot against the godly. They will not be able to issue threats, spread iniquity, or rebel against the Lord. They will have no progeny, no ongoing cause, or any way to make plans. There will not be so much as a speck of utility among them. They will have desires, but will not be able to fulfill them. They will have preferences, but no way to realize their fulfillment. The dread of their future state cannot be overstated.
FOR YOU THAT FEAR MY NAME
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.”
Now, the attention of the prophet turns toward those precious souls who feared the Lord and spoke often with one another. The wrath of God, fierce though it will be, will not diminish the good things that are promised to them – not so much as a weightless mote!
UNTO YOU THAT FEAR MY NAME. Other versions read, “revere My name,” NIV “give worship to My name,” BBE “respect My name,” NET “revere and worshipfully fear My name.” AMPLIFIED In our time, language, particularly theological language, has become so muddled that it is exceedingly difficult to satisfactorily explain what it means to fear the name of the Lord. It is written that the fear of the Lord fell upon people. Once it is written that it moved the people to be of “one consent” (1 Sam 11:7). Another time that fear stopped people from opposing the people of God (2 Chron 17:10). Because of this fear, Egypt was glad when Israel left their borders (Psa 105:38). Great fear came upon those who heard of the death of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:5). When the citizenry of Ephesus heard of a demon-possessed man overpowering seven men, fear came upon them, and “the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified” (Acts 19:17). The fear of the Lord has a cleansing effect (Psa 19:9), and is “the beginning of wisdom” (Psa 111:10). “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil” (Prov 8:13), and brings “strong confidence” (Prov 14:26).
Those who fear the Lord are those who are keenly aware of His presence and will. They draw back from the temptation to conduct their lives contrary to Him, and are eager to do what pleases Him. For this reason, “the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life” (Prov 14:27).
Now God speaks to such people, giving them a word of comfort after He has delivered a scathing rebuke to the wicked, and promised their destruction.
THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. Most versions read “Sun of righteous.” Some variant versions read “Sun of justice,” NAB “Sun of vindication,” NET and “Sun of victory.” TNK These are unacceptable translations, for they do not match the work ascribed to “the Sun of righteousness” – healing. This term speaks of the spread of righteousness, and the correction of the ills caused by sin and transgression. “The Sun of righteousness” is Christ Himself, who is the source of righteousness. Thus, Jeremiah referred to Him as “the Lord OUR righteousness” (Jer 23:6). Here, “righteousness” is the effect of the rising, or dominance, of the Lord Jesus Christ. Where righteousness is not prevalent, or where sin dominates, is the place in which Christ Jesus is NOT experientially dominant. That is, from one point of view, He is hidden from them. From another view, they cannot see Him. Daniel affirmed that the Messiah would “bring in everlasting righteousness” (Dan 9:24). He would do it by His dominating and perceived presence. Apostolic doctrine says it this way, “But of Him [God] are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us . . . righteousness . . . ” (1 Cor 1:30). Although, from one perspective, this righteousness is “imputed” (Rom 4:11,22-24), it is a very real righteousness that is reflected in the lives of those who receive it. This is not a theoretic righteousness – in word only.
HEALING IN HIS WINGS. Other versions read, “new life in its wings,” BBE “health shall be under His wings,” GENEVA “its healing rays,” NAB “shall rise to bring healing.” TNK Most versions read “healing in His wings.”
The word “wings” means “extremity, edge, border.” STRONG’S As used in this text, “wings” are to the Sun what wings are to a bird – it is the outmost extent of its body. As used here, the glory of Christ is part of Christ Himself, like the wings of a bird are part of its body. Christ cannot be properly perceived independently of His glory, or the effects of His presence, power, and works. Here, the word “rays” is a proper interpretation of the word. It refers to the influence that is wrought by the glory of the Lord. It is the borders of the floodlight of His glory. In other words, wherever the “light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus” is perceived (2 Cor 4:6), there is moral and spiritual recovery. To put it another way, the effects of sin are overcome, and the power of iniquity is neutralized, no longer able to enslave the individual. This means that recovering from the snare of the devil is directly proportionate to one’s perception of the glory of Christ – or, in the words of Malachi, the awareness of the “wings” of the “Sun of righteousness.”
YE SHALL GO FORTH, AND GROW UP. The words “go forth” give the idea of skipping about, NASB leaping as calves released from confinement, NIV and leaping for joy as calves that are no longer imprisoned. However, although they are released, yet they have the energy of those who have been richly feed in a stall, having been given the choicest and most nourishing food, as compared to wandering through the fields and finding a sprig of grass here and there.
Not only is there healing and recovery in the wake of Divine glory, there is growth: “and grow up,” or “grow fat.” NKJV The words “go forth” suggest that the calves were now too large for the small stall in which they got their start. When cattle are confined in a small area, they are not capable of growing as they do in the fields. So it is with people. When they are restrained by the pens of religious tradition, they cannot grow as they should. Christ resolves all these issues by rising to prominence. When He is seen, the people are released.
YOU WILL TREAD DOWN THE WICKED
4:3 “ 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.”
There is oft mention of the retribution of the wicked that will take place when the righteous are blessed. Ultimately, the wicked will be punished when the Lord comes to be glorified in them that believe. As it is written, “the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power; when He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe . . . in that day” (2 Thess 1:8-10). Again, it is when the sheep and the goats are finally separated that, as it is written, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” (Mat 25:46). The exoneration of the righteous and the denial and condemnation of the wicked are linked together. They will occur at the same time. It is in this sense that the Son of righteous shall arise with healing in His wings at the same time the wicked are cast in the oven to be consumed as stubble.
Part of the glorification of the righteous includes the public shame and condemnation of the wicked. The books will be opened, the wickedness of the wicked will be exposed, and judgment pronounced. It is then, at the height of their humiliation and public disgrace, that they will be thrust from the presence of the Lord, and the righteous shall occupy the promised land without the presence of the tares, fruitless proclaimers, and those who persecute the righteous.
AND YE SHALL TREAD DOWN THE WICKED. The righteous will play a key role in the condemnation of the wicked. This will chiefly take place on the day of judgment. Thus, in the radiating glory of the Son of God, Paul wrote, “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?” (1 Cor 6:2-3). The glorified Christ, speaking through the Spirit and John, declared this coming reality to the churches: “And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father” (Rev 2:26-27). All who have opposed the saints will be made to come before them and realize without any doubt that they are the ones whom Jesus has loved. “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee” (Rev 3:9). There is not the slightest chance that this will not take place. Those who have actually taught people that God’s love is not discriminating will come to know how wrong they were, and will worship at the feet of those Jesus did love – which love contradicted what they have taught men concerning Divine love. This is not a subject upon which men are to theorize or speculate. Everyone will eventually acknowledge the truth of the matter, and it is best to do this now.
Occasionally, in this life, there are obvious triumphs of the people of God over their enemies (Israel over Egypt, Amalek, Jericho, the Midianites, and others. There was also the triumph of David over Goliath, Samson over the a thousand Philistines, then slaying even more of them when he died. But we must not let the rarity of such occasions take from us the truth of this text. Now the highest in the Kingdom are often set forth as “the offscouring of all things” (1 Cor 4:13). However, it is not always going to be this way!
THEY SHALL BE ASHES. Other versions read, “as dust.” BBE/GENEVA The idea here is that the wicked will be reduced to a state of absolute worthlessness. The immediate reference is to the Jewish pretenders, together with the priests who led them astray. The preliminary judgment would be the destruction of Jerusalem, to take place about forty years after the exaltation of Christ. But that was only an introductory fulfillment. This will be the ultimate lot of all of the wicked. They will be reduced to dust like the statue of Nebuchnezzar’s dream (Dan 2:34-35). Even Satan himself will be under the feet of the saints of God, crushed into oblivion and utter uselessness. Thus it is written, “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen” (Rom 16:20).
Whether we are talking about Satan, the principalities and powers that work under him, or those men who are carried away by them, and join in the opposition of the people of God – they are all headed for oblivion, and it will be carried out by the very ones they opposed upon the earth. Thus God promised through Isaiah, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD” (Isa 54:17). This is the context within which we are to think, and not the oppression of the wicked.
I WILL DO THIS. This is an appointment that God has made, and He will fully carry it out. There is no chance that this will not happen. It is the business of those who trust in the Lord to wait patiently for this fulfillment, and not be overcome by oppressing wicked ones.