The Pulpit Commentary — Malachi — Section 64

Jicace nnd of ealvntion. Tbe light of truth shows us "the paths of righteousne•~" (Ps, cxliii. 8, 10). 2. Warmth after cold (Ps. xix. 6). Christ not only gives light, but life. His presence cm1scs thnt spiritual warmth which is a lire-giving power. He i~ "n quickening Spirit" (John v. 21, 25; vi. 47, etc.). There is a spiritual a.s well as a eolnr chemistry. The beams of the Sun of Righteousness both enlighten, warm, and quicken (1 Cor. i. 30). 3. Health after sickness. The figure of" wings" may allude to the rays of the sun, or perhaps to the breeze which in many hot regions, especially in the zones of the trade whirls, begins to blow over the land early in the morning, bringing freshne~s and health with it. (In the West Indies and elsewhere this morning ·breeze is popularly called·" the doctor.") The Jews had a proverbial saying, "As the sun riseth, infirmities decrease." Christ, when in our midst, scattered around him blessings of healing, both physical and spiritual. .A.t Jericho he brought sight to blind Bartimreus and life to dead Zacchreus. So is it wherever he rises, like the light of life, on the souls of men (Ps. cxlvii. 3; Isa. lvii. 19; Ezek. xlvii. 12; 1 John v. 11, 12). The terms "righteousness" and "healing," being very comprehensive, remind us of the blessings brought by Christ at both his first and second comings. At the first 11dvent he diffused the rays of righteousness, whereby he both justifies and sanctifies those who turn to him, just as tbe sun imparts light, life, and joy to all who tum towards it. At the second, he will own the righteousness which he gave, anri will exhibit it, cleared of all the misjudgments of tbe world, before men and angels. By his first advent he gave spiritual healing, justification, and all its allied blessings, summed up in the royal gift of "eternal life." At his second he will bring full salvation, when, as one has said, there. shall be "understanding wHhout error, memory ,without forgetfulness, thought without· distraction, love without simulation, sensation ·without offence, satisfying without satiety, universal health without sickness" (Isa.. lx. 201 21; Rev. xxi. 23; xxii. 1-5). Vere, 4-6.-The sufficiency of God's successive revelations. The introduction of the appeal in ver. 4 between the predictions and promises of vers. 2, 3 and 5, 6 has at first sight an appearance .of abruptness. The promise of ver. 5 lay in the indefinite, and as we know the distant, future. Malachi proved to be the last of the prophets of .the old covenant.· In the long interval between Malachi and John the Baptist there were times when Israel looked and longed for a new prophet to arise (1 Mace. ix. 27; xiv. 41), though· sometimes this was only for the purpose of settlin~ very unimportant questions (e.g. 1 Mace. iv. 41-46). But all the while they had in their hands a revelation from God that was amply sufficient for their present guidance, and the right use of which \vould prepare them for further blessings and preserve them from wrath to come. We,are thus reminded of the truth of the sufficiency of God's revelations/or those to whom they are granted. We may apply this truth- I. To Gon's UNWRITTEN REVELATIONS. The declarations of God's truth and of his will to Adam and the patria: dis were less definite than when "the Law came in beside" (Rom. v. 14, 20). Rut though in one sense "exceeding broad" as compared with the multifarious laws of Moses, they were sufficient to produce a conviction of sin (e.g. Gen. iv. 7; xiii. 21, 22, etc.), and therefore of the need of forgiveness (Gen. iv. 13, margin), nrid to enable men to walk with God (Gen. v. 24; vi. 9). So is it with the heathen (Roin. i.. 20;. ii. 14, 15). The revelations through the worlds of matter and of mind are sufficient as a rule of life, though not as a means of full salvation (comp. Acts x. 35, "acceptable" (6e1CTos) and iv. 12). If. To THE LAW OF MosEs. This answered all needful questions as to the character and the will of God. Moses, the first writer in the Bible, and his Law are honourably mentioned by the last writer, this fact supplying one out of many testimonies to the unity of the Bible. Similar witness to the value and the sufficiency of the Law of Moses "for the time then present" is borne by Christ (Matt. Y. 17-19; Ml\rk xii. 28-3-!; Luke x. 25-28; .xvi. 29; John v. 39, etc.). The prophets came not to supersede but t• expound the Law, to bring out the fulness of its morality, and to apply its fundamental teachings to the changing scenes of national life (l~a. viii. 20; Jer. xxxiv. 12-14, eto.), Moses ancl the prophets" received not the promise" (Heh. xi. 32, 38), yet Christ could say," Salvation is of the Jews" (John iv. 22). • III. To THE 0HRIS'l'1AN U1':VELATION. Upon us "the euds of the ages are come"  'l'HE BOOK OF MALACHI. [OR. IV. 1-8.