The Sun of Righteousness

“For you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.”

Malachi 4:2

 A new day would dawn for God’s “treasured possession” (3:17), those who feared (revered) the name of the Lord. In Old Testament times sun of righteousness was a metaphor for the promised Messiah all Israel waited for, or for the blessings He would bring. Living in the middle of spiritual darkness was not the least bit encouraging.  

For a year and a half my husband and I lived in a remote mining town in northern British Columbia. We loved the changes in the seasons; but when the winter months came to that place, the lack of direct sunlight took us by surprise. The sun never rose above the surrounding mountains. Cabin fever is a well-known syndrome in the far north, high doses of vitamin D the answer.

Imagine our delight when the sun never seemed to set in July and August. Our spirits lightened, our hearts beat a steady rhythm, our energy ramped up.

Ah, the healing effect of the Messiah! Into the darkness of Malachi’s era, into the errant “my truths” of today, Jesus brings His own brand of vitamin D. You will find the real deal in His Word and in the wing beat of the Spirit in your soul.

The energy of the leaping calves released from their stall is a word picture of joy. I think of our chocolate labrador pup after a long car ride. Or what about your toddler’s energy after his afternoon nap? There’s no holding back.

Those who lived in that holy reverence in Malachi’s time were reassured that all would be well. And so we set out to do as they did: Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling (Psalm 2:11), where to rejoice means to emotionally spin around, trembling, in awe of God.

While God is impressed with the strength of the horse and the legs of a man, His real delight is in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love (Psalm 147:10-11).

Nancy P

All Scripture quotations are from the NIV 1973, 1978, 1984, unless otherwise noted.