Behold, The Day Cometh
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 2/3/2013 PM |
Text: | Malachi 4:1-6 |
Psalters: | 17, 99, 13, 139 |
Preparatory to the Lord's Supper |
- A day of judgment.
- Because God is unchanging in His holiness and justice, it is inevitable that there will be a judgment.
- The objects are ?all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly? (1).
- It is also the day ?that shall burn as an oven? (1).
- Fire accompanies judgment (Ps. 50:3; Isa. 66:15,16; I Cor. 3:13; II Peter 3:7-10).
- The result: ?shall leave them neither root nor branch,? i.e., no hope of shooting up again to life.
- That there is the promise of this judgment day is a source of great comfort to God?s suffering people who fear Him.
- It also the day of restoring or renewal.
- Prior to the Messiah?s coming, Elijah will come.
- This is the work of John the Baptist, the N.T. Elijah (Luke 1:17; Matt. 11:11-14; 17:10-13).
- His work will be to ?turn the hearts? of God?s people (6).
- Also the law shall make place for the liberty of the children of God in the Spirit (4).
- The prophet calls them to ?remember the law of Moses? (4).
- ?Lest I come and smite the earth with a curse,? i.e., with utter destruction with no hope of restoration.
- And it is the day of salvation.
- What brings judgment also brings salvation to God?s people.
- The chief purpose of the day is the glory of God seen in the salvation of His church.
- His salvation is described as Christ coming as ?the Sun of righteousness? giving light and healing (2).
- The effect of His coming is like the releasing of field calves which had been tied up all winter.
- We will enable us to share in His victory and tread down the wicked (Lord?s Day 12, q. 32).