But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.—Malachi 4:2 NLT
This is a prophetic promise of the Messiah coming with healing in His wings! Jesus is called the “Sun of Righteousness” because of His sinless life, His righteousness was as bright as the noonday sun. He was the perfect reflection, the exact representation of His Father.
To understand what is meant by healing in His “wings” we must go back to the Jewish law. The Jews were instructed by God to make tassels on the corners of their garments and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner” as a reminder that they were God’s people called to keep His commandments. The phrase “wings” carries great significance to us today! The phrase “wings” or the hem of Jesus garment is the reminder to hold fast to the Word of God. Jesus is the living Word of God, so when we touch and handle the scriptures by feeding, meditating and acting upon it we are touching Jesus and His power!
The LORD said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: Throughout the generations to come you must make tassels for the hems of your clothing and attach them with a blue cord. When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the LORD instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do. The tassels will help you remember that you must obey all my commands and be holy to your God. I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt that I might be your God. I am the LORD your God!”—Numbers 15:37-41 NLT
So we can see that the hems, tassels, and blue cords were the “wings” of the garment. The “wings” represent the Word of God and served as a reminder of keeping the Word of God in our hearts.
Now we come to the fulfillment of this wonderful promise in the Gospels. We see people in need of healing who sought to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment.
After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. When the people recognized Jesus, the news of his arrival spread quickly throughout the whole area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed. They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.—Matthew 14:34-36 NLT
Those who sought to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment were identifying themselves with the promises of God. What promises of healing do we find in the Old Testament? Well for one God revealed Himself as “Jehovah Rapha”, their healer.
“If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you.”—Exodus 15:26 NLT
Healing came by faith as people sought to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. Jesus told the woman who pressed through the crowd for her healing and touched His garment, “Your faith has made you well.” Perhaps she knew of the promise of Malachi 4:2 that Messiah was coming with healing in His wings!
Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe, for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment.—Matthew 9:20-22 NLT
How does this apply to us today? We can touch, handle, and take hold of God’s healing promises and keep them in our hearts. If we keep them in our hearts healing will be ours! The Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy!
Finish Strong! 