Malachi 3:13-18 Consider the Next not just the Now
They complained to each other that the wicked prosper, while suffering was the portion of those who fear God. They are informed that their complaint is unwarranted, that God’s eye is over all, and tough at present the lot of the pious may seem hard, God keeps record of those who are faithful, and when he appears in his temple he will make a distinction between the pious and the wicked (Eiselen). The complaint was twofold: 1) the absurdity of walking with God and working for God. 2) the advantage of those who don’t work with and walk with God. They bring a twofold accusation against God, that they received no reward for their piety when they faithfully discharged their duty towards God, and also that it was better with the ungodly and the despisers of God than with them. (Calvin)
Vanity of Service v. 13-14 God heard them say that it is pointless to serve him and it is profitable not to. (Piper). The Heb shaw denotes that which is without substance or content. It is vain, worthless or useless. When it came to serving the Lord they didn’t find it useful, it was absurd. The Heb betsa means profit or gain. It was a technical term used of the gain from a weaver’s work. (Verhoef). All the hard effort of time and expense produced nothing. There was an expectation that because they were God’s children that he had an obligation to bless them regardless of their motive or manner of working for him or walking with him. They anticipated something from serving. They wanted a reward for their partial obedience and their pathetic service. They asserted that it was vanity; that, if they performed acts of worship, they should be nothing the better; and if they abstained, they should be nothing the worse. (Clarke). We hence see how reproachfully they exaggerated what they deemed the injustice of God, at least how they themselves imagined that He disappointed the just of their deserved reward, and that He favored the ungodly and the wicked as though He was pleased with them, as though He intended the more to exasperate the sorrow of His own servants, who, though they faithfully worshipped, yet saw that they did so in vain, as God concealed Himself, and did not reward their services (Calvin). They had voluntarily submitted themselves to the rites in connection with mourning and pertinence to please the Lord, but according to them it all was to no avail. Their experience contradicted the law of retribution, and they arrogantly came to the conclusion that it doesn’t pay to be righteous. (Verhoef).
Two aspects of walking with God are mentioned: Holiness keeping his charge (1:6-10) and Humbleness mourning before the Lord (2:13). They had failed at both. They were indeed going about in black, fasting and mourning. They were coming to the temple often with their sacrifices. They had some of the forms of worship down pat. But God was displeased. His ear was closed. His blessing was withdrawn (Piper). Their holiness was a façade and their humility was a farce. They were unholy in their walk, their worship and their work. They feel that all is lost labor, no profit to God nor any to yourselves; therefore better sit still and do nothing, than to serve God. (Poole) They did not understand that good works that do not arise from genuine faith and gratitude to God are simply "hot checks" drawn on an empty bank account. They may provide a temporary sense of self-satisfaction, but God recognizes their true value-zero, and he will eventually bring to justice anyone who tries to live on them." (Clendenen) The Jews mistook utterly the nature of God's service, converting it into a mercenary bargain. They attended to outward observances, not from love of God, but in the hope of being well paid for it in outward prosperity” (Jamieson): Wiersbe, comments, "I hear this complaint from some believers about their churches. "We"re not getting anything out of it!" But a church is like a bank or a home: you don"t get anything out of it unless you put something into it." They seem to assume that God must bless the righteous in some immediate and material way, or else righteousness is in vain. In other words even though they are not truly righteous, even the way they think righteousness should be rewarded is skewed. (Piper).
Three expressions in the text describe the faithful ones:
They Serve God. A great difference between serving God and serving man. In the one case the servant benefits the master, in the other the sole benefit is the servant’s. In the one the service is estimated by work actually done; in the other by work earnestly done. They keep God’s Commands. True followers seek to live without compromise the “truths” of the scripture. They strive to live in total obedience to His revealed word.
They walk mournfully before the Lord.They walk with an abiding consciousness of the His presence, and in continual progress in His will. Their life is characterized by penitence, contrition, repentance and faith.
God demanded the best of their flock in sacrifice. Which they offered in happier and purer times. But now their worship had greatly degenerated. It had become totally hypocritical. Their rejection of their service to God lead to God’s curses and judgement not blessing and benefit. These things happened to them as examples to us, the people of God under the new dispensation. God requires the best of us, and of what belongs to us. One author states 4 aspects of the best we are to give to God: 1) The best of our being. We are to bring the best of our mind, body, soul. The best of our intellect, our emotions and our strength are to be used to serve, honor and glorify him. 2) The best season of life. When you are unmarried and your interests are undivided you are able to devote your best efforts to serving Jesus. 3) The best portion of our time. Religion must not be regarded as a relaxation, but prosecuted as a business--the great business of life. That is why it is termed a calling and a work. 4) The best of our talents and substance. God has given you every aptitude that you possess and every asset that you procure. We are to use them for his glory. (J. Leifchild.).
Victory of the Sinner v. 15
The "proud" here, or "arrogant," are both the heathen and the godless Israelites who have cast off all restraints of holiness and were living like the pagans which they in heart had become. The Heb 'ashar means to go straight, to progress, to be blessed and to be happy. The assumption is that because the arrogant who test God and get away with it are happy and the ones who serve God suffer then living and serving God is useless. Those who profess to serve God complain that there is no “profit.” They are not happy--not blessed. The inference is that the proud, the self-willed, self-confident, self-complacent, are “happy.” “The tempters of God,” who practically set Him at defiance--dare Him to do the worst--are delivered. So, happiness and visible advantage are connected with rebellion. What’s the use of standing for and serving God? Here it is to be taken for an audacious daring of God to take vengeance, (Num 16:23-35). These very worst sort of sinners are sometimes not only spared, but prospered, (Jer 12:1) (Calvin) That means that the test of the authenticity of study and worship is not merely the intensity of emotion, but whether we leave the service and walk into a life of sinning. (Piper).
Vindication of the Sovereign v. 16
We are to do three things Fear God. Hallow his name above all names, and serve him like a son serves a Majestic Father (Piper0 An individual can remain faithful to God in a faithless world by:
Strive to continue to be faithful: vow to be faithful to God, even if those around you are not. Consider writing your own "scroll of remembrance." The book of remembrance was to illustrate that God records our deeds. They are present with God, for good or for evil; and in the Day of Judgment He will make them manifest to men and angels, as though read out of a book, and will reveal them. (Barnes) It is like the "book of Life," to express the thought of God's keeping his records in a book (Ex 32:32,33; Ps 69:28; 86:6; and Dan 12:1) (Coffman) God will hearken and hear the good things that those who fear God say to each other for the glory of God and the good of man. In other words he not only overhears the foolish and arrogant talk of the evildoers, he also hears every good word you have ever spoken and ever will speak. He promises that not one tiny word of goodness will fall to the ground without God's notice God will not only hear them; he will remember them. This means that God will never forget the good that we have done in his power and for his glory. It may look forgotten and unrewarded now. But God is not unjust (Heb 6:10), and every lesson faithfully prepared for those kids, every courtesy on the highway, every smile on the street, every thank you note you ever wrote, every "I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?"—every fragment of grace in your life is being written in the book of remembrance and will redound to your joy and God's glory forever when the books are opened. (Piper).
Surround yourself with Companions who are faithful surround yourself with a group of likeminded individuals for encouragement. This group "talked with each other" (Mal 3:16) as they encouraged each other to remain faithful (Heb 10:25). When the fire of religion burns low, true believers should draw the nearer together, to keep the holy flame alive. Coals separated soon go out.
Stand on the Conviction that God is Faithful God"s day of reckoning will come someday. Keep a long-range perspective (1 Cor 3:12-15)." [Charles H. Dyer))
Value of the Saints v. 17-18
The wicked are kept (by the patience of God) unto the day of destruction; and shall be brought forth to the day of wrath, as condemned malefactors are to execution, He that has stolen a good horse rides gallantly mounted for the present, till shortly after, followed close by a cry, he is soon apprehended, sentenced, and brought to punishment. And this is the very state of presumptuous sinners, and will be. (Ecc 8:11). God gives outward things to the wicked no otherwise than as if a man should cast a bag full of gold into an outhouse. The sunshine of prosperity ripens their sin quickly, and so fits them for destruction. Let God, therefore, be justified, and every mouth stopped. (Calvin) If this life alone constituted the sum and total of all being, then it would have to be allowed that there are many situations in which the wicked clearly have an advantage. However, the Word of God teaches that there is a judgment of Almighty God, upon which occasion the wicked will be punished and the righteous rewarded. The child of faith should therefore be established and grounded in the conviction that the Father will surely see to it that he receives all, and far more, than he could deserve. He assures them that God has not forgotten them, but intends to treat them with a Father's love in the great Day of Judgment that is coming. They will then realize fully the distinction that God makes between the godly and the ungodly. In that day, the wicked will be wholly consumed, like stubble in the flames, whereas the righteous will rejoice exceedingly and will triumph gloriously over their enemies (Coffman) God says, “There are righteous people who serve me and wicked people who don’t.” And the wicked people, he says, are all predisposed by this particular attitude: “What’s in it for me?” That’s their argument. Why would we give to the Lord? What profit do we get? Why would we serve the Lord? How does it benefit us? It is like consumerism. The consumer knows what they want, and they look at a religion and ask if they get what they want without giving very much. “I want money, but the God of the Bible doesn’t give me enough money. And I want to be praised, and the God of the Bible doesn’t praise me enough. And I want to have my way, and the God of the Bible says that he gets it his way. What good is this religion? It doesn’t work. We are not to approach church or a church ministry, and said, “Well, if I give, what do I get? If I serve, how do they serve me? Will I receive more than I give, and if not, what use is it to me?” God doesn’t think like that. God doesn’t look at you and say, “Where’s my profit?” God doesn’t look at you and say, “I’ve served you. When are you gonna serve me back? When are you gonna match my gift? ”We can’t match his gift. It’s grace. It’s unmerited. It’s undeserved. It’s inexhaustible. (Driscoll) We serve God not for what we can get, but because of what he gave. We are his treasure so we treasure him. Christians, and those who are righteous through grace, are the special treasure of God, and in heaven shall be His special treasure in glory, possessed by God and possessing God.‘ The “special treasure,” is something, much prized, made great store of, and guarded. Such are Christians, bought at a great price, even by the precious Blood of Christ; used of those who should be to Him a “special treasure,” teaching that, not of their own merits, they shall be such, but by His great mercy. It stands in contrast with the doom of the wicked, whom that day shall be sentence to everlasting judgement. (Barnes). We serve because we are his Jewels his treasure. Believers are a peculiar people, separate from all others, and preferred unto them; for whom Christ has the strongest affection, and takes special care of: and there is a time when he will make them up; the number of them is already complete in eternal election; and there was a gathering of them together in Christ at his death; at every conversion there is an addition to them, as his regenerated and sanctified ones; and at death they are received into heaven, into his presence and bosom; and at the last day there will be a collection of them all together (Gill) Here’s what God says, “You’re my treasured possession.” You belong to him. All of you belongs to him, and he treasures you. He values you. He purchased you through the gift of his own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, that you would be his children, his people. So, If we are his treasured possession, then he is our treasured possession. Nothing compares to the Lord. Nothing’s as valuable as the Lord. Nothing matters as much as the Lord. And even if we lose our treasured possessions, we’ll never lose our treasured possession. The world doesn’t understand this God. I need you to love this God because he has loved you, and if he’s willing to make us his treasured possession it is only fitting and right that we would choose him as our most treasured possession. (Driscoll)