The Sun of Righteousness

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As we reach the last chapter of Malachi, we are given the assurance of God’s Judgment.  Just as chapter 3 guarantees that the promised Messiah would come, so chapter 4 unequivocally states that the promised “Day of the Lord” would come.  In similar ways we were told that the Messiah’s coming would be a “cleaning” time and the Day of the Lord would be a time when the wicked are removed.

So let’s look at this prophecy of the Day of the Lord.

God Has An End For The Proud

Vs. 1 refers to “The Day.”  Throughout the prophet you find the long form of this phrase, “The Day of the Lord.”  It refers to a time when God rises up and judges the world.  It is sometimes shortened to just “The Day,” but the context always makes clear that the same issue is at hand- Judgment Day.  Just as we would use D-Day in our society and it is clearly understood, even when used metaphorically, The Day of the Lord was understood to be a day of raising up the righteous and putting down the wicked.  Though it may seem like it, God’s judgment never tarries forever.  He has a particular end planned for those who refuse to turn from their wicked ways.  It would be well for our generation to recognize this timeless truth that God’s judgment always comes.  Thus what goes around comes around.

Now verse one particularly refers to the proud.  This term refers to their puffed up nature.  They are filled with the air of their own ideas or the ideas of other men.  This causes them to stick out among other people.  However, when judgment comes they will wish that they didn’t stick out so much.  When God’s judgment comes, the wicked are not as substantial and big as they seem.  Like a balloon filled with hot air, so they are quickly deflated and destroyed.  They are removed quickly and swiftly in whatever means God sends.  A great picture of this for our era is a man like Hitler.  He makes a big substantial impact upon this world but, when judgment comes, he and all his plans are gone in a day.

The imagery of an oven is used.  God’s judgment is like an oven that burns up the wicked.  No matter how great the tree in this world, it is nothing when the judgment of fire begins to reduce it to ash in a great conflagration.  In fact the burning is so great that no branch or root is left for them.  They are completely removed from the equation with nothing to remain.  Now compare this to the words of Jesus, “I am the vine and you are the branches.  He who abides in me and I in him, bears much fruit.”  “If anyone does not abide in me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”  Thus Jesus employs this metaphor as well for his followers.

Now we can see how pride is connected.  It was pride that kept many in Israel, and especially the religious leaders, from even connecting to Christ, much less remaining in Him.  Those who reject God’s offer of salvation are left to go into Judgment Day swelled up with their own pride.  It will not go good for them.  You can save yourself such a demise by putting your faith in Jesus and what He did at the cross, rather than the empty ideas that you or other “great men” have come up with.

Now some will point out that these words were written to Israel and were fulfilled in  70 AD when Jerusalem was sacked by Rome.  Was it fulfilled?  If you go through the passages regarding “The Day of the Lord,” you will notice that even though much of the passage is to Israel, often it scopes out to the surrounding nations, and ultimately to even the whole world.  To help us understand this I would ask you to picture the type of telescopes that can collapse to a small length.  Usually they are made up of 3-5 pieces that look alike, but differ in their size.  The smallest piece fits into the next larger piece, which fits into the next larger piece, etc…  The warning of judgment is not just a single prophecy whether for Israel in AD 70 or for the whole world in AD 2013.  Rather it is a reminder of a principle that applies to every scope of our existence: God will come and judge.  I need to take this truth to heart as an individual.  However, we need to take this to heart as a community, and as a nation, and as a world.  Thus the Day of the Lord did come for Israel.  In that Day the righteous went out and were blessed while the wicked were cast down and all their great pomp turned to ash.  This does not mean there is no more day of the Lord.  In fact the Apostles not only warned of the Day of the Lord before AD 70, but through the Apostle John we are warned after it, that the Day of the Lord for the whole earth is still coming.  God will come and He will execute judgment on those whose pride cause them to cast His ways aside and plunge into wickedness.  God warned that this present time of the Gentiles will end with a Day of Judgment.

A New Beginning For Those Who Fear God

In verses 2-3, God turns to those who followed Him.  Though they lived in a time when wicked men walked in pride and held the reins of power, and though they lived in a time when righteousness made you a target while wickedness helped you get ahead, this appearance would not last.  God would eventually intervene.  This “Day of Truth” would reveal the reality of the power of the wicked and the “good” they had obtained.  When the wicked were being destroyed under judgment, God would bring the righteous through it and give them a new beginning.  In fact, beyond this life, we need to understand that the “bad” we have endured in this life is not the totality of our experience.  God has great good for those who trust Him and fear Him.  There is a new beginning.

Malachi uses the imagery of a dawning day.  A new sun will rise on that morning and it will be a sun that shines its light on all the wickedness.  It will be a day when the righteous are exalted and the wicked are removed.  There will be no big struggle.  Darkness will be gone as quickly as you turn the light on in a room.

Notice that this sun of righteousness is personified when it states it will rise with healing in HIS wings.  Thus the light is connected to the coming Messiah.  His coming will be like the rising of a righteous sun that brings healing to those who have trusted God, the land, even the whole earth.  This healing includes physical but is intended to speak to those deeper wounds of our heart and soul.  In fact, the physical healings that Jesus did were to be a sign that He in fact could heal the wounds of their soul, especially the deep, festering wound of sin.  Don't get too hung up on the word "wings."  If the context was talking about a bird or building then it might be a good interpretation.  However the word points to the extremities of something.  Thus in context the messiah would have healing in his "hands" or the "hem of his garment."  This again points to Jesus and his ability to heal.

Now many conspiracy theories would jump on a verse like this and say that Judaism and Christianity just borrowed their theology from the ancient sun religions and this is proof.  However, the truth is that the ancient religions were the twisting and “progressive” ideas of men in collusion with fallen angels.  What were they twisting?  The original truth that God gave Adam, Eve, and Satan in Genesis 3:15.  The day will come when the seed of the woman will crush the head of the serpent.  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to recognize that Satan would have a vested interest in co-opting this idea and trying to twist it to his purposes.  And, it doesn’t stretch the imagination to see that men who quickly grew tired of waiting on God, had itching ears for “better interpretations.”  The ancient sun religions were cheap copies of the prophecy God gave at the fall and from demonic sources.

Lastly it will be a day of release.  The image is that of a young calf who has been cooped up in a pen.  When they are released they go jumping forth, kicking, and mooing their delight.  When it speaks of trampling the wicked, the image is that the wicked have become so insubstantial that they are like ash on the ground, or salt in the street.  In the present day, no one would dare tread on the wicked.  But in the Day of Judgment their great pomp, power, and presence will be reduced to ash as the righteous go forth simply kicking it up like a child.  The beauty of this is in its equity and simplicity.  The wicked are like the chaff that will be blown away and not remembered, but the righteous shall join in a new day and be given new strength and joy.  This is our heritage and our inheritance.  Let’s walk in faith!

Who Can Endure His Coming?

Today our Scripture portion will be in Malachi 3:1-6.  We left chapter 2 on the note that the people and leaders of Israel had developed an attitude that serving God didn’t help.  In fact that it seemed those who scorned His laws were “blessed” by Him.  “Where is the God of justice,” is a question that goes to the heart of the messiah because the whole purpose of sending the messiah was to restore justice.

They continued to give lip-service to the doctrine of a coming messiah, but had ceased living as if he was really coming.

Thus, the Spirit of the Lord stirs up Malachi to give them a reminder that the messiah is coming and they are not ready for him.

God Is Sending The Messiah

In verse one a clear reference to the messiah is made, “the Lord whom you seek.”  This messiah was promised to deliver Israel from all her enemies and would be the perfect leader both politically and spiritually.  The term messiah literally means Anointed One.  Though many kings and priests had been anointed by oil for their roles and duties, the messiah would be unique in that he would be directly anointed by God and not just with oil, but rather with the Spirit of God.  Now for centuries Israel had hoped in the coming messiah.  But by the time of Malachi it had become a shell.  What I mean by that is this.  The teaching still remained, but the heart and spirit of what it meant was no longer there.  We see this in John 4 when Jesus talks with the woman at the well in Samaria.  She is definitely not living according to God’s Word and yet she still gives lip service to the coming messiah.  In fact, she does not really demonstrate a desire for him to come, but rather a desire to drop the discussion.  “When the messiah comes he will explain it.”  Their lives actually scoffed at the idea that a messiah would actually come.  Thus God reminds them that he is going to send the messiah.

However, He will first send a messenger of preparation.  In Matthew 11:10, Jesus quotes this verse to declare that John the Baptist was the fulfillment of it.  He was the messenger of preparation.  He had prepared the way before the messiah by calling people to repentance (much like Malachi).  The messiah does not need an actual road prepared for him because the place he is trying to reach is our hearts.  Thus John the Baptist’s message was “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 

Isaiah does use this picture of road building in Isaiah 40:3-4.  “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.  Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.”  But the “way of the Lord” is a phrase that refers to God’s judgments and dictates in His Word.  Thus a straight path is when we completely follow God’s Word instead of branching off in our own desired directions.  Just as in building a road we lower the high places and raise the low places, so each individual needed to knock down those areas of pride in their life and build up those forsaken lowly places that God intended to be higher.  It is a picture of what we become without God’s word: barricaded against His entrance into our heart.  Yet, God would do some road building Himself.  He would knock down those great proud mountains within the nation of Israel and raise up forsaken believers who truly believed on him.  Now let me warn us today.  Jesus, the messiah, is coming again.  This time he is coming in judgment for the whole world and we need to prepare our hearts for his coming.  God is going to do some smashing of “proud mountains” in this world and some raising of lowly “valleys.”  Does your life today reflect a preparation for Christ or does it only give lip-service to that coming?  Has the belief in Jesus’ coming become only a shell or have you jettisoned it altogether?  Know this: Jesus is coming and we will either be prepared for that coming or be caught unprepared.

After the messenger of preparation then comes the messiah.  He is referred to as the messenger of the covenant.  He is the “Lord, whom you seek.”  Verse one says that he will come suddenly or surprisingly.  He is going to catch them by surprise and at a time that they aren’t expecting.  Does that sound familiar?  As his first coming was so shall his second coming be.

Next it says that he is coming to his temple.  Now the temple that existed when Jesus came the first time was not the temple that Solomon had built.  In fact when the second temple was being built the Bible tells us that some who remembered the glory of the first wept and cried.  However, the “lowly” temple was going to be the one that received the honor of having the promised Messiah walk into it.  Yet, in light of John the Baptist’s message we know that the true target is not the earthly temple that was going to be destroyed.  No, the true target was the hearts of those who fear Him and exalt Him as Lord in their hearts and lives.  These are the ones to whom He would ultimately come.

Now let’s move to verse 2.  Malachi asks the question, “who can endure the day of His coming, and who can stand when He appears?”  That is the question.  Preparation entails knowing what you are preparing for.  The question Who begs the answer that would inform our preparations.

Now the word endure is the picture of a vessel that is supposed to contain something.  When Christ comes will your vessel be able to contain it or will it burst at the seams?  This is what Jesus referred to when he said that many of the religious leaders were like old wineskins.  They could not receive Jesus or His teaching because it would break their hardened traditions and the hardened shell of a life they had built in the name of religion.  He also uses the picture of standing.  Who can stand without being cut down and swept away?  When God’s Anointed One who is the very Justice of God walks among our midst, which of us will survive?  This important question is answered elsewhere.  But here it is meant to stir a fear of the Lord in the hearts of those listening.  We ought to also recognize the powerful thought that the perfect Lord of Glory is going to come down and deal with unbelievers and the unfaithful.  Will you stand and not burst in that day?

The Messiah Comes To Purify

Malachi goes on to give two pictures of the messiah.  He is like a refiner’s fire and he is like soap.  Now there is a personal and corporate level on which this happens.  The personal level is for those who believe in the Lord.  He causes our hearts to be searched out and purified through a daily relationship with him; just like the fire or soap.

Yet, corporately, He will remove the unbelieving and unfaithful from among His people.  In the first century he did this by becoming an outcast and then calling all who believed to His side.  In order to obey the faithful had to turn their backs on the hardened traditions of their Fathers and the present religious leaders.  After those who made their choice had come to the side of Christ, outside the camp, then the judgment of God was poured out on the unbelieving of that nation.  Thus the Church began as a purified remnant of Israel.  They were able to stand because they were willing to let go of that which God was going to destroy and put their faith in Jesus whom He was going to bless.

The Messiah Comes To Restore

When we have been purified by Christ we are truly able to give an offering of righteousness.  Thus Malachi points to this time when the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord.  In John 4:23 Jesus said, “the hour is coming and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”  God wants true heart worship and not empty-shell lip-service.  Even today the outward forms of worship and offerings can become something less than a spirit that is bowed in honor and in awe of God.  However, a spirit that is bowed in honor and awe of the Lord will have visible actions.  Jesus restored true worship.  However we must avoid demolishing that true worship by hardening it into an empty shell again.

The Messiah Comes To Judge

In verse 5, he warns that the messiah will deal with sorcerers: those who call upon demonic entities and powers and so have turned from God and His ways.  Do you suppose any still do this today?  The occult and spiritism have exploded in the modern era.  He is coming to judge adulterers: those who are unfaithful and led by their pleasures.  He comes to judge perjurers: those who falsely swear oaths in the name of God.  Lastly he comes to judge those who abuse social power.  Are any doing these things today?  In fact in the “Christian” West we love to give lip-service to helping the poor.  But, in reality, we only use the issue of the poor to get more power and money under our control.  The poor end up hardly being helped.  If we fear God we will not turn to any power other than God.  We will refuse to be led by our pleasures and keep our commitments.  We will not use God to back up our lies.  And, we will not abuse workers, and the less fortunate around us for our own gain: this includes foreigners.

The Messiah Comes To Demonstrate Mercy

In verse 6 we are told that God does not change and thus Israel is not consumed.  Though God’s anger and wrath had been stirred up, He is still merciful.  He would purify and those who would allow Him to cleanse them would enjoy His goodness.  God is forever merciful.  But He will judge those who refuse His mercy.  He always makes a way for the humble to survive and spiritually flourish.  Israel did not deserve the New Covenant.  But God would give it to them anyway.  However, it would be given in a way that only those who believed God would enter into it.

Today we await the coming of the Lord.  And, it is easy for Christians to lean back on a nice tidy theology to feel secure.  However, it is not our theology per se that saves us.  It is Jesus Himself.  If our faith is not securely resting upon Him then you must question whether you are truly prepared for His coming.  To all I say along with Malachi and John the Baptist, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

Who Can Endure Audio

The Victorious Jesus

Today we are going to look at the passage in Isaiah 52:13—53:12.  This section has been referred to as the Holy of Holies of the Old Testament because in it we see the ultimate Truth that lies behind the whole sacrificial system that God gave to Israel.

It is easy for people in the modern world to take “pot shots” at God in regards to the “senseless” killing of so many animals.  Yet, even the Bible itself tells us that God did not take pleasure in the killing of animals.  No, animals are not equivalent to humans.  They were not made in the image of God; with the ability to reflect God’s nature.  However, neither was God pleased by their mere deaths.  We might ask ourselves the question, “If God wanted to communicate with man then what would the problems be?”  Think about it.

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The Ongoing Meaning of Jesus II

Today we will continue in Acts chapter 2 and look at verses 33-39.  We have been looking to this text to see the reality that just as Jesus had ongoing meaning to those who thought he was dead and gone; so he has meaning to us today.

Thus Peter continues to remind the crowd about this Jesus whom they had crucified and thought was past history.  That very same Jesus was the source of the spectacle that they were witnessing.

Jesus Poured Out The Holy Spirit

The crowd didn’t know that they were witnessing the pouring out of the Holy Spirit.  But even more spectacular than that is the origin.  Jesus is the source of this spectacle.  He was able to do this because he had been “exalted” to the right hand of God.  Now the word exalted can be compared to “raised up.”  In the resurrection Jesus is lifted up from the grave and restored to life, even a glorified body.  However, the word exaltation is the idea of position, authority, and power.  The man Jesus Christ is put in an exalted position as the Father’s right hand man.  We could think that this is no big deal.  Jesus had such a position in the past.  But, a critical difference has happened and that difference can be seen 1 Peter 3:22.  Here Peter explains that part of this exaltation to the right hand of God is being put over the spiritual powers of the heavenlies.  Again, we can dismiss this as nothing new.  But recognize that Satan and his cohorts have held mankind under their thumbs for millennia and suddenly in Jesus a man is now in authority over them.  This action helps us to see the beauty of the judgments of God.  Thus because Satan had sinned against mankind, in Jesus, God raises a man up to be their judge.  The justice of this cannot be overstated, nor can the sting to those spiritual powers who despise mankind.

It was in this position of authority that Jesus is given the right to pour out the Holy Spirit.  This had been prophesied by the Old Testament prophets.  Peter specifically quoted from the prophet Joel in verse 17.  God would pour out the anointing of His Holy Spirit upon all flesh, and not just a few.  Thus the Anointed One of God would be called Christ or Messiah not just because he would have the Holy Spirit, but he would also pour out the Holy Spirit upon all.

The Father Has Promoted Jesus

In verses 34-36 Peter quotes from Psalm 110.  Here David testifies about the coming messiah.  Notice that the grammar of what David says points to 3 different beings.  “The Lord (being #1 God) said to my Lord (being #2 David and being #3 his Lord).  However, Peter points further to the reality of what happened.  David did not ascend into heaven.  These two things together make it clear David was speaking of the Messiah who would come from his lineage.  Though he would be a descendant of David, he still saw the Messiah as his Lord.  The Messiah would be greater than David in power and authority.  He would be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Thus David testifies of the Messiah being made to sit at God’s right hand while his enemies are made to be his footstool.  This is a picture of total subjection.

The promotion of Jesus is to the position of Lord.  This means the master, king, or owner.  Especially in the context to who he is speaking, Jesus has been made King of Israel.  But from Scripture we know that his Lordship is greater than just that. 

He is also promoted to the position of Christ, or Anointed One.  This Jesus operated in the power of the Holy Spirit and now is pouring out the Holy Spirit upon his followers.

Here is the clincher.  “You Crucified” him.  The crucifixion put them at odds with this amazing news about Jesus and the amazing spectacle of what was happening with his followers.  The Israelites had waited for centuries for the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  And, now when it shows up it is happening by the one whom they killed.  It is like hearing that your team is going win all your life and then when the team win you realize that you are wearing the losing team’s jersey.  They are in a bind.  How did we end up on the wrong team?  The cross reveals the depths of our rebellion against God.  In Jesus, the Father has over-ruled the wisdom and righteousness of man.

“Fixing” Our Rebellion

In verses37-39 we see that the crowd is “cut to the heart.”  This conviction of sin is necessary before receiving the “fix” to the problem of sin.  Sometimes we are too quick to tell people what they should do.  If they haven’t been “cut to the heart” with the terrible reality that they are sinners before God and under doom of His judgment then the “fix” won’t do them any good.  Here we see people who realize their plight and want to know if it can be fixed.  What is your response to this problem?  No, you didn’t kill Jesus.  But you are still a sinner and thus wear the jersey of the rebels.  We are in rebellion against the God of Creation.  You refuse to accept such news and walk away.  Or, you could humble yourself and ask God for help and direction in making things right.  Thus, throw yourself on the mercy of the court.  There is a third thing that some do.  We can look like we are turning to God, but in reality we are creating our own “fix” and expecting God to bless it.  There is only one way to have peace with the Father and that is what Peter is getting ready to explain.

The beginning of the answer is to repent.  That means to turn from our path of rebellion, whether we knew we were in rebellion or not, and begin to cooperate with God’s plan.  It is leaving my sin, wisdom, and pride behind and embracing the righteousness, wisdom and humility of Jesus.  Then Peter tells them to be baptized in the name of Jesus.  Now the main effect of baptism is that it is the way that we identify with Jesus.  Baptism is a public recognition of our own sin and need for cleansing.  However, to do so in the name of Jesus at that time would have been unthinkable.  Jesus was the rejected “heretic.”  All this is for the “remission of our sins.”  This means our sins will be sent away from us.  All those who accept this offer will be blessed by God with the freedom of knowing he forgives our sins and separates us from them. But more than that he pours His Spirit out upon us in order to take up residence within us and empower us to live for Him.

Final Thoughts

Being at odds with God is still a problem in the 21^st Century and it will continue to be on into the future.  However, God in His mercy has provided a “fix” for you.  However, it is His only offer.  Won’t you believe in Jesus today?  Won’t you repent of your rebellion against the God of heaven and identify with Jesus through a water baptism that is symbolic of the new life God is giving you?  Don’t hesitate or put it off any longer.  Now is the day of salvation for you!

Ongoing Meaning of Jesus 2 audio