But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings…
— Malachi 4:2

Any weakness or ailment in a person’s body is, to one degree or another, the result of the devil’s activity, for the Bible says: “…who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil…” [Act.10:38] Does this mean that if there are symptoms of sickness in our body, we must wage war against the devil? Of course not, because the battle is not ours but the Lord’s. The verse that follows today’s verse says: “You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this, Says the LORD of hosts.” [Mal.4:3] Notice that we overcome our enemies when the Lord acts.

Healing is the result of righteousness, and also of the Lord’s action when He turns our enemies to ashes — and sicknesses are among those enemies. The prophet Isaiah writes: “In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear…” and further on: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper…” [Isa.54:14,17] When is the enemy unable to overcome us? When we are established in righteousness. And what does it mean to be established in righteousness? After all, righteousness is very often understood as good works and right behaviour.

Paul writes to the Galatians: “You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law [the Ten Commandments]; you have fallen from grace.” [Gal.5:4]. In other words he is saying: “If you are trying to be righteous before God through your good works and exemplary behaviour, Christ is of no effect in you.” And again: “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law [the Ten Commandments], then Christ died in vain.” [Gal.2:21]

When does the Lord act and healing come? When the Sun of Righteousness rises — when we realise that our works have nothing to do with our righteousness [or with our healing], and that righteousness, like healing, is a gift from God. And receiving this gift is like stepping out of a dungeon into the Sun and basking in His rays. And what is in His wings, His rays?