1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 2 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. Malachi 4:1-2 (KJV)

This passage is a clear comparison of the outcome of the wicked as opposed to the believer. We see that judgment comes to the wicked and salvation to the just. As believers, let’s zero in on verse 2.

Verse 2 literally happened at Jesus’ first coming. The Son of God shone His light on the people and they saw a great light. Jesus went about doing good and healing. Wings in this passage speaks of the prayer shawl of Jesus. The woman with the issue of blood understood this reference to wings and touched His prayer shawl and was made whole. Jesus rose from the dead and provided healing to us all.

Verse 2 will also happen in the future. At the second coming of Christ to earth, He will bring salvation and healing when He sets up His earthly millenial kingdom for 1,000 years.

And verse 2 symbolically applies to us now. Let’s pick apart all the symbolism in this verse.

• The Sun of Righteousness is Jesus, the Son of God. Christ is God, and God is light. Therefore, the Son of God, Who is light will arise over us and bring healing to us and our lives as we receive Him. It is interesting that the concepts of light and healing are mentioned together here. We have all heard of the healing properties of lasers, which is light. It is a proven scienctific fact that light brings healing.

• The calves represent us as people of prayer, praise and thanksgiving (Hosea 14:2, Hebrews 13:15). The healing that the Son brings will cause us to go forth in the things of God. As a calf grows up and is nurtured in the stall, so will we grow in God and come out strong and healthy due to the protective care of Jesus found under His wings. Healing typically produces spiritual growth as we witness the power of God working on our behalf.

Consider this additional symbolism as you ponder these verses. The God who paints the sky with blue (representing heaven) and white clouds (representing God’s glory) and with the Sun (Jesus, who comes to brighten our lives), displays His glory at each sunrise (new beginnings) and sunset (the completion and passing away of the old). Jesus has come from heaven to reveal God’s glory. He shines on us and gives us light, which brings healing to us. The old has passed away and He gives us a new day.

Jesus guarantees as we respect and honor His name, He comes into our lives and causes us to grow in Him. This prepares us for the work He has for us and the things He will entrust to us. As we look to the Son of Righteousness, we will experience Jesus arising on us with healing so we can go forth and grow up in God.