This Sunday we look at another aspect of the coming Messiah
and our Victor in the spiritual war by examining the title given to Him in the
last chapter of the Old Testament.
Malachi 4:2 says, “But for you who fear my name, the sun of
righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.”
Now the context of this statement is critical. The prophet is called by God at a time when
the people of Israel are under Persian domination. From the time of the Assyrian and Babylonian
captivities hundreds of years earlier, the beleaguered nation has experienced a
roller coaster of domination by outsiders.
By now deep discouragement has set in.
The people are asking the same questions others have asked throughout
the past 500 years: Where is the restoration God had promised? Where is this Branch of Jesse, this King of
the house of David, who is to deliver us from our enemies? Where is this everlasting kingdom God
promised when we continue as captives in a strange culture? When will the city that still lies in ruins be
transformed into a glorious city of God?
Does God really care about His people? Is there really truth to divine
justice?
As discouragement and cynicism set in, the people’s
commitment to God’s covenant declines markedly (as it repeatedly did throughout
Israel’s history.) Their temple duties
flag. They begin to neglect their tithes
and offerings. They begin to offer
blemished animals. They begin to marry
wives who worshipped foreign gods.
Divorce becomes epidemic. And
it’s into this context that God raises up the prophet Malachi to speak to the
issues of the time. Like other prophets,
he allows the Lord Himself to speak directly to His people. The words of 4:2 are a clear example of God
speaking for Himself. The message of God
is simple, yet profound. “Yes, I do
still love you. And yes, all of the
grandeur of the ultimate restoration is coming.”
Charles Haddon Spurgeon said what many other students of
Scripture have repeated over the last hundred years. “We will never err if we allow the New Testament
to interrupt the Old.” Nowhere is that
clearer than here in Malachi 3 and 4.
For what God is telling His covenant people in the time of Malachi is
the same message He speaks to every one of His people in our day, “for you who
fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its
wings.” As we will see on Sunday, God’s
message in Malachi is pure Gospel!
Before I give you some things to consider in preparation for
Sunday, it’s instructive to note a few things about this title, “sun of righteousness.” First, the early Christians (100 AD - 400 AD)
took this title to apply to Christ Jesus.
This is the only time it’s used in Scripture, but it’s perfect
fulfillment in the life and ministry of Jesus is obvious (see John 1:1; 8:12f,
etc.). Second, light was one of the most
frequently used symbols of God in antiquity.
Through history many pagan cultures use light to symbolize other-worldliness
and deity. Third, the concept of
righteousness pervades other religious systems like Hinduism, Islam,
Zoroastrianism, etc.
Now for some things you may wish to consider:
- Can you think of any Old Testament examples of light being associated with the presence and glory of God?
- What do you make of the contrast between the judgment of the arrogant in 4:1 and the healing of those who fear God’s name in 4:2?
- How do you define righteousness?
- Do you see any difference between the righteousness of God and the righteousness of men?
- Is anyone saved by works?
- What similarities are there between the sun of righteousness and Lucifer? How do they differ?
- What title is there for Satan that corresponds to this title for Christ?
- What is the significance of God’s title in 4:2 to what He says He will do for His people in 3:17?
- How can a Holy God make sinners His treasured possession? Does the sun of righteousness help us understand how?
- Why does God say to remember the law and decrees given to Moses (4:4), especially after His promise in 3:17?
- How appropriate is it to change the “sun” of righteousness to the “son” of righteousness?
