Posted on by Dave Miers

Leap like calves released from the stall

Spent some quality time with Duke today getting ready for leading together next week on Next Gen. The set text we’ll be working through in Strand 2 is from Malachi 4:1-6. Verse two has some cool imagery of an exuberant dancing cow: “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.” (NIV 1984)

Duke showed me the above graphic. It’s from Jim Lepage’s Word Bible Designs project. Captures Malachi 4:2 perfectly! Cool project. Check it.

7 Replies to “Leap like calves released from the stall”

  2. i get that it’s singular as plural – this calf as representative of a bunch. it gives you the opportunity to imagine your head just above the top of the frame!

    next week you say? cya there big fella.

  3. haha

    sweet. looking fwd to seeing you then!

    which strand are you doing? do you think the structure of malachi is a chiasm? or is this a dumb question cos you see chiasms everywhere!!!! haha

  4. same – strand 2
    i haven’t unearthed the chiasm yet, but reflecting on what he’s saying about levi has revealed the chiasm of the pentateuch:

    land
    rebellion+wilderness
    levitical priesthood
    more rebellion+wilderness
    land

    so it seems the sanctity of the levitical priesthood is a key to entering into the land; the lack thereof is the problem with things in Malachi’s day, and Yhwh’s promise of blessing seems almost based on that.

    what thinkest thou?
    what’s ur malachi chiasm?

  5. i’ll have a think about your levitical thinking.

    the structural chiasm isn’t my work, it comes from the ESV study bible introduction. here it is… what do you think??

    The book of Malachi is carefully structured in terms of a heading (1:1), followed by six pericopes or disputations (1:2–5; 1:6–2:9; 2:10–16; 2:17–3:5; 3:6–12; 3:13–4:3) and a conclusion (4:4–6). Each disputation is relatively coherent and is introduced by an assertion from either the Lord or the prophet. This is followed by an anticipated challenge from those being addressed, which is invariably introduced by the expression, “But you say” (1:2, 6, 7, 13; 2:14, 17; 3:7, 8, 13). Each challenge, in turn, is answered with fuller substantiation by the Lord or by the prophet speaking on the Lord’s behalf.

    The book also has an unobtrusive concentric (chiasmic) structure. One conspicuous literary indicator of this pattern is the double introductory assertion (“But you say”) and the anticipated response, which are found only in the parallel second (1:6–2:9) and fifth (3:6–12) disputations (the “B” sections below).

    1. Heading (1:1)
    2. A. First disputation: Does God make a distinction between the good and the arrogantly wicked? God’s elective love vindicated in his judgment (1:2–5)
    1. B. Second disputation: Israel’s begrudging offerings condemned (1:6–2:9)
    1. C. Third disputation: Marriage to an idolater—and divorce based on aversion—condemned by the Lord, who is witness to the covenant of marriage (2:10–16)
    2. C?. Fourth disputation: The Lord is a witness against adultery and other moral offenses (2:17–3:5)
    2. B?. Fifth disputation: Israel’s begrudging offerings condemned (3:6–12)
    3. A?. Sixth disputation: Does God make a distinction between the good and the arrogantly wicked? God’s elective love vindicated in his judgment (3:13–4:3)
    4. Conclusion (4:4–6)

  6. praying for everyone up there this week, that it will be a great week in God’s Word with God’s people

Comments are closed.