Adonai Tz'vaot says, "But to you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings..." Malachi 4:2
"A woman who'd had a hemorrhage for twelve years approached him from behind and touched the fringe (really tzitzit) on his robe. For she said to herself, 'If I can only touch his robe, I will be healed.' Yeshua turned, saw her and said, 'Courage, daughter! Your trust has healed you.' And she was instantly healed." Matthew 9:20-22
Recently, a friend from my church was at a Bible study and heard something that got her curiosity going. When she emailed me about it, my curiosity was also stirred up! The question is about the two scripture references above in Malachi and Matthew and about how they are related.
The simple answer is that the verse in Malachi is a reference to Yeshua the Messiah, and the verse in Matthew demonstrates his healing power.
However, those who know me know that I am seldom satisfied with the short "simple answer" when it comes to the truth of YHWH's Word! And you are right...I am not satisfied with this short answer! There is far too much richness and truth to be discovered about our God if we just dig into this a bit more.
Let me begin with the fact that Yeshua was Jewish, and He kept the Torah (YHWH's Word, which Yeshua IS, so of course He would KEEP it!). Because He was Torah-observant (not Rabbinical-observant), Yeshua would have followed the command (mitzvah) to wear a reminder of YHWH's Torah as a twisted or braided tassel (tzitzit) on each corner of His garment. He possibly would have been wearing a tallit (prayer shawl) with tzitziyot (plural for tzitzit). Whether or not He was wearing a tallit at all times, He definitely would have been wearing tzitziyot on His covering garments. This was commanded in several places (Numbers 15:38-40, Deuteronomy 22:12) by YHWH as a constant reminder to keep His commandments, His Torah, for all His people throughout all generations.
This tallit, or similar covering garment, has four corners which look like wings, and in fact the tallit is sometimes referred to as the "arba kanfot" which means "four wings". Each wing or corner has a tzitzit which hangs down past the regular garment and is visible as a constant reminder to obey YHWH.
When we know this simple basic fact of a life lived within the Torah of YWHW, a new and deeper understanding of the verse in Malachi begins to unfold!
"But to you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its WINGS."
When the woman with the issue of blood touched the hem of Yeshua's garment, she was actually touching the tzitzit on the wing of His tallit, and she was healed in His Righteousness! She was healed through her faith in the Living Word Yeshua, healed when she followed the Word and took hold of it (the Word here represented by the tzitzit)!
As exciting as this is, I cannot stop here...there is so much more to this verse than just reference to physical healing that comes from trusting and obeying Yeshua as the Living Word. Reading the rest of Malachi reveals so much more regarding YHWH's faithfulness as a covenant-keeping God, so much more of His sovereignty and mercy, so much more of His eternal plan for His people!
From the first verse of this book, YHWH states that He is speaking this prophecy directly to Israel through Malachi (1:1). Adonai begins by proclaiming His love for Israel (1:2). He tells Israel that His greatness is known beyond their borders (1:5), from the farthest east to the farthest west (1:11,14). He chastises Israel, as a father chastises His son, because they have scorned Him and not followed Him with their hearts. YHWH reminds His son Israel that His covenant with Levi was one of life and peace, one of fear and awe, one of honesty and uprightness and turning away from sin (2:4-6).
YHWH warns Israel that because of their sin and turning away from Him, He will curse them and make them contemptible before all the world. He warns, "If you won't listen, if you won't pay attention to honoring my Name, then I will send the curse on you." (2:1-2) YHWH continues with "You have wearied YHWH with your words. Yet you ask, 'How have we wearied Him?' By saying that anyone who does wrong is good from YHWH's perspective, and that He is delighted with them." (2:17) Is this the end of hope for Israel (or for Gentiles)? NO! YHWH is a covenant-keeping God!
Directly after this, Yeshua (YHWH is Salvation!) enters the scene!! Chapter 3 begins with news that is horribly-terrifying and tremendously-great at the same time: "'Look! I am sending my messenger to clear the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple. Yes, the messenger of the covenant, in whom you take such delight - look! Here he comes,' says Adonai-Tzva'ot.
But who can endure the day when He comes?
He will be like a refiner's fire...testing and purifying the silver...the sons of Levi, refining them like gold and silver, so that they can bring offerings to YHWH uprightly....'Then I will approach you for judgment; and I will be quick to witness against...those who don't fear me,' says Adonai-Tzva'ot." (3:1-5)
Yes, it is a terrifying thing to fall on our faces in the presence of Holy YHWH. Who can stand? Who can survive? Is there really hope? NO! There is no hope in our ability to do anything to please YHWH or live up to His standard!
The only hope is in His faithfulness as a covenant-keeping God. Israel's only hope is in the Redeemer, the Purifier, the Refiner, Yeshua the Salvation, who brings us back to YHWH!
"'But because I, YHWH do not change, you sons of Jacob will not be destroyed....Return to Me, and I will return to you,' says Adonai-Tzva'ot." (3:6-7)
"Then those who feared YHWH spoke together: and YHWH listened and heard. A record book was written in His presence for those who feared YHWH and had respect for His name. 'They will be mine,' says Adonai-Tzva'ot, 'on the day when I compose my own special treasure.'" (3:16-17)
Once more YHWH speaks of the Day of Judgment, the terrible day when all will burn and nothing will be left but what is of Him (4:1).
And then comes the promise we started wtih: "but for you who fear MY Name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings..." !!!
This is the promise of the Messiah Yeshua for the chosen people of Israel! In the end, Israel will return to their Adonai and repent and know the truth of Yeshua! This is why this verse is so exciting to me...it IS about healing, but so much more than just physical healing!!
Israel, from now until the end, will experience the fulfillment of this prophecy and also what Paul said in Romans 11...
"stoniness, to a degree, has come upon Israel, until the Gentile world enters in its fullness; and that it is in this way that all Israel will be saved. As the Tanakh (Old Testament) says, 'Out of Tziyon will come the Redeemer; he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob and this will be my covenant with them,...when I take away their sins.'" (Paul is quoting Isaiah 59:20-21 here.)
YHWH is Faithful! He speaks of His eternal faithfulness and restoration in so many places in His word. In Isaiah 62, Israel herself, through Jerusalem, is associated with the Light, Righteousness and Salvation of Adonai. "The nations will see your vindication and all kings your glory. Then you will be called by a new name which YHWH himself will pronounce. You will be a glorious crown in the hand of YHWH....You will no longer be spoken of as 'Abandoned' or your land be spoken of as 'Desolate'; rather you will be called 'My-Delight-Is-In-Her' and your land 'Married', for YWHW delights in you." (2-4) RESTORATION!! HEALING!!
(So many places in the Word speak of this important and exciting truth! Some others to study are Isaiah 30:26, Ezekiel 11 and 36, Isaiah 49:5-6,Luke 2:26-32, and many others.)
Finally, in Revelation 21, all of this comes together - the Lamb IS the LIGHT and the SALVATION, and we dwell forever with Him and with YHWH in the new Jerusalem!!! Israel (with hearts turned to the Messiah) and the Gentile believers in Messiah together as the Bride! RESTORATION!! HEALING!!
This is so exciting! I can't wait to see this happen!
And I will never again look at the commandment of wearing tzitziyot in the same way. What rich meaning YHWH puts into every part of His Torah, His mitzvot, His Word! No wonder He is so serious about our following and obeying His Word with all of our hearts!
In the Restoration and Healing of our Salvation, Yeshua...
Gina
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