BIG IDEA:
GOD WILL REMOVE THE BLURRING OF THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
I. (3:16-17) THE CURE FOR PRIDEFUL DISILLUSIONMENT IS THE FEAR OF THE LORD
A. The Response of the People – Repentance, Renewed Obedience, and Worship
1. Rooted in the Fear of the Lord
“Then those who feared the Lord”
THE FEAR OF GOD must be present for there to be any cure.
The Fear of the Lord is the proper response to:
1) Who the Lord is and who we are and the infinite difference between the two
2) God’s hatred and judgment of sin
It produces:
1) Worship of the Lord for His majesty
2) Hatred (turning from) of sin
– because of its awesome consequences from a holy God
When God played back to the people a recording of the arrogant words they had been speaking against Him, it rekindled the fear of the Lord in the hearts of the faithful.
2. Expressed in Repentance and Renewed Dedication to God’s Standards
“spoke to one another”
No longer maintaining their innocence or watering down God’s law;
What did they speak to one another about?
– appreciating the love of God
– respecting his name
– preserving the holiness and unity of marriage
– preparing for God’s coming judgment
– obeying God’s commands with respect to their tithes and offerings
3. Celebrated in Corporate Worship and Praise — Glorifying His name together
“esteem His name together”
That’s true worship! That’s why we come together every Sunday.
Now their focus is not on defending themselves but on upholding God’s character:
– His love for them
– His faithfulness to them as a nation
– His patience with them
– His majesty and holiness — the fact that He is a God of justice and does what is right
B. The Response of the Lord — Faithful to Remember and Reward
1. (:16b) Faithful to Remember
“and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him”
The Lord keeps good records — won’t forget any faithful service done in obedience to Him; (cf. book kept in time of Mordecai and Esther where the king read of Mordecai’s efforts at heading off a coup attempt and decided to reward him at a most propitious time ; cf. Book of Life)
2. (:17) Faithful to Reward
a. Treated as the Lord’s Precious Possession
“’And they will be Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘on the day that I prepare My own possession’”
b. Treated as Faithful Sons of the Lord
“and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.”
II. (3:18) THEME OF BOOK: GOD WILL REMOVE THE BLURRING OF THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
“So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.”
III. (4:1-3) THE COMING DAY OF THE LORD WILL BRING EXTREME BLESSING OR CURSING
A. (:1) Extreme Cursing for the Wicked
1. Certainty of the Coming Day of the Lord
“For behold, the day is coming”
Make no mistake – 2 Peter 3
2. Terrible Manifestation of God’s Wrath
“burning like a furnace”
Most theologians shy away from fire and brimstone preaching today
3. Extreme Cursing and Devastation
a. Reduced to Insignificance
“and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff”
b. Obliterated from the Land of the Living
“’and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.’”
B. (:2-3) Extreme Blessing for the Righteous
1. Identified as those who Fear the Lord
“But for you who fear My name”
2. Blessed with Pervasive Righteousness
“the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings”
Ryrie: An impersonal reference to the display of righteousness throughout the entire earth (as the sun sends its rays everywhere) in the coming millennial kingdom.
3. Energized with the Joy of Freedom
“and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.”
4. Vindicated as Overcomers
“And you will tread down the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet”
5. Staged on the Day of the Lord
“’on the day which I am preparing,’ says the Lord of hosts.”
III. (4:4-6) LAST CHANCE TO GET RIGHT WITH GOD BEFORE THE DAY OF THE LORD
A. (:4) Mission of Moses – Looking Back – Remember the Law
“Remember the law of Moses My servant, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel.”
B. (:5-6) Mission of Elijah – Looking Forward – Anticipate the Day of the Lord
1. (:5) Forerunner of the Day of the Lord
“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.”
2. (:6) Restoration vs. Cursing
“And he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse.”