The Book of Remembrance. Malachi 3:13-18 and Malachi 4:1-6
INTRODUCTION TO MALACHI
The name Malachi means “my messenger,” so that, perhaps we do not know the name of the real author of this book, who hides himself behind his office and his message. Sixty years had passed since the first return of Israel from the land of captivity, under Joshua and Zerubbabel, and during this time the holy seed had become mingled with the people of the land. It was necessary, therefore, for a compelling voice to demand the purging and cleansing of the priesthood and the people.
The moral and religious condition of Israel was at a low ebb. They were the slaves of formalism and self-righteousness; satisfied with themselves, and not hesitating to blaspheme God’s name. Therefore instead of the language of promise and encouragement used by Haggai and Zechariah, there was need to substitute the reproofs and warnings of this last of the prophets, between whom and the New Testament four hundred years were destined to intervene.
“The Lord’s Messenger”
VI. THE BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE, Mal_3:13-18
4. What precious promise is for them who fear the Lord and think upon His name?
“Your words have been harsh against Me,” says the LORD. “But you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’
You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God. What profit is it if we keep His ordinances, and walk around like mourners before the LORD of hosts?
So now we call the arrogant happy and blessed. Evildoers are exalted and prosper; and when they test God, they escape [unpunished].'”
THE BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE
Then those who feared the LORD [with awe-filled reverence] spoke to one another; and the LORD paid attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who fear the LORD [with an attitude of reverence and respect] and who esteem His name.
“They will be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “on that day when I publicly recognize them and openly declare them to be My own possession [that is, My very special treasure]. And I will have compassion on them and spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.”
Then you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not serve Him.
THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD
“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, and all the arrogant (proud, self-righteous, haughty), and every evildoer shall be stubble; and the day that is coming shall set them on fire,” says the LORD of hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. [Isa_5:21-25; Mat_3:12]
But for you who fear My name [with awe-filled reverence] the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go forward and leap [joyfully] like calves [released] from the stall.
You will trample the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this,” says the LORD of hosts.
“Remember [with thoughtful concern] the Law of Moses My servant, the statutes and the ordinances which I commanded him on [Mount] Horeb [to give] to all Israel.
“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. [Mat_11:14; Mat_17:10-13]
He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers [a reconciliation produced by repentance], so that I will not come and strike the land with a curse [of complete destruction].” [Luk_1:17]
F. B.Meyer
on
Malachi 3:13-18 and Malachi 4:1-6
WICKEDNESS AND PRIDE SHALL FIND JUDGMENT
The day cometh! either in the fall of Jerusalem or in some terrible catastrophe yet future. Whenever it comes may we be reckoned as God’s peculiar treasure, preserved as a woman preserves her jewels in the day of calamity, Mal_3:17. Sorrow and disaster are perpetually befalling the proud, or those that do wickedly; while on those who fear God’s name the dawn of the sun of righteousness is forever breaking and growing to the perfect day. In the beams of the sun there are not only light and color, but rays which bear health and vitality to the world and to men; so in Jesus there is power to salvation. Notice how the Old Testament ends with the word curse, while the Christ’s proclamation opens with Blessed.
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