The Fear of God Rewarded
J. Marriot, A. M. Malachi 3:17 And they shall be mine, said the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them… The expression used by the prophet conveys to us a strong idea of the pleasure which our Lord will Himself experience in executing this office of "making up His jewels." He will then "see of the travail of His soul, and be satisfied." We trace the idea of pleasure in the term "jewels." And they are His jewels, for He has bought them with a price, and no less a price than that of His own most precious blood. The idea of pleasure on His part in the performance of this work is completed in the expression, "make up My jewels." We see Him rejoicing that the time is come, when to the gift of grace He may add that of glory; and finally exulting that not one "of all that the Father hath given Him" is wanting to His crown. As if we might want something more closely and readily applicable than this figurative language, He adds, "And I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." In what manner are they described, who are to be the passive subjects of His mercy in that day? The first characteristic is that they "feared the Lord." This fundamental grace of godly fear is the sure and safe road to the higher attainments of love. All who will be His "jewels" there, must fear Him in some degree here, that they may love Him in perfection hereafter. To know whether you fear Him, ask yourselves, and that with searching honesty, whether you shrink from an evil thought; whether you strive manfully against your imaginations when they set in the direction of lust, malice, or covetousness; or willingly float down the current to certain distance, only taking pains to avoid the last precipice towards which it leads. If you face Him with that holy fear, which is the result of a living faith, you will prove it, not by your thoughts and actions only, but by your words. "Then they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another." To such God says, "They shall be Mine." Is your conversation such as to warrant your entertaining a hope that you have an interest in this gracious promise? (J. Marriot, A. M.) Parallel Verses KJV: And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. WEB: They shall be mine," says Yahweh of Armies, "my own possession in the day that I make, and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him.