The relevance and urgency of the story told by the prophet are hard to dispute. We ask ourselves the question "how can this be?" far too often, because life gives us countless opportunities for it. The world looks unjust; it lives by laws that...
The relevance and urgency of the story told by the prophet are hard to dispute. We ask ourselves the question "how can this be?" far too often, because life gives us countless opportunities for it. The world looks unjust; it lives by laws that seem not to require faith in God, humility before Him, or trust in His will. The question "what is all this for, if in any case the one who does not submit himself to God's laws is better off?" is sometimes very hard to answer even for oneself, and it is practically impossible to say anything to someone who, on the basis of that question, presents God with a bill.
And nevertheless, this is the simplest way to see the difference between the human and the divine, to see the difference in height between the human person and God. Yes, the one who does not bind himself by love for God may be better situated. But all the same one must make a choice: whether this security is worth life with God. We have the right to refuse every day, but do we need such a life? We want visible signs of God's presence in life, yet for some reason we try to measure grace in monetary terms, in career terms, in outward terms. To this He answers us that acquisition is fitting only in relation to the Kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33), which has no price.
4 The approaching misery of the wicked, and happiness of the righteous, Mal 4:1-3.
A direction to keep to the law, and to expect Elijah, that is, John the Baptist, the fore - runner of the Messiah, Mal 4:4-6.
4:1 Cometh - Tho' it be at a distance from you, yet it is coming and will overtake you and overwhelm you too. As an oven - The refiner's fire, chap. Mal 3:2, is now represented as a fire, burning more dreadfully, as it did indeed when Jerusalem and the temple were on fire, when the fire raged every where, but most fiercely where the arched roofs made it double itself, and infold flames with flames. And this may well be an emblem of the day of judgment.
4:2 The sun of righteousness - Christ, who is fitly compared to the sun, being the fountain of light, and vital heat to his church.And of mercy and benignity; for the Hebrew word imports both.With healing - His beams shall bring health and strength, with delight and joy, safety and security. Go forth - Go out of Jerusalem, before the fatal siege. Grow up - In strength, vigour and spiritual stature.Of the stall - Where they are safe guarded and well ordered.