Malachi 3:16-17 Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD listened, and heard it… I. THE LIFE OF THE GOOD, AS IT IS MANIFESTED UPON EARTH. "Then they that feared the Lord." It is — 1. Loyal. There is profound reverence; a filial, not a slavish fear. Not fearing the anger of God, but fearing to offend Him; not forsaking sin because it brings punishment, but because God hates it. Such fear of God will engender love, inspire faith, produce holiness, secure obedience. 2. It is social. "Spake often one to another." True piety is a cheerful, sympathetic thing; it does not destroy our social instincts, but intensifies and ennobles them. The natural tendency of the fear of the Lord in the heart is to link men together in the bonds of brotherhood, to hush the discord of society, and to lead us to bear each other's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. These believers spake often one to another — not of each other's failings — not for scandal or strife, but about the work of the Lord, and to each other's edification. 3. It was also secret. There was the inner as well as outer, the subjective as well as the objective life; they "thought upon His name." They were not all talk; they were not hypocrites — "talkatives" — they had heart religion. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he; and as he thinks, he loves and lives. Our life must be of this sort to please God, for He looketh at the heart. We must not forsake the assembling of ourselves together; and our affections must be fixed on things above. II. THE LIFE OF THE GOOD, AS IT IS RECOGNISED IN HEAVEN. "And the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him." 1. It is known in heaven. God recognises those who fear Him, though they may be little and unknown, they are loved and prized by God. The Lord is represented as bending from His throne, and listening to the sounds that come from the earth; and as He hearkens, He hears and recognises the voice of His people, who hold sweet communion with each other, and hallowed communion with Himself; as by unseen electric wires, with inconceivable swiftness, holy thoughts and words flash to heaven, and enter the ear of the Most High. Our conversation is in heaven. 2. It is recorded there. God blots out the sins of His people from His book, but He keeps a book of remembrance for the virtues of His saints. We may forget our work of faith and labour of love, but God never forgets. III. THE LIFE OF THE GOOD, AS IT WILL BE CONSUMMATED IN THE LAST GREAT DAY. This shows — 1. It will be crowned with the highest possible honour. We shall be owned as friends, and children, and companions of God for ever. 2. It will be crowned with the highest possible glory. "Jewels" are among a monarch's brightest and costliest things; and God speaks of His believing servants as His "jewels." (F. W. Brown.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. |
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