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.
But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings. The effect of the judgment on the righteous, as contrasted with its effect on the wicked (Malachi 4:1). To the wicked it shall be as an oven that consumes the "stubble;" to the righteous it shall be the advent of the gladdening "Sun," not of condemnation, but "of righteousness," not destroying, but "healing," as "the Lord our righteousness" (Jeremiah 23:6).
Unto you that fear my name. The same as those in Malachi 3:16, who "feared the Lord, and thought upon his name" - i:e., who confessed God amidst abounding blasphemy, reproach, and ridicule (Isaiah 25:8; Isaiah 66:5; Matthew 10:32), The spiritual blessings brought by Him are summed up in the two, "righteousness" (1 Corinthians 1:30) and spiritual "healing" (Psalms 103:3; Isaiah 57:19). Those who walk in the dark now, may take comfort in the certainty that they shall walk hereafter in eternal light (Isaiah 50:10).
In his wings - implying the winged swiftness with which He shall appear (cf. "suddenly," Malachi 3:1) for the relief of His people. The beams of the Sun are his "wings." Compare "the wings of the morning," Psalms 139:9. The "Sun" gladdening the righteous is suggested by the previous "day" of terror consuming the wicked. Compare as to Christ, 2 Samuel 23:34; Psalms 84:11; Luke 1:78; John 1:9; John 8:12; Ephesians 5:14; and in His second coming, 2 Peter 1:19. The Old Testament Church was the moon, reflecting His light (see note, Revelation 12:1; also, note, Song of Solomon 6:10). The righteous shall finally, by His righteousness, "shine as the Sun in the kingdom of the Father" (Matthew 13:43).
And ye shall go forth - from the straits in which you were as it were held captive. An earnest of this was given in the escape of the Christians from Pella before the destruction of Jerusalem.
And grow up - rather, 'leap' as frisking calves (Calvin); х puwsh (H6335)] - literally, spread, take a wide range (Henderson): or, to wax fat, large, and playfully-leaping, as the fatted calf leaping in the joyousness of youthful strength. [So the Vulgate, 'salietis:' the Septuagint, skirteesete hoos moscharia ek desmoon aneimena-ye shall bound as calves set free from restraints].
As calves of the stall - which, when set free from the stall, disport with joy. Such was the joy of the disciples in the freshness of the first love of the early Church-an earnest of the "joy unspeakable and full of glory" which shall be the believer's hereafter (Acts 8:8; Acts 13:52; Acts 20:24; Romans 14:17; Galatians 5:22; Philippians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:8). The godly shall rejoice especially at their final deliverance at Christ's second coming (Isaiah 61:10).