Daily Encouragement Day 207 – Malachi 4

Malachi anticipates the coming of the Lord’s messenger who will prepare the way for the Messiah.  “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. . . . Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord” (3:1; 4:5; cf. Isaiah 40:3).  One aspect of this was fulfilled by John the Baptist who typified the coming of Elijah before the day of the Lord (Matthew 3:3; 11:10-14; 17:9-13; Mark 1:2-3; 9:10-13; Luke 1:17; 3:4-6; John 1:23).  But another aspect awaits the appearance of Elijah himself before the second advent of Christ (3:2-3).  The last of the Old Testament prophets anticipates the coming of the first of the New Testament prophets, John the Baptist, but there would be a 400-year prophetic silence between them.

READING of MALACHI 4

Prayer:

Lord, I thank You that for those who fear Your name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.  Your name, O Lord, will be great among the nations.

Meditation passage for today: verse 2