Burned Malachi 4:1

As “the LORD of hosts” dealt with the faults of the nation of Israel, Malachi the prophet recorded the errors He found. However, among the group of people who were against the Lord's way were found those who “feared the Lord”, and God promised a “book of remembrance”, His ownership, and ability to discern those who were righteous and those who were wicked to this faithful group. In chapter four and verse one of Malachi, we learn more concerning the fate of those who were against the Lord where we read:

For, behold, the day comes, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yes, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that comes shall burn them up, says the of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

The verse begins, “For, behold, the day comes, that shall burn as an oven;” The word “For” in this case means “because, since or on account of” and is a continuation in thought of the eighteenth verse of chapter three. There is a contrast drawn between those who “feared the Lord” and those who do not. Malachi wrote “behold” or “look, beware, or observe” “the day comes”, which is a “certain time period or length of time”, “that shall burn as an oven” which means to “kindle, consume or remove as in an furnace, fire-pot or stove” as a means of judgment and removal of those who are opposed to the Lord.

The verse goes on to say, “and all the proud, yes, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that comes shall burn them up, says the LORD of hosts,...” The Lord spoke specifically to “all the proud” who are the “arrogant, insolent and presumptive” and confirms His words with a “yes, and all that do” which means “fashion, accomplish, make or produce” “wickedly” or “unrighteousness and guilt in civil, ethical and religious” relationships. These evil doers “shall be stubble” or “as chaff or straw”, and ominously “the LORD of hosts” repeated the idea of them burning by stating “and the day that comes shall burn them up”.

Finally the verse says, “that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.” This “burning” shall be so complete that “it shall leave them neither root” which is “the lowest part of a thing, the base, or foundation” “nor branch” which refers to “the covering, outer growth, and overhanging” within them. In other words, nothing will be left of their pernicious ways when this thorough, consuming day comes.

As we ponder these words, we may find them daunting and apocalyptic. However, upon further thought, we may also find them refreshing. As long as we are not within the group of people who do not fear the Lord, we may welcome the purification of the proud and the wicked. But, if we find ourselves not in awe and respect of the Lord, and we have no true regard for “the LORD of hosts”, we may not relish the idea of being burned and removed as “stubble” or chaff. May the Lord reveal to us to which group of people we belong, and may we pledge our allegiance to the one who knows when the day of burning will come.

Next time we shall see the benefits of being those who fear the Lord's name, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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