Malachi 4 is the last chapter of the last book of the Old Testament and it looks forward to the dawning of the Sun of Righteousness - Jesus.
The rounded shape depicting the tablets of the 10 commandments was probably introduced in about the middle ages by Christian artists.
However, both the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds (Jewish commentaries on scripture) report that the shape was square. It was half as thick as it was wide and high so when both tablets were placed together they formed a cube. They were made from sapphire stone, which is why a blue thread is supposed to remind you of the blue stone of the commandments.
Jesus would have worn a prayer shawl similar to the one below. The word for the tassels in Hebrew is the same word used in Malachi for "wings". The woman who had an issue of blood in Matthew, Mark, and Luke must have known this prophecy and believed Jesus to be the Sun of Righteousness therein. So she figured if she could just touch His tassels she would be healed. She was!
There were many people in the crowd no doubt jostling Jesus, but her touch drew power. Faith made the difference. It wasn't fancy - I doubt she even told anyone her plans. Her faith was silent until she had a story to tell.
Memory Verse: “But for you who fear my name,
the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings." Malachi 4:2a
Materials needed to create the Sun of Righteousness quiet book page:
- A4 felt background sheet - I used royal blue
- felt scraps in sun colours, I used yellow, orange, red and maroon
- lots of ribbon scraps in gold, yellow, orange, red, maroon, brown, pink or whatever colours go with your chosen felt colours
- a pair of white shoelaces with blue flecks - I bought mine here in white blue (not an affiliate link)
- my free Sun of Righteousness template download
Use the template to cut out four pieces of felt in coordinating sun colours. If your page size is smaller than mine, you can cut the template in half and make a quarter sun or use the smaller four layers and leave out the largest one. To make this page for the sun of righteousness, you need four layers only. If you are making a sun page in general, feel free to use all five layers.
If you are making the Bible version, you need all four ends of the shoelaces but one long length will suffice for a general sun page.
Cut up enough coordinating ribbons to fill the top edges of each layer, leaving room for a shoelace at one end of each. Melt the edges of your ribbons to prevent fraying.
Pin the ribbons leaving room for the shoelace under the yellow layer first. Before sewing them down, thread the shoelace through the ribbons to ensure you cut it at the correct length. Melt the end of the shoelace to prevent fraying. Sew down the shoelace end underneath the layer before sewing down the felt on top of the ribbons which will secure them at the same time. Go backwards and forwards a couple of times in places where you are using thin ribbons to ensure they get caught in the stitching. Repeat this process for each layer, finishing with the smallest - alternate ends that the shoelace is located. Some ribbons thread easier from one direction than the other so ensure they are facing the right side for the shoelace location on that layer.
If you are making the Bible version, you need all four ends of the shoelaces but one long length will suffice for a general sun page.
Cut up enough coordinating ribbons to fill the top edges of each layer, leaving room for a shoelace at one end of each. Melt the edges of your ribbons to prevent fraying.
Pin the ribbons leaving room for the shoelace under the yellow layer first. Before sewing them down, thread the shoelace through the ribbons to ensure you cut it at the correct length. Melt the end of the shoelace to prevent fraying. Sew down the shoelace end underneath the layer before sewing down the felt on top of the ribbons which will secure them at the same time. Go backwards and forwards a couple of times in places where you are using thin ribbons to ensure they get caught in the stitching. Repeat this process for each layer, finishing with the smallest - alternate ends that the shoelace is located. Some ribbons thread easier from one direction than the other so ensure they are facing the right side for the shoelace location on that layer.
The first half explains how to sew this page and
the second half explains the spiritual significance.
Finished!
Difficulty Level = Easy.
Cutting the semi-circles straight across the bottom edge will enable you to line them up easier, however, it may add too much bulk to the lower edge of the sun where they are all piled up.
You may be able to use the sections cut out of the centers of the semi-circles if you want to swap the order of colours around and make a second page at the same time.
Using a lunch box with dividers can help you get organised for a TV pinning session on the couch.
You may be able to use the sections cut out of the centers of the semi-circles if you want to swap the order of colours around and make a second page at the same time.
Using a lunch box with dividers can help you get organised for a TV pinning session on the couch.
Key Learning Areas and Skills
- Malachi 4 - Jesus is the Sun of Righteousness with healing in His wings, the tassels remind us of the commandments
- Threading - thread the shoelaces through the sun's rays
- Counting - count the number of rays on each layer
- Fine Motor Skills - all quiet books encourage fine motor skill development
- Hand-eye Co-ordination - all quiet books encourage hand-eye co-ordination
Read the Chapter
Malachi 4Devotional
In Numbers 15, God told Israel to make fringes on their garments and to put tassels on the four corners. The tassels had to have a blue thread running through them - so the shoelaces are meant to represent the tassels and the sun's ribbon rays are indicative of the fringes. The blue thread was to remind them to keep the commandments - something which seems a little odd don't you think? How does a blue thread remind you of the commandments??The rounded shape depicting the tablets of the 10 commandments was probably introduced in about the middle ages by Christian artists.
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| Aron de Chaves \ de Chavez. Painter at Amsterdam in 1700. |
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| Image Source: A Layman Looks at the Word |
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| A tallit, or prayer shawl with fringes and tassels - like Jesus would have worn |
There were many people in the crowd no doubt jostling Jesus, but her touch drew power. Faith made the difference. It wasn't fancy - I doubt she even told anyone her plans. Her faith was silent until she had a story to tell.
Have you heard about the "wings" on a prayer shawl before?
