December 13, 2024
The Messenger - Part 5
Malachi 4:5-6
12/13/2024
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before
the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.
6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their
children and the hearts of children to their
fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a
decree of utter destruction. (ESV)
The book of Malachi, the book of the messenger of God,
brings a three-fold message. First, it spoke to those serving in
the Temple following the restoration of Jerusalem after the
Babylonian captivity. It gave a warning of false doctrine and
practices which did not give glory to God. Second, it
foreshadowed the first coming of Jesus, speaking of His
forerunner, John, speaking of our Lord appearing suddenly in the
Temple. Finally, it speaks of the final coming of our Lord Jesus
to judge the living and the dead.
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the
great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will
turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the
hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and
strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.
Elijah called Israel to repent, to turn from worthless idols
and trust in God alone. John the Baptizer called Israel to
repent, to turn from worthless reliance on traditions and pious
actions so to trust in God alone. The Church calls spiritual
Israel, and the world, to repent, to trust in the Triune God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, so to have eternal life.
Advent is a time of preparation. We look back on God's
promises and see how the death and resurrection of Jesus
fulfilled the ancient prophecies. We see how Christ Jesus is
with His Church today in Word and Sacrament. We believe He will
come again in glory.
Please join us at Trinity Lutheran Church each Sunday
morning to learn more of our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier,
the one True God. May our Lord grant us grace to hear the call
of His messenger. Amen.