Homilist Malachi 3:16-17 Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD listened, and heard it… Three things are noteworthy — I. The ESSENCE of genuine religion. "They that feared the Lord." The men who fear God may be divided into two classes. 1. Those who fear Him with a slavish fear. The uurenewed millions when they think of Him at all dread Him, their guilty consciences invest Him with attributes of such horror that they shudder at the idea of Him, they flee from His presence. "I heard Thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid." All that is superstitious in the world, all that is barbaric in the religion of Christendom, spring from this dread of God. 2. Those who fear Him with a filial fear. The fear which a loving child has for a worthy and noble sire. There is, perhaps, always a kind of fear in connection with true love. We fear, not that the object will harm us, but that we may harm or displease the object. II. The SOCIALITY of genuine religion. "Spake often one to another." We are social beings, and what interests us most has the most power in bringing us together. Nothing interests a religious man so much as religion. Spake no doubt in language of mutual instruction, mutual comfort, mutual exhortation. There is no force in the world so socialising as religion. III. The WORTH of genuine religion. See what God does with the genuinely religious. 1. He specially attends to them. "The Lord hearkened and heard it." 2. He claims them as His own. "And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts." 3. He appreciates them as precious. In that day when I make up My jewels." The word here rendered jewels is in Exodus (Exodus 19:5) rendered peculiar treasure. "They are peculiarly precious to Me." He knows the worth of their existence, the cost of their restoration, the greatness of their capabilities. 4. He distinguishes them from all others. (Homilist.) 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. |
    |