Malachi 3:10-15
GIVE God His due place in heart and conscience, and there will be the richest blessing; this is the lesson of verse 10. Do we not find here the explanation of much in both of the lives and the meetings of Christians that is not what it should be? His word is plain, — “Bring”; and then, “prove Me now, herewith.” Prayer for blessing is excellent, but a selfish withholding from His servants who do His bidding, in order to have more for ourselves, is without doubt, often a real hindrance; it is the one hindrance named in verses 8 to 10. God’s readiness to bless is fully shown; when it is not given, we must look within for the hindrances, and remove them; then blessing can be counted upon.
Verse 11. If there is obedience, the devourer will be rebuked, as it is said, “for your sakes,” so that he shall not destroy the fruits of the ground. This passage is general in scope, no doubt, for the reward promised to Israel for obedience to God’s Word is earthly blessing; nevertheless it must specifically refer to the day of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7), when the whole land, because of Jehovah’s righteous indignation, shall be devoured. (Zephaniah 1:18). The devourer then will be the Assyrian or king of the north (Isaiah 10:5, 6; 28:2-4).
The Christian is not to expect earthly prosperity; his truest blessings are heavenly, as many Scriptures tell; 1 Timothy 6:6-8 may be contrasted with Dent, 8:7-9, the one giving the Christian’s right earthly position, while the other exhibits Israel’s.
The happy slate to which verse 12 refers has never been seen, nor can it be, until sins, national and individual, are owned in the fullest way of repentance. Thus verse 13 brings to the chosen people a charge of guilt more flagrant than any before named in this prophecy: “Your words have been stout against Me.” It is the last accusation Malachi was given to set before God’s earthly people, but as in each preceding case, the callousness of their hearts is such that they unfeelingly reply, “What have we spoken against Thee?” And, they add, “And now we call or consider) the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set (or built) up; yea, they tempt God, and they escape” (N. T.). This is the character of man at a distance from God which will be fully displayed before His judgment falls upon them.
Thank God, there are those who, perhaps moved by the growing wickedness of the scene in which they live, are aroused in their consciences; of these the next verse (16) tells.
ML 12/19/1937