‘I would skip down the beach and just go dancing.’ So spoke a friend living with muscular dystrophy who dreams of swapping a day with an able-bodied friend.* Her words reflect the joyful abandonment of calves described by Malachi – a metaphor for our response to God’s saving grace (v 2). Freedom from the confines of our limitations, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, is an eternal promise for those who honour God, and a promise that brings healing, restoration, global justice and personal salvation (vs 2,3). This is serious business, yet in this freedom our response will be to celebrate beyond our wildest imagination.

These challenging last verses speak of divine judgement and divine restoration (vs 5,6). All of Malachi has built to this point: God will not tolerate the rebellious nature of Israel. He has called them to remember his covenantal and unchanging love, yet many remain arrogant, self-centred and self-important, rejecting God’s call for justice. On the final day of judgement, God will confront this rebellion, as declared in the final words of Malachi, with ‘total destruction’. 

Each year, as we sing ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’, Malachi’s words ring out across the land, hail ‘the sun of righteousness’ (v 2). Jesus is the final promise of divine restoration. Justice will prevail, but God’s mercy will bring salvation for those who commit to follow him.

*‘Walks like a Duck: Episode One – The Stairlift’, BBC Radio 4, 6 July 2020

‘For God … made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.’¹

Having spoken about God’s justice, Malachi now prophesies about the day of the Lord. This refers to God’s intervention to punish the wicked and deliver the righteous, which might be an event within history.² Malachi foretells an ultimate judgement, when evildoers will face God’s justice. He uses fire imagery again but, instead of refining, this fire destroys. For those who revere God, that day is like a glorious dawn. On ancient Near-Eastern monuments the sun is often depicted as a winged disc, like a mother bird bringing protection and well-being. The righteous will experience joy and renewal as they share in the final triumph of good over evil.

God takes no pleasure in destroying the wicked but would rather they repent before it is too late.³ He calls on them to return to the Law of Moses – the bringer of the new covenant has not yet come.⁴ God also promises to send the prophet Elijah to call for a renewal of the covenant community before final judgement falls. The angel announcing John the Baptist’s birth said he would have ‘the spirit and power of Elijah’⁵ and Jesus identified John as Elijah.⁶ John’s ministry was Elijah-like but he denied being Elijah,⁷ perhaps to avoid that being taken literally. The Old Testament ends looking forward to fulfilment of the promises it contains of God coming to end human wickedness and establish his righteous rule.

Jesus, by his death and resurrection, has defeated evil and planted the mustard seed of God’s rule. He promised to return to execute final judgement and establish God’s rule in its fullness. The dawn has come, but Christians are in the waiting room hoping for full daylight. Meanwhile we are to ‘Live as children of light’, who please God.⁸

‘… let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.’⁹ How can you do that today?

¹ 2 Cor 4:6  ² Eg Isa 13; Obad  ³ Ezek 33:11  ⁴ Luke 22:20  ⁵ Luke 1:17  ⁶ Matt 17:11–13  ⁷ John 1:21  ⁸ Eph 5:8–10  ⁹ Matt 5:16