_Behold, I will send My messenger._ MESSIAH’S MESSENGER The coming of the Messiah was in the time of the world’s deepest wants. As in all instances of national degeneracy, two special causes bore their fruit in Malachi’s time. 1. Neglect of the Divine ordinances. No Divine law has ever been given... [ Continue Reading ]
_But who may abide the day of His coming?_ THE COMING OF THE LORD Look at this subject in two points of view. I. As a question of solemn remonstrance. That the Lord has come, we know; that the Lord will come, we profess to believe. The Scripture tells us much about that coming, but leaves much tha... [ Continue Reading ]
_And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver._ THE REFINER The sons of Levi were the authorised instructors of the Hebrew people. By fidelity to their special work they fostered, by unfaithfulness they repressed the higher life of the Hebrews. They became, therefore, the sure gauge of spir... [ Continue Reading ]
_The days of old._ PAST DAYS Every age has its peculiar features. It is a duty to study the past. A knowledge of the past is often the basis of safety in the present, and stability in the future. I. The days of old have created the present days. Time is a development, society a building, humanity... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will come near to you to Judgment._ A DIVINE THREATENING God comes near to men when He manifests Himself to their spiritual consciousness. He may do this by His truth, by the circumstances which He causes to surround them, or by the direct action of His Spirit. He often comes near to men to enl... [ Continue Reading ]
_For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore, ye sons of Jacob are not consumed._ THE DIVINE UNCHANGEABLENESS Here, in the land of our exile, we must live by faith, not by sight. Fear of Him who is the unchangeable Majesty is more suitable for us whilst we are here, than to rejoice and be glad. We n... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye are gone away from Mine ordinances._ MISUSED RELIGIOUS PRIVILEGES In proportion to the value and the importance of our privileges, is apt to be our negligence, our carelessness, in improving them. In religion, in morals, in everything concerning man, it is in the season of calm, and amid the qu... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse._ GOD’S STOREHOUSE The contents of this book show that, in the time of Malachi, religion was in a very low condition. The people robbed God by keeping back the tithes and offerings, and the priests polluted God’s altar. They offered to God what they dar... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts._ THE DELIGHTSOME LAND It is not necessary to inquire minutely into the original application of these words. Enough that Christianity belongs to countries as well as individuals; and that the Church acts mightily upon every land to make it d... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye have said, It is vain to serve god._ THE SERVICE GOD DEMANDS Those who were the immediate objects of the prophet’s ministry had departed from the service of God. The priests having broken their covenant, the people were ruined by their vile example, and went back from God by a perpetual backsl... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then they that feared the Lord._ THE FEAR OF GOD A POWER-PRINCIPLE The events which, from their importance and prominence in the sacred annals, may be classed as marking successive epochs in the development of the Divine purpose, were preceded by periods of conflicting moral forces and unpropitiou... [ Continue Reading ]
_In that day when I make up My Jewel._ THE LORD’S JEWELS How much people think of their jewels. Eastern people are even more fond of jewels than we are, and Eastern ladies are even more lavishly decked with them. How people value their jewels! They count them as their chiefest treasure, so God uses... [ Continue Reading ]
_And discern between the righteous and the wicked._ THE CHARACTERS OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED CONTRASTED The time alluded to by the prophet appears to be the awful day of judgment. Then shall ye return, says he, or be converted to a full sense of your neglected duty and your past transgression... [ Continue Reading ]