Mai. iii. 16, 17. 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. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels : and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
THE wicked in all ages harden themselves and one another in their iniquities. They vindicate their ways even against the charges of God himself; and hope by a kind of confederacy to maintain their cause against God. It is to this that God refers, when he says, " Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished." To what an extent the Jews carried this daring and contemptuous conduct, may be seen in the preceding context : " Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee ?" They deny the charge, and defy even the omniscient God him- self to prove his allegations : and even when their impious speeches are adduced in proof of the charge, they still hold fast their sentiments, and maintain boldly that the service of sin and Satan is preferable to the service of their Goda.
Now from this the people of God may learn a very important lesson, namely, to be as bold for their Master as the wicked are for theirs ; and to unite as firmly with each other in maintaining the cause of piety, as the wicked do in upholding the maxims and habits of ungodliness. The propriety of this was felt by the godly in the prophet's days ; and the Lord testified, by the prophet, his approbation of their conduct.
Let us for our own edification consider, I. The conduct approved —
There were some, even in the worst of times " who feared the Lord," and maintained frequent fellowship
a ver. 13—15.