The Pulpit Commentary — Malachi — Section 47

".'ers. 1_3-18.-Hard s-peeches again flt Goil. Once more God has to bring a charge a~mst his people (ver. 13). Their words were "stout," bold, loud, defiant. Reverence and reticence wpre both wanting. Once more the plea. is entered," Not guilty." They will not admit that God is just.ified when he speaketh and clear wheu he judgeth. • So oric-e more God bas to unfold the evidence, that their mouths may be stopped and they may be found guilty before God. • • l. HARD SPEECHES AGAINST Gon. 1. God's service is unprofitable. They char"'e God with being an ungenerous Master, who allows them to work hard in order to ke;p his ordinances and to deny themselves (" walk mournfully"), and yet suffers them to enjoy little or no advantage therefrom. Even the service of God is "vanity and vexa- tion of spirit." This is an old complaint (Job xxii. 15-17) often repeated (Ps. lxxiii.; Isa. !viii. 3, etc.). It reflects on God's equity as well as generosity. 'l'his is seen more clearly in the second charge. 2. The wicked are better off than we a.re. They seem to be" happy;" they are evidently" set up," established by.God's providence in much prosperity. And though, instead of" proving" God (ver. 10), they" tempt God," they g~ unpunished, and are delivered from trials which still oppress us. The facts noted form part of the world-wide and perplexing problem which has often caused atheists openly to blaspheme and Christians to weep in secret. But if ever the problem tries us, let us learn a lesson from the contrast between the conduct of the ungodly professors here and the godly Asaph. These speak openly to others against God, and thus encour'¼ge one another in unbelief. But A.sa.ph (Ps. lxxiii. 15-17) speaks in secret to God about the question, and God guides him into truth and peace. II. CoNCLusr'l"E REPLIES TO THEM. Answers to all these hard speeches may be found: 1. In the hollowness of the pretences of these stout speakers against God. They did not really " serve God" or " keep his ordinances." If they walked "mourn- fully," it was a sign that love, gratitude, gladness, were absent, or the joy of the Lord. would have been their strength. Since their heart was far from God, so that he says, "In vain do they worship me" (Matt. xv. S, 9), no wonder they have to confess, " It is vain to serve God." And whenever we find Christian worship or work bringing little profit to our souls, we may well institute great searchings of heart. lest the radical difficulty should be found altogether in our own spiritual state in regard to God. If, however, our hearts condemn us not on this chiirge, we may see a further answer. 2. In the opposite experiences of those "who worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." While the murmurers have·. been talking to one another against God, another company bas conversed together" (ver. 16). (Contrast the two gatherings--their spirit, their subjects, their tones.) They can tell a very different tale. They can speak words which God delights to hear and to record. Their experience of the faithfulness of God and the profitableness of his service even in dark days should neutralize the influence of distrustful complainers. Their characters attest their testimony. The confession of a Paul (2 Tim. i. 12) more.than compensates for the desertion of a. Demas. . 3. In the fact that we have not yet "seen the end of the Lord." God speaks of a future, and bids us wait for that (vers. 17, 18). We have seen the eud of the Lord in the ciu;e of Job (Ja.s. v. 11) and other tried but triumpi:ia.nt servants of God. ,ve hav.e not yet seen the end of the Lord in the.t drama. of life (sometimes tragical) in which we are taking part. " Therefore jud;;e nothing before the time" (1 Cor. iv. 5). In our present state of education and proha1ion, "nll thing are our:1" by posses~ion or by promise. In vors.16 and 17 we !I.I'<= r,·mindod of a few or our privilege.. We ha,·e the car of God, a recol'u with God, OH, llL 1-18,] THE BOOK OF MALACHI. 17