References:
- The Day of the Lord - v 1
- Burning בָּעַר (bāʿar) - see Ex 3:2
- The זֵד (zade') arrogant and the רִשְׁעָה (rish-aw') wicked
- Same words as in 3:15 - the reversal making evil good and good evil
- From now on we will call the arrogant blessed.
- For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no harm.
- Not only consuming the arogant and wicked, but their legacy and influence as well
- Roots שֶׁרֶשׁ (sheh'-resh) and
- Branches עָנָף (aw-nawf')
- Judgement: historical and future/final
- Sun of Righteousness - v2
- Compare the judgement images in Joel with v 2
- The sun is turned to darkness Joel 2:10, 31, 3:15
- The sun brings healing - Mal 4:2
- Translator’s use of upper case for Sun or Righteousness
- Interpreting this as Messianic prophecy
- Healing in (His/his/its) wings
- See Matthew 9:20-21 (fringe, hem, tassels)
- Vs 3 - the restoration of God’s justice and good/evil standard
- The Law and the Prophets - vss 4-6
- The תּוֹרָה (Torah) of Moses: instruction, direction
- Elijah to return BEFORE… devout Jews, particularly in Orthodox Judaism, are still waiting.
- During the Passover Seder, a cup of wine is poured and a chair is left empty for Elijah
- Elijah will arrive to resolve disputes, reconcile families (v 6), and announce the final redemption.
- The arrival of Elijah is considered a direct precursor to the Messiah
- V 6: He will turn the heart (singular) of fathers (plural) to their children (plural) and the heart (singular) of children to their fathers
- A singular “heart” implies restoring a singular, unified, and loving relationship rather than fragmented, individual feelings.
- “Fathers” often refers to the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) and their covenant, meaning the hearts of the children (current generation) are to be turned toward that singular, ancestral, and righteous covenantal foundation.
- Matthew 17:3
- Each of the stories of Jesus’ transfiguration
- Luke 24:27 - post resurrection, Jesus took them through all the scriptures beginning with Moses and all the Prophets.
- “Otherwise” - the OT concludes and a period of four hundred odd years of Prophetic silence ensues.
- Mat 11:13-15
- Prophets and Law
- John IS Elijah
- The Sound of 400 years of silence?
- Cultural unification under the Greeks (Hellenization)
- Political infrastructure under the Romans
- Spiritual preparation in Jewish diaspora with the establishment of the system of synagogues.
- Galatians 4:4-7… Period. Prophecy of Malachi 4:6 fulfilled
