Mal 4:2, Luk 1:78 | JFB | STEP | 2. The effect of the judgment on the righteous, as contrasted with its effect on the wicked (Mal 4:1). To the wicked it shall be as an oven that consumes the stubble ( ); to the righteous it shall be the advent of the gladdening Sun, not of condemnation, but "of righteousness"; not destroying, but "healing" ( ). you that fear my name-- The same as those in Mal 3:16, who confessed God amidst abounding blasphemy ( ; ). The spiritual blessings brought by Him are summed up in the two, "righteousness" ( ) and spiritual "healing" ( ; ). Those who walk in the dark now may take comfort in the certainty that they shall walk hereafter in eternal light ( ). in his wings-- implying the winged swiftness with which He shall appear (compare "suddenly," Mal 3:1) for the relief of His people. The beams of the Sun are His "wings." Compare "wings of the morning," . The "Sun" gladdening the righteous is suggested by the previous "day" of terror consuming the wicked. Compare as to Christ, ; ; ; ; ; ; and in His second coming, . The Church is the moon reflecting His light ( ). The righteous shall by His righteousness "shine as the Sun in the kingdom of the Father" ( ). ye shall go forth-- from the straits in which you were, as it were, held captive. An earnest of this was given in the escape of the Christians to Pella before the destruction of Jerusalem. grow up-- rather, "leap" as frisking calves [Calvin]; literally, "spread," "take a wide range." as calves of the stall-- which when set free from the stall disport with joy ( ; ; ; ; ; ; ). Especially the godly shall rejoice at their final deliverance at Christ's second coming ( ).

‏ Malachi 4:2

2. The effect of the judgment on the righteous, as contrasted with its effect on the wicked (Mal 4:1). To the wicked it shall be as an oven that consumes the stubble (Mt 6:30); to the righteous it shall be the advent of the gladdening Sun, not of condemnation, but "of righteousness"; not destroying, but "healing" (Jr 23:6).

you that fear my name--The same as those in Mal 3:16, who confessed God amidst abounding blasphemy (Is 66:5; Mt 10:32). The spiritual blessings brought by Him are summed up in the two, "righteousness" (1Co 1:30) and spiritual "healing" (Psa 103:3; Is 57:19). Those who walk in the dark now may take comfort in the certainty that they shall walk hereafter in eternal light (Is 50:10).

in his wings--implying the winged swiftness with which He shall appear (compare "suddenly," Mal 3:1) for the relief of His people. The beams of the Sun are His "wings." Compare "wings of the morning," Psa 139:9. The "Sun" gladdening the righteous is suggested by the previous "day" of terror consuming the wicked. Compare as to Christ, 2Sa 23:4; Psa 84:11; Lu 1:78; Joh 1:9; 8:12; Ep 5:14; and in His second coming, 2Pe 1:19. The Church is the moon reflecting His light (Re 12:1). The righteous shall by His righteousness "shine as the Sun in the kingdom of the Father" (Mt 13:43).

ye shall go forth--from the straits in which you were, as it were, held captive. An earnest of this was given in the escape of the Christians to Pella before the destruction of Jerusalem.

grow up--rather, "leap" as frisking calves [Calvin]; literally, "spread," "take a wide range."

as calves of the stall--which when set free from the stall disport with joy (Ac 8:8; 13:52; 20:24; Ro 14:17; Ga 5:22; Php 1:4; 1Pe 1:8). Especially the godly shall rejoice at their final deliverance at Christ's second coming (Is 61:10).

‏ Luke 1:78

68-79. There is not a word in this noble burst of divine song about his own child; like Elisabeth losing sight entirely of self, in the glory of a Greater than both.

Lord God of Israel--the ancient covenant God of the peculiar people.

visited and redeemed--that is, in order to redeem: returned after long absence, and broken His long silence (see Mt 15:31). In the Old Testament, God is said to "visit" chiefly for judgment, in the New Testament for mercy. Zacharias would, as yet, have but imperfect views of such "visiting and redeeming," "saving from and delivering out of the hand of enemies" (Lu 1:71, 74). But this Old Testament phraseology, used at first with a lower reference, is, when viewed in the light of a loftier and more comprehensive kingdom of God, equally adapted to express the most spiritual conceptions of the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.