Being that the Father is aware of all things, he knew what they were doing. In the secrecy of their heart because of the wicked times they lived in, they thought appreciatively or meditated, on the Father and his great name. The faithful Israelites displayed their reverence for the Father in another significant way: They were “thinking upon his name.” The New American Standard Bible (NASB) says “esteeming His name.” Those reverentially fearing God honored the Father even in their thoughts. Notice too that those reverentially fearing God “spoke to one another.” Clearly, they privately got together to speak well of the Father and strengthen one another otherwise, they might have become disheartened or tainted by the corruption that surrounded them. Malachi here details for us Israelites who had deep-felt respect for God joined with a healthy fear of displeasing him. Fear is not some dread of displeasing God, but rather fear of God is a positive quality. “Those who feared Jehovah spoke to one another,” explains Malachi. In the middle of such depravity and corruption, however, there was a small group of Israelites who endured and remained loyal. (Malachi 2:8 3:5) The men of Judah (divorcing the wives of their youth) have taken foreign wives, who remained devoted to their idols, bringing the Jews into the families of foreign gods, leading to idolatry, which was condemned by both Ezra and Nehemiah. The priests disregarded their sacrificial duties, and the Israelite people, in general, took up such God-dishonoring practices as sorcery (ones who were specialists in spells and incantations), adultery, and fraud. In about 440 B.C.E., when Malachi prophesied in Jerusalem, the moral and religious conditions in Israel were horrifying. How can we be sure? The answer is found in God’s Word recorded by the prophet Malachi.-Read Malachi 3:16 above. What is more, the Father will never forget his servants and the struggles they have faced to remain faithful. He takes note even when they think of him because they fully appreciate what he has done and will do on behalf of humanity. Malachi 3:16 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)ġ6 Then those who feared Jehovah spoke to one another, and Jehovah gave attention and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him for those who fear Jehovah and for those thinking on his name.ĭoes the Father take notice of the struggles of his worshippers to please him? Yes, he does very much so! However, God pays attention to and recognizes more than their righteous deeds and words of praise.
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