The Sun of Righteousness

On Sunday evening, Pastor Devon Rossman continued preaching from the book of Malachi. And from the text, it became clear that the sun of a new day – the day of the Lord – is soon to rise. Will we be ready for it? This question posed in the evening church service was relevant to the Jews living around 400 BC, and today it’s still relevant for people in Mt Pleasant and Central Michigan, as well.

Confrontation and Comfort from the Coming Day of the Lord

For the past few months, we’ve been in a series through the book of Malachi in the Bible – the last book of the Old Testament. And we’ve seen that the prophet Malachi was speaking to an ancient community of Jews, at a time in their history when God’s presence and his promises seemed uncertain. Many people had gotten tired of waiting for God. And over time, the slid further and further into a bad spiritual position. Their expressions of worship became increasingly dull and superficial. And their moral compasses veered more and more off course. And many people in this generation of Jews were beginning to suffer from the downward spiral of society. As the sun rose each day, people were moaning, “Where is the God of justice?”

And it’s in this context, that God sends Malachi as his messenger. And throughout this book, Malachi has been confronting those who are corrupt, and comforting those who are downcast. He’s been insisting to both groups of people that trusting in God’s Word, and waiting for his blessing is worth it. And really, it’s necessary in order to have any future good.

And the main way that Malachi has been underscoring this point, is he’s been announcing that the sun of a new day is rising. He’s been announcing the coming day of God’s judgment. We’ve already seen a bit of this in Chapter 3. But this theme gets further developed in our text today. Since the day of God’s judgment is coming, devotion to God will be worth it. That’s our big idea tonight.

So if you haven’t already, please turn with me to Malachi, Chapter 4. And this morning I’ll be reading verses 1 through 3. But before I read our text, I just want to remind you – whether you’re an adult or a child – it’s important for each one of us to have hungry hearts, and to have humble hearts, and to listen to the word of God. So let’s ask that God would help us in our listening this evening. Please pray with me:

Malachi 4:1-3 – The Rising Sun

“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts.”

This full sermon recording from Fellowship Reformed, a church in Mount Pleasant, is included below: