Mal 3:13-4:2

“There is a Day Coming”

Intro: Road march, hit by snowplow. The people needed to see needed to see the “day coming.”

3:14--it is futile to serve God.

Carry out His requirements.

The Righteous Suffer.

Ps. 73:13-14--I have cleansed my heart in vain, and I am plagued and chastened (there is no benefit in righteous living, just look all around me) (Heb. 12:5-9) (Job 21:15)

3:15—the evildoers prosper

Ps 73:3, the wicked will prosper, and the writer “saw” it (he envied them) (Prov. 23:17-18) (lust of the eyes; kids want colorful ice cream) (world: cosmos; Satan: angel of light)

Ps 73:4-5, their strength is firm, they are not plagued like other men (Lam. 3:22; Job 21:7-18)

Ps 73:6, therefore, they are surrounded by pride (“How does God know,” v. 11) (Jer. 12:1-2)

Those who challenge God escape (Ecc 8:11-13; “and you think you could exhaust the patience of an Almighty God in just five minutes”)

3:16—God sees your faithfulness (Gal 6:9)

A scroll of remembrance: those who fear the Lord and honor His name (2 Kings 20:1-6)

Ps 73:16-17, when I thought about it, it was too painful, until I went into the sanctuary of God, where I understood their end (he removed himself from the disarray of the world, to the order and harmony of God’s sanctuary) (1 Cor. 14:40)

Ps 73:18, God set them in slippery places (not a firm foundation: The Word) (they refused to accept the cure offered them on the cross; their rejection of Him led to His rejection of them)

Ps 73:28, “It is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God” (easy to float downstream: try swimming against the current)

Prov. 24:19-20

3:17 to 4:2—I will spare them

Difference between Righteous and Wicked—Ps 1

Leap like calves released from the stall (Ps 1:3); They act like the "Blue Angels" at an air show and not just upon being released or just a change in the weather or any change--they leap, run, kick up their heels and act like all hell has been conquered.

Conclusion: Road march, hit by snow plow. There is a day coming.