13 “You have said harsh things against me,” says the LORD. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’” 14 “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty? 15 But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.’” 16 Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. 17 “They will be mine,” says the LORD Almighty, “in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”
How high is our opinion of God? Does it fluctuate with our circumstances or is it fixed, steady, certain - trusting no matter what may come our way? God is abundantly worthy of all glory, honor, love and respect. Indeed, He is so totally other, so far above all we can even imagine, that our words fail in their expression of their worthiness of Him. Not only that, He loves us with an everlasting love. Our right estimation of Him as the Creator of everything along with a proper understanding and thankfulness for all He has done for us as His created, is of the utmost importance, the highest priority – protos as the Greek states - foremost - if we are to humbly walk pleasing in His sight. King David, the man after God’s own heart rightly states:
1O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalm 8:1-5, 9 (NIV)
Paul adding his words building to a grand crescendo in Romans 11:
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:33-36 (NIV)
And God Himself, speaking through the pen of Isaiah, asks:
25 “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. 26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. 27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God”? 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:25-31 (NIV)
MALACHI 3:13-18
13 “You have said harsh things against me,” says the LORD. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’” 14 “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty? 15 But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.’” 16 Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. 17 “They will be mine,” says the LORD Almighty, “in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” Malachi 3:13-18 (NIV)
How accountable we are for our words! How easily we forget that God hears each one. We are to be careful about what comes out of our mouths. Grumbling and complaining are not appropriate for a child of the King. Jesus tells us in Matthew:
36 “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37 (NIV)
God begins this section of Scripture by stating that the words spoken by the Jews of Malachi’s day had been harsh against Him. His tone changes from one of leniency to seriousness which divides the people into two groups: those who are not rightly following Him, and those who are following Him rightly; those who are separated from Him, and those who are faithful. The first group in verse 13 describes those who have wandered from Him. Their bold and dangerous attitude considered serving God as a waste of their time. Their words exposed their wrong motives. Our works are to be produced by faith and prompted by our love for the Master. Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians:
3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 (NIV)
And in 2 Thessalonians as well:
11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. 2 Thessalonians 1:11 (NIV)
Read: The Candle Burns Out - September 29 – Robert Morgan’s On This Day (1)
Careless and disrespectful talk displeases God as it demonstrates the condition of the heart. Out of the overflow of our hearts the mouth speaks. The people thought that it was useless to serve the Lord. They had adopted a mentality of reciprocity, of deserving something in return for something they had done. They wrongly assert that serving the God of all creation was drudgery, futile, worthless and vain. The priests may have been the leaders in this complaining, but the common people were just as guilty. They resurrected the same old agnostic argument that the wicked prosper and that those who provoke God by deliberate impiety escape punishment. “We’re not getting anything out of it!” was their grievance. “Things just keep getting worse.” The spiritual condition of the Jews was revealed by what they said.
Isn’t it easy to fall into this same sort of mindset? I am reminded of Psalm 73 which Asaph penned. It begins with this same pattern of thought of grumbling and wrong thinking yet ends on an entirely different note when he comes to his senses:
1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. 3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. 5 They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. 6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. 7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits. 8 They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression. 9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. 10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. 11 They say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?” 12 This is what the wicked are like-- always carefree, they increase in wealth. 13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. 14 All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning. 15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed your children. 16 When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me 17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. 18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. 19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! 20 As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies. 21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, 22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. 23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. 5 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. 28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. Psalm 73:1-28 (NIV)
We must remind ourselves that God is always faithful, always has our best interest at heart even, and especially when, we do not readily perceive it, His love never changes, His goodness never fades away. And just as there are consequences to sin there are blessings in obedience. If we know this, why does our joy and excitement tend to wax and wane when our circumstances are not what we desire? Maybe, like me, our journeys are turning out different than we had planned or imagined. Maybe we are encountering big distractions and random thoughts that cause our courage to crumble or the unexpected waves of doubt that rob our joy and keep us from being all-in on our adventures with God. It boils down to our trust in Him does it not? I do not want to get to the end of my life and say I should have trusted God more, do you? I don’t want to miss out on anything on this side of heaven that He has planned and intended for my life by my own poor choices.
“The difference is Christ in me. Not me in a different set of circumstances.” Elisabeth Elliot
So how do we remain open when life unfolds differently than we planned? We look up, just as Asaph did and as Paul commands us in Colossians:
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV)
We consider, we call to mind – that His love never fails, His faithfulness is new every morning. His promise is to take care of us, His promise is to watch over us, His promise is to give us peace, His promise is to lead and guide us bringing us safely home and giving us His heavenly rest. We can trust Him with our lives and all that is in our hands as we take one moment at a time, one day at a time, one situation at a time, through His power for His glory.
“All we love is in his hands. He hears our prayers and our tears when there are no words. He counts them as liquid intercession, which is precious to him (Ps. 56:8a). He is our Mighty Warrior and contends with those forces that are contending with us (Isa. 42:13; Ps. 35:1). Sylvia Gunter
King David writes:
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. 3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. 4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. 5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. 6 Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD. 7 Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me. 8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek. 9 Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior. 10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. 11 Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. 12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence. 13 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:1-14 (NIV)
“On Him then reckon, to Him look, on Him depend: and be assured that if you walk with Him, look to Him and expect help from Him, He will never fail you. An older brother, who has known the Lord for forty-four years, who writes this, says for your encouragement that He has never failed him. In the greatest difficulties, in the heaviest trials, in the deepest poverty and necessities, He has never failed me; but because I was enabled by His grace to trust in Him, He has always appeared for my help. I delight in speaking well of His Name.” George Mueller
4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4 (NIV)
It would do us well to consider God’s Word to us through the pen of Paul in Romans 8:28-39:
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8: 28-39
Piper states verse 32 of this passage radically changed his life at 22 by changing the way he thought about everything. And this change was full of hope. He calls it the logic of heaven which teaches that the Father’s not sparing of His own Son secures every promise given. All hope hangs on God’s promises and all the promises are guaranteed by the logic of Romans 8:32. If God was willing to sacrifice His Own Son, all the lesser promises would certainly find their “yes” in Jesus. It is as if God is stating: “I did not spare my own Son; therefore, my promises to you cannot fail. I will help you. Go. Do what I have called you to do through my power for your good for my glory.”
“The future is as bright as the promises of God.” Adoniram Judson
Read: When The Future Feels Impossible (2) Vaneetha Rendall Risner
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NIV)
The problem in Malachi’s day was not on God’s side rather it was on the side of the hearts of His people. God had not moved the people had moved. God was responding to them in accordance with His covenant yet they were not being obedient to His ways. They were going through the motions sans the heart. Therefore, God’s response was not in the form of blessing which they felt they so deserved. You can feel it in their attitudes. It was vain to serve God, it was an empty pointless thing. Though some were compliant to God’s commands, they were guilty of legalism which eventually led to Jewish Pharisaism in the first century A.D. This legalism concentrated on performing certain rigorous activities and not doing other things as the means of vindicating themselves before God. But this actually stifled the full expression of inner righteousness required by God. Remember, God looks at the heart and judges by the motivation of the action and not simply the action. The great searcher of all hearts is never duped. Isaiah gives us the definition of real worship according to God’s standards:
6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.” Isaiah 58:6-9 (NIV)
What Isaiah basically is saying is that when we come in to worship God, make sure we have a life to back it up. Do we seek to live what we say we believe to be true? The ritual has no value unless the heart is right before God. These Jews were filling out blanks under the header “stuff we’ve done for God” – keeping a tally so to speak - but totally missing the heart of why they were doing it for the Lord. There are two invalid responses to the law: license and legalism. These responses will eventually lead a person to consider the law “useless”. License is the idea that, since we have been saved by grace through Christ, we are free in the Spirit to do as we please and indulge in whatever we want, even if it opens the door for sin. These individuals see the promise of God’s forgiveness as justification to do whatever they want. They are grace abusers. The law seems useless to them. Paul combats this teaching in Romans 6:
1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Romans 6:1-2 (NIV)
Christians are free in the Spirit and we have liberty in Christ but we are not free to indulge in sin. Not because God is some heavenly party pooper but because He knows that all sin destroys and leads to bondage – always. License is a misunderstanding of our relationship to the law.
On the opposite swing of the pendulum from license is legalism – outward rigorous performances to vindicate ourselves before God without a heart change. Work done in the flesh rather than the Spirit giving glory to man and not God. Remember as well we can do nothing of eternal value apart from the indwelling Holy Spirit. The achievement of all God’s purposes for the spiritual welfare of His children come from the power given by the Holy Spirit of God not from flawed flesh. The ritual itself has no eternal value done in the flesh only through the Holy Spirit.
Read: Fight The Good Fight (3) Michael Youssef
On this side of the cross, believers are without excuse particularly in comparison to the position of the Old Testament saints because in Christ we have received the permanently indwelling Holy Spirit who can overcome the flesh in manifesting the righteousness of God as we willingly relinquish control.
Read: You Can Know The Holy Spirit (4) Jonathan Dodson
We next see in Malachi when the wicked flourished, the righteous closed ranks and spoke encouragingly to one another. We discover Psalm 27:1-14 (NIV)
in Malachi 3:16 the righteous responding with a heart of reverential fear, esteeming God’s great Name. The Lord had listened to the sneering words of the wicked, but He also listened with delight to the Godly conversation of His own. Indeed, the wording actually means that He paid undivided attention. Moreover, Scripture states that a Scroll of Remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His great Name. The first group had strayed from God grumbling over His treatment of them all the while expecting rewards for their poor behavior. Now we see a second group who served God faithfully. The most remarkable difference between this second group and the first one is their attitude. They feared the Lord and spoke encouragingly to one another. Their fear of God exemplifies the exact response which God desired from this oracle – one of humble repentance. Their attitude outlines how one should serve: with a healthy fear of God. When we fear God we demonstrate a respect and reverential appreciation for Him.
Deuteronomy 31:12 states:
12 Assemble the people--men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns--so they can listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and follow carefully all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 31:12 (NIV)
We must listen and learn to humbly fear the Lord our God and be careful to follow the Words of His Law through the power of the Holy Spirit. Remember Proverbs tells us:
10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10 (NIV)
The scroll of remembrance means that a permanent remembrance of their faithful and reverent response is kept in heaven. This provides assurance that when God deals with these individuals He will not forget (though He never forgets) their submission to Him. Those who love Him and talk to each other about Him are His “precious jewels.” The Hebrew word translated “treasured possession” in verse 17 is noteworthy. It is a word one would reserve for a collection of jewels. God is saying “You are My treasured possession.” How amazing that the God of the universe would look at us as His private keepsake, as one He values highly and protects next to His heart.
Share about the Scrolls of Remembrance and pass around the scrolls. “A SCROLL OF REMEMBRANCE: Father I love you and trust you with my life and all that you have placed in my hands. You are a good and faithful God and I desire to honor and please you in all that I say and do.”
Notice too that all things, not just the good or the bad, are recorded for eternity. God sees our actions whether or not anyone else does. Indeed, we are to live our lives for an audience of One.
When the day of judgment comes, the enormous and eternal difference between the wicked and the righteous will be plain for all to see. Those who fear the Lord will become His in the day He makes up His treasured possession. “The day” is the day of the Lord. It will be a day of judgment on the wicked and of deliverance for the righteous as God will spare them. Psalms One tells us:
1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Psalm 1:1-6 (NIV)
As a result Israel will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked. In previous times Israel had seen God intervene decisively in judgment and deliverance - the Exodus, the Exile, and the return. Those events pointed forward to the future judgment. The coming day of the Lord, however, will bring about a much more extensive judgment on the wicked, and through physical deliverance and bodily resurrection, the righteous will be His “treasured possession” in the kingdom. This hope renews the righteous and strengthens their fear of God. Now we see only the back of God’s tapestry. “Then” we will see the front as well and marvel at the wisdom, grace, and goodness of our God. Every discouraged servant of God needs to read and ponder 1 Corinthians 4:1-5:
1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 (NIV)
Paul also stating in Romans:
11 And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Romans 13:11-14 (NIV)
The promises of God will endure always. When you know whose you are, you know whom you will serve, and you can rest in the knowledge that God will sustain His “treasured possession”. A.W. Tozer asserted, “The man who has God for his treasure has all things in one.” Is God your treasure? He assured us of His love by sending us His most esteemed treasure of all, His Son Jesus, to die on our behalf. Christ responded to His Father perfectly with the reverential fear of the Lord, and we are called to emulate Him. When we see God as our ultimate treasure we, like the psalmist, are able to taste and see that the Lord is good and His mercy endures forever.
“God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm. Deep in unfathomable mines of never-failing skill He treasures up His bright designs and works His sovereign will. You fearful saints, fresh courage take; the clouds you so much dread are big with mercy and shall break in blessings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace; behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face. His purposes will ripen fast, unfolding every hour; the bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower. Blind unbelief is sure to err and scan His work in vain; God is His own interpreter, and He will make it plain.” William Cowper
“Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King? Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring? Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe? Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go? By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine, We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine! Not for weight of glory, nor for crown and palm, Enter we the army, raise the warrior psalm; But for love that claimeth lives for whom He died: He whom Jesus saveth marches on His side. By Thy love constraining, by Thy grace divine, We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine! Jesus, Thou hast bought us, not with gold or gem, But with Thine own lifeblood, for Thy diadem; With Thy blessing filling each who comes to Thee, Thou hast made us willing, Thou hast made us free. By Thy grand redemption, by Thy grace divine, We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine! Fierce may be the conflict, strong may be the foe, But the King’s own army none can overthrow;
’Round His standard ranging, vict’ry is secure, For His truth unchanging makes the triumph sure. Joyfully enlisting, by Thy grace divine, We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine! Chosen to be soldiers, in an alien land,
Chosen, called, and faithful, for our Captain’s band; In the service royal, let us not grow cold, Let us be right loyal, noble, true and bold. Master, wilt Thou keep us, by Thy grace divine, Always on the Lord’s side—Savior, always Thine! Frances R. Havergal
“If you are to be God’s forever, be his today.” Charles H. Spurgeon
These are Beth’s personal notes, due to this fact sources are not often stated.