As “the LORD of hosts”
addressed the nation of Israel through the prophet Malachi, He
brought to their attention several faults He found within them.
Nevertheless, there was a group of people among them who “feared
the LORD”, spoke to one another often, and “thought upon
his name”. These people had a “book of remembrance written
before him for them”, and in chapter three and verse seventeen
of Malachi the Lord shares more about this special group of people
where we read:
And they shall be mine,
says the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I
will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him.
The verse begins, “And
they shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make
up my jewels;” In addition to
this “book of remembrance”
being written, this group of people were claimed by “the
LORD of hosts” - “they
shall be mine” which means “to
be told, to be said, to be called, to avow and avouch” as His own.
The Lord identifies when He will do this - “in the day when I
make up my jewels” which means “possession, property, valued
property or peculiar treasure”. Not only will this group of God
fearing believers be claimed as the Lord's own, but God considers
them His “peculiar treasure”.
The
verse continues, “and I will spare them, as a man spares
his own son that serves him.” Not
only are these people owned and treasured by the Lord, but His
promise is to “spare them”
which means “spare, pity, and have compassion on” them.
The Lord compares is to the manner in which “a man spares his
own son that serves him” or “labors for, works for or is
compelled to work for” him. No doubt as a father gives favor to his
faithful laboring son, so will the Lord be toward those who are
faithful and servants to Him.
While we meditate upon these
words, let us examine ourselves to determine whether the Lord would
find us among this group who feared the Lord, served Him, were
claimed by Him, were known as His peculiar treasure, and were
protected by His mighty hand. No doubt this is an enviable group in
which most people would desire to belong, however the question is
whether they are God fearing and faithful servants. In the book of
First Peter in chapter two and verse nine we read:
But you are a
chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar
people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called
you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
May the
Lord help us to be the “peculiar people” who place our trust,
faithfulness, service and reliance upon Him.
Next
time we shall see the Lord distinguish between the righteous and the
wicked,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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