The Day of the Lord
Open Your Bible
Malachi 4:1-6, Isaiah 60:19-22, Revelation 21:9-27
BY Melanie Rainer
I don’t know about you, but I’ve really enjoyed the deep dive into the book of Malachi this week. I’ve not ever read Malachi before (don’t tell my Old Testament professor!), or at least not in this sort of detail, and it’s quite the surprising and enjoyable little book tucked at the very end of the minor prophets.
Malachi is a series of warnings and disputations between the Lord and His people, but there is a sharpness of wit and sarcasm that makes it stand apart from the other minor prophets. It’s a fitting end to the Old Testament, an exclamation point on the prophets that have scolded the Israelites and cried out for the Messiah. Malachi does both, though with less drama and weeping than some of the others. There are surprisingly irreverent moments, about wiping the faces of the priests with animal waste (Malachi 2:3), and others more lyrically poignant, like when Malachi describes the priests covering the Lord’s altar with tears (2:13).
Malachi reminds us that the world is broken, and we are broken. Even God’s chosen people, armed with God’s precious covenants and blessings, led by the chosen Levites, have failed to sow seeds of goodness, justice, righteousness, and love. As go the Israelites, so go the rest of us: bought with the blood of Christ, but still tilling in rows of brokenness and waiting for the harvest.
Malachi ends with a promise, a promise whose roots stretch all the way back to Genesis and all the way forward to Revelation. Wickedness and injustice will be no more, and those who fear the Lord will go out with joy. Goodness will be restored, and reinvented in a way that we cannot imagine how good it will be.
Revelation 21 is true and beautiful, and it is such a gift to read it today alongside Malachi 4. “Nothing unclean will ever enter it,” John wrote about the new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:27).
The people to whom Malachi wrote thought that maybe they were living in the new Jerusalem, the rebuilt city after the long exile. But they weren’t, and their hearts were still shaped more by themselves than by God.
The day is coming when wickedness will burn like stubble. We still cling to the same promise the Israelites did, but our hope is anchored in the body and blood of Christ. The day is coming when the sun of righteousness will rise. Until then, may we live in joyful anticipation of the assured and blessed morning.
24 thoughts on "The Day of the Lord"
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After we finished our Revelations study, I decided to reread the “Left Behind” series …no judging, sisters.. :-) Although this series is based on the events after Christ first calls HIS beloved to be with HIM, many of the feelings portrayed are relevant throughout our daily walks at different times of our lives. I am on the final book nearing the end, waiting for Christ to come back while hell is breaking loose—literally. The anticipation of HIS glorious return is palpable for those whom were “left behind” but have found the Truth. They are filled with an overwhelming excitement to be with the LORD. And just think—as followers, we won’t have to wait that long! Sure, the world is growing more evil each day, but while I’m still here, I must strive to shine with the light of Christ through me so others will also be able to join me/us in celebrating with the Son of Righteousness! How many more can be saved for the Kingdom in the time we have left?
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Even so, come quickly!
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Amen Cynthia
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Lord Jesus come. Amen.
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You, Lord God, deserve all glory, honor and praise.
We lift our hands, hearts, and lives before You, King of kings and Lord of lords.
Great is your faithfulness
God my Father.
Whether with eyes “awakened from death” or clearly focused toward the eastern skies
We. Will. See. You.
We. Will. See. You…
Face to Face.
Judgement or Salvation await.
You have made a way.
The choice is ours.
The day is coming when we will either become stubble,
or playfully jump like calves from the stall in the presence of the One we love.Stay on task beloveds,
the time is short.
Our King is coming.
May all on the pathway of stubble
rise up with healing and salvation on their wings
through Jesus Christ, our Lord
and soar joyfully, playfully in the righteousness of the Son
Together forever
in His everlasting Light! -
“The day is coming.”
“You who fear My name.”
“Remember the instructions.”
“The Lord will be your everlasting light.”
“I am the Lord.”
“I will accomplish it quickly in its time.”
“The holy city, Jerusalem.”
“Arrayed with God’s glory.”
“The Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.”
“The glory of God illuminates it.”
“Its lamp is the Lamb.”
“Only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.”All these words fill my being with hope and longing. Thank God they are true and trustworthy. While I walk this hard earth I keep my face fixed on the eastern sky. The King is coming! All will be made right and new. No more effects of the Fall. Only all glory!!
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Amen and Amen
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Amen!
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“The sun of righteousness will rise.”
The Son of righteousness will rise!
What an amazing promise! Hope is packed into those words! Enough hope to last 400 years. Hope and encouragement-“remember the statutes and ordinances of Moses!”
The last word from God to His people. Then………….silence.
For 400 years His people waited. The faithful attempted to live by His law while others turned to their own ways mocking or worse, manipulating the Law for their own purpose in the uncomfortable silence. But in that most dramatic pause, a crescendo was building orchestrated by the greatest Maestro until the silence was broken by a baby’s cry. A Son rose. A promise kept. Hope abounds!-
Amen
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Hallelujah Shawn, I ❤️ your message.
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I crave salty foods. I crave a delicious glass of Cabernet. and I crave sweets. But there is nothing I crave more than the coming of Jesus to bring me to my everlasting home by his side. But can I admit here to my SRT girls that I LOVE sunsets, dusk on a cool autumn night and a beautiful Texas clear and starry night. I worry that there is no “ night” in Heaven…and no seas. I am a beach girl through and through. I will continue to pray that my eternal home includes an unmatched Texas sunset and the beautiful sounds of an ocean wave kissing the shore. These are my prayers to my Lord God almighty as I know he will bless me in Heaven with these “earthly cravings” I sometimes feel I couldn’t live without.
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I’ve felt the same way amount stars and the ocean! I love that you pray about that—I’ll be joining you in those prayers!
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I love stars too and wondered about that. Yes Jesus is our light but the beauty of the stars shining especially far far from cities is just so beautiful.
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I know what you mean. I was listening to Tony Evans talk about heaven yesterday and nothing dies so I got thinking about the beautiful colors of fall when the leaves fall to the ground. I am sureGod has this all covered, but I wonder about it to—I love sunsets.
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I thought the same thing! I love moonlight and sunsets. I have to remind myself, though, that once we are in the physical presence of Jesus, then all of our focus will be on Him. Perhaps eternity with our Savior is the culmination of every sunset, sunrise, moonlit night, and beautiful autumn day wrapped into one being. Perhaps it’s the equivalent of being at the shore or being in front of a warm fire on a cold snowy night. If all of the things that we find beauty and peace here on earth are wrapped up into being in the throne room of God, then I don’t think we will miss anything.
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