Malaquias 4
John Piper · Citado em PreceptAustin
Malaquias 4
Piper commenting on the uses in Malachi 3 writes: To fear the Lord is to tremble at the thought of offending him by unbelief and disobedience (ED: A HOLY "IMPEDIMENT TO UNHOLY CONDUCT!). It is the feeling that God is not to be trifled with. (ED: WHICH IS IN FACT WE DO EVERY TIME WE WILLFULLY SIN! OH MY. FORGIVE ME LORD!) It is the very opposite of the attitude of the people in Mal 3:13-15 who speak with an incredible swagger: "It doesn't pay to serve God." Those who fear God shudder at the thought of speaking that way about their Majestic Father. Anything that dishonors God is anathema to those who fear God. (I Will Spare Them as a Man Spares His Son - Sermon on Malachi 3:13-18) Compare those who fear God's Name in the Revelation… And the nations were enraged, and Thy wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to give their reward to Thy bond-servants the prophets and to the saints and to those who fear Thy Name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth. (Revelation 11:18-note)
Malaquias 4
Piper - Jesus Christ is a Rising Sun… When Malachi saw that (the Sun of Righteousness), God told him: the coming of the Messiah will be like that and the effect of His beauty will be healing. (The Sun of Righteousness Will Rise - Malachi 4:1-3) Comment: It is surprising that in his sermon on Malachi 4:1-3, Dr Piper makes no specific mention of the Second Coming of Messiah especially in view of the fact that Malachi is emphasizing judgment in Malachi 4:1. Also surprising is that there is no mention of Israel (the recipient of Malachi's message) nor of Messiah's earthly Millennial Kingdom. On Desiringgod.org Matt Perman writes that Dr Piper agrees that "there will be a millennium" (Ref). It is interesting that such a staunch dispensationalist as Charles Ryrie (of Dallas Theological Seminary) does not see this as a reference to the Messiah, instead writing sun of righteousness is "An impersonal reference to the display of righteousness throughout the entire earth (as the sun sends its rays everywhere) in the coming millennial kingdom." Thomas
Malaquias 4
Piper commenting on Luke 1:78 and Mal 4:2 writes When John the Baptist's father prophesied in Luke 1:78, he alluded to this verse and said that with the coming of Jesus the day was dawning from on high. The sun of righteousness was rising. And he has been rising all over this world ever since. And one day his rise will reach its noonday brightness and he will appear in glory and the final division between the believing and unbelieving will be made. Finally, the Septuagint translation of Mal 4:2 uses the masculine singular noun helios (sun) and the masculine genitive for "it's" (healing in its wings) leading to Brenton's translation "the Sun of righteousness arise, and healing shall be in HIS wings." In sum, while one cannot be absolutely dogmatic, it seems to me that there is ample evidence to support the interpretation that the phrase "sun of righteousness" is clearly an allusion to the soon coming Messiah. Healing in its wings - While this description is difficult to interpret dogmatically, the same word for healing (marpe) is used in Jeremiah's description of Jerusalem and the nation when the Lord returns, God declaring "Behold, I will bring to it (Jerusalem) health and healing (marpe), and I will heal (rapha/rophe) them (Judah and Israel)." (Jer 33:6-see more discussion below). When the Son returns, His coming will bring healing. Zechariah's prophecy seems to allude to this "healing"… And I (the Lord - see Zech 12:4) will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me Whom they have pierced (Messiah, the Sun of Righteousness Who brings spiritual "healing" in His wings); and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a first-born. (Zechariah 12:10) The prophet Isaiah also alludes to healing at the second coming of Messiah… Then (When? Read Isa 35:4) the eyes of the blind will be opened, And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. 6 Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness And streams in the Arabah. (Isa. 35:5-6).