THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS

THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS

This program of daily Scripture studies is designed to help you in daily honoring God with adoration.

Each day, Monday through Friday, a Scripture with commentary is posted.

We have a great friend in Gary Godard. He has set up an archive page. To view ALL the prior Scripture studies by book and chapter, just clik

HERE.

Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the books of Genesis through Obadiah are
now available in hard copy for $17.50. (Smaller books are only $9:50) Just mail your request for COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to:

Bruce McGee
P.O. Box 1627
Columbia, LA 71418

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE STUDY
MALACHI

1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all 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. 2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

"For...," Chapter 4 is actually a continuation of the thought in chapter 3. There is a "day coming" which will be an awesome judgment day. In the same day that God will bring the righteous close to Him (Chapter 3:17), the wicked will see God's wrath like an "oven." With the coming of "THE BRANCH" the "root and branch" of wickedness will be turned away.

The "Sun of Righteousness," (Which is Christ our Lord) will appear. When He appeared on earth the first time, those who received His spiritual "healing" were filled with great joy. They were like young calves who had been raised in a stall, and then turned loose. They lept with joy and bounded with happiness. It shall be no less when Christ comes the second time!

3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

The text places affirmation upon the results of Christ bringing spiritual healing. When righteousness becomes a part of a person's life, wickedness becomes as "ashes under the soles of" their feet. The joy of Christ's presence turns away interference of evil.

4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

Chapter 3, verse 7 was an indictment against the Israelites because they had "gone away from Mine ordinances and not kept them." Now God calls to them to "remember" those laws of truth and purity and to live by them. When a person is saved, he/she is acquitted from having broken the laws of God. However, the person saved will have a new desire to abide by those principles of righteousness. Spiritual revival within, by the Spirit of God, brings holy desire to live in truth.

5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6 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 5 is the promise of a prophet to come in the same spirit and power as Elijah. In the days before Jesus began His ministry on earth, John the Baptist came fulfilling this Scripture. John actually "prepared the way" for the True Messenger of the covenant of God. See Malachi 3:1

By "turning the hearts" of people, John the Baptist put focus upon the Messiah, the Christ. The more focus we have upon our Lord, Jesus, the more revival we have in our hearts, and the less punitive judgment God sends upon earth.

The Old Testament ends with a promise of Christ coming.
The New Testament ends with the same promise...."Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with Me..." (Revelation 22:12).

Thus the emphasis of both Testaments is to FOCUS upon CHRIST!
The more we preach the gospel of Jesus, the more righteousness will flourish!
The more we preach the gospel of Christ the greater revival we shall see in the church!
The more we preach the gospel of Christ, the more we will see salvation of the lost!