Malachi 4:2 But to you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and you shall go forth… Jesus Christ is made unto us of God, a soul-heating, soul-warming sun. I. WHAT NEED HAVE WE OF THESE WARMING INFLUENCES FROM CHRIST, THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS? It is upon the account of the coldness we are subject to in spiritual things. Some are key cold, stone cold; dead in trespasses and sins. Even such as are spiritually alive, are subject to their cold fits. The causes of this spiritual coldness are — 1. Some inward distemper prevailing in the soul. 2. From the season; night-time, and winter-time, are cooling times. When God withdraws, it is both night and winter to the soul. 3. From cooling circumstances, such as want of ordinances, engage ment with carnal relations. The effects of spiritual coldness are — (1) Inward uneasiness. (2) Unfitness for action. (3) Unaptness to receive impressions, by the Word or by the rod. II. HOW IS HEAT AND WARMTH COMMUNICATED BY CHRIST TO THOSE THAT FEAR HIS NAME? In general, it is by His wings. In particular, He is a warming sun to us — 1. By the immediate motions and comforts of His Holy Spirit. 2. By His Word and ordinances, though not without the Spirit. 3. By good society. And Jesus Christ is made a heavenly sun, with "healing" in His wings. Ours is a sick and wounded condition. Sick of the disease of natural corruption; sick of the wounds of actual sin. This is — (1) The alone healing. (2) It is all-healing. (3) It is healing at hand.And Jesus Christ is made a growth-furthering sun to us. "Grow up as calves." Can a tree or plant grow without warmth? And, finally, the Lord Jesus is a fruit-furthering sun. (Philip Henry.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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