Read 2 Chronicles 36 and Malachi 4.
This devotional is about Malachi 4.
Our final Old Testament reading for this year sums up a big chunk of the message of the Bible pretty well in six short verses.
First, God promised his day of judgment would come and destroy everyone who does evil (v. 1). But, in verse 2, he promised those who worship him would not only escape God’s wrath, but they would also experience God’s presence dawning in their lives like the sun rising on a clear morning. His righteousness would bring healing, not destruction, for those who worship him and they would prosper (v. 2c) and participate in God’s defeat of his enemies (v. 3).
Until that happens, however, those who revere God’s name were to remember his word in obedience (v. 4). Finally, God would work to save many who are evil doers by sending his servant Elijah to turn hearts toward him and toward one another in reconciliation (vv. 5-6).
John the Baptist came roughly 400 years after this prophecy to begin the fulfillment of it described in verses 5-6. Then, Jesus came after John to bear our sins and give us new life so that we would revere God’s name like verse 2 says. The completion of Jesus’s work–and the promises of punishment and blessing described in this chapter–are still future to us. This is what we are waiting for when Jesus returns.
Until then, having been saved by grace, we who worship God must hold faithfully to his promises and obediently to his word (v.4). I trust these devotionals have helped you grow in these ways. Keep reading, keep growing, and keep looking for Christ’s return until he comes.