Daily Devotions
Malachi
"I will send you Elijah the prophet"
Text: Malachi 4:5
THE FORERUNNER OF THE MESSIAH
The context of Malachi 4 focused on the LORD sending the Messiah. He would be preceded by a forerunner who would be like Elijah the prophet.
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
And he will turn
The hearts of the fathers to the children,
And the hearts of the children to their fathers,
Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”
Malachi 4:5-6
1. “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet”
a) This was not a literal reference to Elijah who ministered in the days of King Ahab (1 Kings 17 – 2 Kings 1).
b) He was identified by the Lord Jesus as John the Baptizer (Matthew 11:10).
2. “Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD”
a) John the Baptiser certainly turned many hearts to the Lord.
b) Multitudes came to hear John and were baptised (Mark 1:5).
3. “The great and dreadful day of the LORD”
a) This word suggests a day of Judgment.
b) The first coming of the Messiah was not one of judgment but of salvation.
4. “And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse”
a) These words would suggest that there would be another time when the Messiah would come.
b) And that Day was described as:
i) A great and dreadful day.
ii) Where the Lord would come and strike the earth with a curse.
c) His ministry would impact many.
i) Fathers would turn to their children in love and devotion.
ii) Children would revere their fathers.
The Book of Malachi ended on a note of anticipation and hope to the second coming of the Messiah. To believers it would be “the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7). To others, it would be “the great and dreadful day of the LORD”.