Yer. 17.-Thr Divine Proprietor a.nd his pec11lial' trearure. We adopt, as I\ ruoro accurate translation, the rendering, "Aud they shall be to me, saith Jehovnh, in the da_,. that I am preparing, a peculiar treasure," etc., and thus learn- I. THAT THE SERVANTS 01' GoD ARE BIB PECUJ.IAR TREASURE, lt is il joy to know that io such a world as this there is anything which God can regard as his own peoulinr treasure. For sin is here. The serpent's trail is found in every enrthly paradise. "The works oft.he devil" hsve done much to dim the glory aud mM tho beauty of the works of GL,d. True, his material works are as attractive as eVllr (Ps. civ. 31). But a moral Being cannot find his peculiar treasure in material works. Of what value nro the precious metals and the rare gems of .iarth to God? lf they canuot satisfy the hunger of the created spirit, how can they be a special treasure to the Spirit that created all (Job xxxvi. 19)? It was a man who was first called "the friend of God" (,Jas. ii. 23). It was to a nation that the promise was first given, "Ye sh&ll be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people; for nll the earth is mine" (Exod. xix. 5). Though the heavens are not pure in his sight, and he charges the 11.ngels with folly, yet he can find a peculiar treasure in sinful souls that fear and love him, that think upon his Name, and nurture in one another's hearts the elements of a Divine life. While the whole Church of God is his treasure, every individual is an object of special regard and v:ilue. God says, "I know thee by name, and tho11, hast found grace in my sight." Every believer may appropriate the love and sacrifice of Christ, "who loved me, and gave himself for me." So that each individual in the universal Church may be regarded as a jewel in the Divine treasury. They are God's "hidden ones," but not overlooked; scattered, but not lost; the world knoweth them not, but "the Lord knoweth them that are his." Apply to different classes; e.g. godly children; the obscure poor; uneducated saints (" rough diamonds"); the donors of widow's mites to the Master's service; an Abijah in the house of Jeroboam ;-all are jewels in God's treasury of redeemed souls. IL TBA.T THEY SHA..LL BE TRE.A.TED WITH PECULI.A.B CA.RE. "The d&y" which Jehovah was preJJ&ring may represent all the variuus troubles and dangers which may await both the righteous and the ungodly. We may apply the term: 1. To days of trial in this life. We do not expect exemption from all trials. But we may expect two things. (1) Spiritual safety in spite of our trials (1 Cor. x. 13). Nay, more, our trials will work for us "experience" (30,n,.f,11, '' probation," a state in which we have stood the test, and are the stronger and therefore the safer for having done so). We i;oall still be God's; "mine, saith the Lord." The great robber of God and murderer of souls shall fail to pluck us out of the mightier Shepherd's hands (John x. 27, 28). (2) Providential discrimination (ver. 18) and alleviation. God will" spare them as a man," et.c. (see next sketch). Illust.: Ebed-melech (Jer. xx:x:ix. 16-18); Baruch (Jer. xlv. 5J; the Christians escaping to Pella before the destruction of Jerusalem (.Matt. xxiv. 15-20; Ps. x.x.xiv. 1!:1). 2. To the day of death. But "death is vours;' and cannot" separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." The day of death is the day of promotion, when, in an especial sense, we become a peculiar treasure because redeemed from all iniquity and purified for all eternity unto :ill good works (Titus ii. 14). 3. The day ofjudgment. (Matt. xiii. 41-43; xxv. 34.) Who will not claim his offered place among the peculiar treasures of God? Who can bear the thought of hearing from the Judge in that day," I never knew you; that is no part of my treasure; t,ake it away" 1 Ver. 17.-God's d,ea,lings with his se,ova,nts and with his own beloved Bon. "I will spare them," etc. Thes,i words suggest a comparison and a contrast, and lessons therefrom. I. GoD's PROMISE TO BIS SEBVA.NTS. These words are one of the" exceedinii: great and precious promises" on which we, the children of the kingdom, may rest. Loving protection is promised us by the great I:ather on the ground of 01;1r filial relati~nship (" his own son"), and as a reward of filial duty (" that serveth him"). Such lB the assurance given to the adopted children of God. But now notice- ll. GoD's DEALINGS WITH HIS oWN BELOVED SoN. Contrast ver. 17 with Rom. viii. 32. There is one in the universe who is God's Son, not by adoption, but by uatu1t and likeness. He is" his own Son;" his" only begotten Bon" (where we ls:y OH, III, 1-18.] THE BOOK OF MALACHI. 49
the emphRsis on " only" not on "begotten "). He stands in R relation to God which none other could occupy. None other is "the Brightness of his glory," etc. The universe knows only one incarnate Goel. And he was a Son "who served him." (John vi. 38; viii. 29). How well-beloved he was a voice from heaven twice <leclarod (see John iii. 35, etc.). 'l'he love of Mordecai to his adoptecl E$tber, of David to his worthless Absnlom, and or Jacob to bis dutiful Joseph, are conspicuous examples of enrthly paternal love. But who can measure or imagine the love of God to his own sinless Son Jesus Christ? Surely such a Father will not permit such a Son to suffer. Surely he shall be anointed with the oil of gladness above his follows. A. cloud shall never sit on his brow; sorrow and sighing shall flee away. But no. He "spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all." His love to his sinful children made him willing to sacrifice his sinless Son (Heh. ii. 10). The Father's sacrifice in allowing Christ to suffer and die must be remembered if we would interpret the words, "God so loved the world," etc. (John iii. 16). lo reading the parable of the wicked husbandmen (Mark xii. 1-9), we may have felt some surprise that the father should expose his beloved son to the treachery and cruelty of such wicked men. The reason is explained: "They will reverence my son." But the Divine Father knew what treatment his Son would receive among '' his own;" yet " he spared him not." He knew what "travail of soul" would come on him when " the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us a.II; " yet "he spared him not." This contrast between what we mi~ht have expected and what we have seen in the experience of Jesus Christ, God's sinless Son, teaches us: 1. The reality of the atonement (Rom. iii. 25, 26; 2 Cor. v. 21). 2. 'l'he intensity of God's love to sinners (1 John iv. 9, 10). 3. The fuller blessings of salvation which God will give to reconciled sinners (Rom. v. 10; viii. 32). 4. The discipline and self-sacrifice which the saved children of God may be called to pass through if, like their Master, they seek "by all means" to "save some." The promise of protection (ver. 17) will not debar ue from the privilege of self-denial (Matt.. x. 24, 25).