Malachi 3
DOYLY— and all the proud, &c.] Compare chap. iii. 15.
- — the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings. The Messiah is called here “the Sun of righteousness with healing in his wings,” to signify that his light clears up men’s understandings, and chases away the darkness of their minds, and that his rays and kindly warmth will heal all the diseases of their souls. W. Lowth. Compare Isa. ix. 1—3; Rev. xii. 1.
What the sun is to the world, that Christ is to his Church. As the sun gives not only light to the world, but heat, motion, and activity to all things in it; and invigorates the earth, and makes it fruitful; so does Christ, “the Sun of righteousness,” cause righteousness to spring up in his Church, and, being long since risen, He shines continually upon it, with healing in his wings or rays, even the wholesome benign influences of his Holy Spirit, whereby He heals us of our unfruitfulness, and all our spiritual distempers. Bp. Beveridge.
— and ye shall go forth, and grow up &c.] This promise of deliverance was manifestly made good to the Christians, who were warned of God to go forth of Jerusalem, before it was invested by the Roman army: by which means they were rescued from the common destruction, that came upon the unbelievers, and continued thriving and vigorous, (compare Ps. xcii. 14.) whilst the rest of the nation were consumed with divers kinds of death. Dr. Pocock, W. Lowth.
Malachi 3:11
- —the devourer] Locusts, and such like devouring insects, (compare Amos iv. 9.) blighting winds, &c. W. Lowth.
Malachi 3:13
- Your words have been stout against me, &c.] From this verse to the end of the third verse of the next chapter the Prophet expostulates with the wicked for their hard speeches; and declares that God will make a fearful distinction between them and the righteous. Abp. Newcome.
Malachi 3:16
- Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another:] Or, “spake one to another;” the word often is not in the Hebrew. By their pious discourses, they confirmed each other in goodness; and armed themselves against the impressions which the foregoing wicked suggestions might make upon their minds. W. Lowth.
—and a book of remembrance was written before him &c.] God took especial notice of what these pious persons did and said: it was as safely laid up in his memory, as if it had been entered into a register, in order to be produced at the day of judgment, to their praise and honour. Compare Ps. lvi. 8; Isa. lxv. 6; Dan. vii. 10; Rev. xx. 12. W. Lowth. The “book of remembrance” is a beautiful allusion to the records kept by kings. See Esth. vi. 1. Abp. Newcome.
Malachi 3:17
- —in that day when I make up my jewels;] Or, “special treasure,” as in the margin. The meaning is, that although God suffer his “jewels” and “peculiar treasure” to lie for a while mingled with the rubbish and dross, without distinction, yet a day shall come when He will sever what is precious from what is vile;
God: and what profit is it that we have kept † his ordinance, and that we have walked † mournfully before the LORD of hosts?
17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my [jewels; and I will] spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Malachi 3:18
- Then shall ye return, and discern &c.] Then shall you change your minds, and discern that God did always observe the actions of men. Dr. Pocock. Or, “then shall ye again discern;” that is, God shall give you a new proof, that He puts a difference between the good and the bad, and shall thereby fully answer your objections to his providence. W. Lowth.
Chap. IV. ver. 1. For, behold, the day cometh, &c.] The connexion of these words with the preceding is so apparent, that there seems no reason why they should have been separated, and made the beginning of a new chapter. The words themselves are an image or description of the final judgment on the Jews in their destruction, and an image or representation of the last general judgment on all mankind. The former was certainly then to come on the Jews, if not prevented by their repentance, as it was not: the latter is yet to come, but shall in God’s appointed time as certainly come, as if it were already present. Of both therefore it might then be said, “Behold, the day cometh;” that is, it shall certainly come: and the description is so full of terrour, that it may be well applied both to one and to the other. The primary intention however of the Prophet seems to have been, to describe the judgment denounced upon the Jews, to whom he was peculiarly sent to reprove them for their sins, and to admonish them of the consequences of impenitence. Dr. Pocock.
—that shall burn as an oven;] That is, it shall try every man’s work, searching it as thoroughly as fire does things that are put into it. Abp. Secker.
God’s blessing on the good. Elijah’s coming and office.
the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.