Behold, The Day Cometh

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