Malachi 4

Malachi 4 prophesies a coming "day" of the Lord, a fiery judgment that will consume the proud and wicked entirely. In contrast, those who fear God's name will experience healing and flourishing under the "Sun of righteousness." The chapter concludes with an exhortation to remember Moses' law and a promise to send Elijah to reconcile families before this great and dreadful day.

The final chapter of Malachi begins with a stark prophecy concerning the "day" of the Lord, which is depicted as a burning oven that will utterly consume the proud and all who act wickedly, leaving them without root or branch. Conversely, for those who revere God's name, this day will bring the "Sun of righteousness" with healing, enabling them to flourish like healthy calves. The righteous are further promised victory, as they will tread down the wicked, who will become ashes beneath their feet. The chapter then shifts to an admonition for Israel to remember and adhere to the law of Moses, including its statutes and judgments given at Horeb. Finally, a significant prophecy is given: God will send Elijah the prophet before the arrival of this "great and dreadful day of the LORD." Elijah's mission will be to reconcile families, turning the hearts of fathers to children and children to fathers, thereby averting a divine curse upon the earth.

Malachi chapter four, serving as the concluding passage of the prophet's message, opens with a vivid and severe prophecy regarding the "day" of the Lord. This impending day is described as a consuming fire, burning like an oven, which will utterly destroy the proud and all who practice wickedness, leaving no trace, neither root nor branch. This imagery underscores the complete and final judgment awaiting the unrighteous. In stark contrast, a different destiny awaits those who fear the Lord's name. For them, the "Sun of righteousness" will arise, bringing forth healing in its "wings," a metaphor for its pervasive and benevolent influence. These faithful individuals will experience a period of flourishing and growth, likened to "calves of the stall," suggesting health, vigor, and prosperity. Furthermore, the righteous are promised a triumphant vindication, as they will "tread down the wicked," who will be reduced to "ashes under the soles of your feet" on the day of divine intervention. Following these pronouncements of judgment and blessing, the chapter issues a direct command to the people: "Remember ye the law of Moses my servant." This injunction emphasizes the enduring importance of the covenant, including the statutes and judgments given at Horeb, as the foundation for righteous living. The prophecy then shifts to a significant eschatological promise concerning the precursor to the "great and dreadful day of the LORD." God declares His intention to send "Elijah the prophet" before this momentous day. Elijah's specific mission is detailed as a work of reconciliation and restoration within families, aiming to "turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers." This vital work is presented as a preventative measure, intended to avert the Lord's coming to "smite the earth with a curse," thereby highlighting the critical importance of spiritual and familial harmony in the face of divine judgment.