18th September 2025

Freedom

. . . And you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves.

Malachi 4:2

Today's Bible Reading:  Malachi 4:1–3.

Malachi, the concluding book of the Old Testament, has some distinctive characteristics. This book is primarily a call to repentance for the wayward people of Israel, but with a word of hope as well. The prophet assures them that Messiah will come, even introducing the fact that the Messiah would be preceded by a forerunner (John the Baptiser; Mal 3:1).

Here in Malachi 4, The prophet Malachi speaks of the sheer joy that those who love and revere the Lord will experience on the “day [that] is coming” (v 1). These words shine with encouragement in an Old Testament book that also reverberates with judgement, such as when Malachi says, “the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble.” (v 1). The Israelites had let their worship of the only true God wane, and no longer were they observing the prescribed customs in the Temple that they had rebuilt after its destruction. They had given their hearts over to idols and other gods.

Being trapped in our sinful behaviour can feel like a prison, but when we repent and confess our wrongdoing, we too can experience the joy of release like an animal bursting out of its stall. We feel a sense of freedom and promise, knowing that no longer are we bound by deceit or lies. We can bounce with jubilation as we praise the God who has cancelled our sentence. We are free!

Prayer:   Redeeming God , thank You for loving me enough to set me free from the sins that entangle me. Help me to turn from them and to become more like Your Son. In His name I pray. Amen.