But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.”
Malachi 4:2 (ESV)
“But to you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves.” (NKJV)
I just recently left the beautiful state of Montana, where I worked this summer. I had a realization, an epiphany, or maybe even a revelation of why they call this Big Sky Country. I’ve never been anywhere else with skies this beautiful. It’s hard to describe, but when the sun is out and the clouds are big and look like giant white cottonballs, or the rain is coming in and the clouds are gray and full of moisture, it may point to what Heaven might look like. I am in awe, anyway.
The other side of my RV spot in Montana is a large gray dirt pile. I wrote about this a few weeks ago. The construction going on where I am never stops. I try not to look out that window very often, but I can’t help but hear the construction equipment when workers get started in the early morning hours. Lucky for me, my sleeping side of the RV is still unspoiled.
My window was open the other morning when I woke up early, and I could see the sun rise from my prone position. First there was a spot of pink over where the sun was coming up. The clouds were dark and were shaped like stone pavers. I wish I had gotten up enough to grab my phone and take a picture. As the sun rose, each of those pavers caught a bit of that reddish pink until the whole sky was lit up pink and gray.
I fell back to sleep, reveling in the beauty. However, God’s creation also has a story to tell.
First, the sun is consistent, never failing; like its creator, it rises every day. You could set your clock by it, and it never fails. Even when the clouds are thick and you can’t see it, it is still rising every morning. That’s God’s unwavering presence.
Later that day, I was blessed to find this verse and devotional in my inbox. Not a coincidence for sure.
As I study the verse, the “sun of righteousness” is Jesus Christ. I wondered, as a writer, why it wasn’t “Son.”
The coming of the Messiah is pictured as a sunrise in several passages.
“Arise, shine for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” Isaiah 60:1
Also 2 Samuel 23:4; Habakkuk 3:4; and Luke 1:78-79.
“Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12
Dayspring in the Greek means “rising,” “dawn,” or “sunrise” and symbolizes the arrival of light and hope, as in Jesus Christ. Greek speakers used the word to describe the rising of celestial bodies like the sun and stars.
As the sun rises without doubt every morning, so Jesus is our unfailing Savior.
The next time you see the sun rise, you can be blessed by the beauty of creation and reminded of Jesus, our Savior, who came to give salvation and hope to the world.
Prayer:
Lord, I thank you for your beautiful creation. As I enjoy your handiwork, I am reminded of You. I don’t worship the creation but only the beautiful creator that you are. Even a dirt pile has beauty within. Help me to always see the beauty in nature and be reminded of you.
In Jesus’ name we pray.
Discussion questions:
1. How can you find the beauty of where you live, even if it’s a big city?
2. What in nature speaks to you most about our great creator? Could it be the vastness of a starry night, a mountain in the distance, the trees swaying in the wind, or something else?
3. Do you think that there is meaning in the storms we experience, both physical and spiritual?
Action steps:
Choose to do a word study on the words sun and son. Let me know in the comments if you found any nuggets.
Take time this week to get out in nature and spend some time with the Lord.