“THE DAY IS COMING” (4:1-6)
Neal Pollard
In the Hebrew Bible, Malachi has only three chapters and these verse are actually 18-24 in it. This last paragraph focuses on a day introduced in Malachi 3:17, when God would distinguish the righteous and the wicked. The prophet ends the book elaborating on that day.
It will be a day of judgment (1). It will be characterized by burning, one so thorough that it will leave nothing behind. It will refine and eliminate, with the focus on the arrogant and evildoer being destroyed. For these, it will be a terrible day.
It will be a day of joy (2). It will be characterized by light and healing, for those who fear His name. Celebration will follow seeing the sun of righteousness.
It will be a day of victory (3). He says, “You will tread down the wicked…on the day which I am preparing.” Though the world seems so often to be winning, it will not be so on that day.
It will be a day of preparation (4-6). On the day, one will be blessed who knows and discerns the Law (4). Malachi calls the day “great and terrible,” a day of restoration and unity (6) but a day that could potentially be holding a curse (6b). Before that day, God would send “Elijah the prophet” (5). Jesus explicitly identifies John the Baptist as the fulfillment of this (Mat. 11:14; Mark 9:11-13; Luke 1:17).
Malachi shuts the door on Old Testament revelation by connecting a dot that will be 400 years in coming. The day portended is the day of Messiah’s coming. His last words will be on the lips and minds of the righteous on the day the promised one appears. If they are mindful of God’s word, they will be ready. Hebrews 9:28 says He will appear again, and the righteous today will spend each day getting ready for that day!
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