Post by Ben on Dec 31, 2014 20:03:32 GMT
Malachi 4:4-6 -- "Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of Yahweh: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."
Verse 4 is a warning from the past. The people are warned to heed the statutes and judgements of the law.
Verses 5 and 6 describe the future work of Elijah. It is interesting to connect the words of Malachi ("[Elijah] shall turn the heart...") to the words of Elijah's prayer in 1 Kings 18.
1 Kings 18:36-36 -- "And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Yahweh Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art Elohim in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that thou art Yahweh Elohim, and that thou hast turned their heart back again."
The last words of the Old Testament are "a curse." This is contrasted with the good news of the gospel proclaimed at the beginning of the New Testament. It is also interesting that the last two people named in the Old Testament are Moses and Elijah, the two men chosen to appear on the mount of transfiguration with Christ. Moses represents the law and Elijah represents the prophets.
Verse 4 is a warning from the past. The people are warned to heed the statutes and judgements of the law.
Verses 5 and 6 describe the future work of Elijah. It is interesting to connect the words of Malachi ("[Elijah] shall turn the heart...") to the words of Elijah's prayer in 1 Kings 18.
1 Kings 18:36-36 -- "And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Yahweh Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art Elohim in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that thou art Yahweh Elohim, and that thou hast turned their heart back again."
The last words of the Old Testament are "a curse." This is contrasted with the good news of the gospel proclaimed at the beginning of the New Testament. It is also interesting that the last two people named in the Old Testament are Moses and Elijah, the two men chosen to appear on the mount of transfiguration with Christ. Moses represents the law and Elijah represents the prophets.