The Pulpit Commentary — Malachi — Section 48

communion with God, protection by Goel, e.n<'I e. high estimate in his sight. Tho ultimate iseue (ver. 18) will vindica.to the confidence of his servants and silence the murmurs of hie foes (Rom. viii. 31-39; Jude 14, 16). Ver. 16.-0hristian converse. "Then," etc. When? When ungodliness was rampant (vers. 13-15). As an excess of carbonic acid in the air makes the lamps,il'. a. mine burn dimly, so the atmosphere of prevailing ungodliness makes it hard to maintain a. brightly burning piety. · Christian converse i~ one means of sustaining a. bright and vigorous godliness "in this present evil world," especially when the evil is more than usually "present" and pressing upon us. (1) The servants of God con- versin_g; (2) God listening and approving. I. THE BEilVANTB OF Goo co~VERSING. The description of them, "They that feared the Lord," reminds us of the godly jealousy they cherished for tbe honour of God; like Noah, Nehemiah, and other servants of God in a corrupt age. Such fear i3 11 source of purity (Ps, xix. 9 ; •Prov. xiv. 27), and a safeguard in the most ungodly days (Isa. viii. rn; 14). Fearing God, they think much on his Name so deeply dishonoured in their midst; and they do so because (as the term implies) "they highly esteemed his Name!' They feel the danger of spiritual contagion and disease (Matt. xxiv. 12). Lest their. love should cool or their faith shonhl fail, they conversed one with another. While the ungodly were uttering "stout" words against God (ver. 13), they were speaking warm words on his behalf. Learn : 1. Chan~ing circumstances: may call for new means of grace. E.g. the meetings of the sons of the prophets and traces of public religious services (2 Kings iv. 23) in the dark Jays of Elijah and Elisha. The institution of synagogue-worship in the Captivity. The secret services of the catacombs. The gatherings in woods or on moors of Covena.ntvrs, Nonconformists, and the martyr-Church of Madagascar. "The word of the Lord was precious in those_ days." 2. Private Christian communion may do much to supplement or to supply more· public means of grace. From public Church-fellowship the godly could gain little in'the days of Maia.chi. There was neither purity nor uaity (eh. ii. 10, 11). In such circumstances all the more need for godly converse. " When the fire burns low; the co~ls that are alive should be brought together, that they may be blown into a flame." Illust.: Jonathan and David (1 Sam. xxiii. 16-18); Jeremiah and Baruch (Jer. xiv. 1-5); Paul in prison and his friends "which have been a comfort unto me" (Col. iv. 11; cf. Heb. id. 13; x. 24, 25). Such converse is enjoined in the family (Deut. vi. 6-8) and among believers (Eph. v. 19). Bat to be a means of grace,·i't needs to be natural and spontaneous. ·" But conversation, choose what theme we may, And chiefly when religion leads the way, Should flow, liko water after summer showers, :Not e:s if raised by mere mechanic powers." The spirit of it may be._seen in Ps. xxxiv. 1-3, 11; lxvi. 16. , II. Goo LISTENING .AND APPROVING. 1. "The Lord hearkened, and heard." It is a. solemn truth th.at _God listens to everything we say (Numb. xii. 2; Jer. viii. 6; P,. cxxx.ix. 4). Here this truth wears a. cheerful face. As illustrations: Two Christians encouraging o.ne another in God; Christ in their midst (Matt. xviii. 20; Luke x..xiv. 13-31). A Christian man on a. lonely walk, courteously couversing with a strnnger, and seeking to commend Christ to him. The stranger may go a.way to pray or to 11colf. B~t that is not all. God hearkened and heard nnd noted the good deed done in his name. God listens with plea.sure to all we say for him ns well as to him. 2. ".And a book of remembrance," etc. Older than the chronicles of the kings of Persia (Esth. vi. 1) or of Israel is thEl book of remembrance of the Divine King (Ps. lvi. 8). "Never was any good word spoken of God or for God from au honest heart, but it wa.:; registered, tha.t it miii:ht bi\) recompensed in the retiurrectiou of the just, and in no wise lose its reward," That rewnrrl is referred to in ver. 17. LESSON. (Col. iv. 6.) Supposing a Christian's talk for one dny were taken down verhntim, wl;i.11t. proporti(;,n of it. could be outcred iu God's book of remembrance as "~ood to the uso 1>f edifying" (Eph. iv. 29), nod of any sordco in tho groat d:.y of account (Matt. xii. 37)? 48 THE BOOK OF MALACHI. [en. m. l-18.