Hey Jeffrey,<\/p>\n
Can you please help me understand what’s going on in Malachi 3:16-18? Is this text saying God is pleased with those who think about Him and meditate about Him? Is it saying He rewards those who do so and fear Him?<\/p>\n\t
“Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name. “They will be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him<\/em>” (Malachi 3:16-18).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The book of Malachi records a number of grievances that God had against the children of Israel. Most ignored God, but there were some who listened. These were people who actually feared God; not like the arrogant who said, “It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept His charge, and that we have walked in mourning before the LORD of hosts? So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up but they also test God and escape<\/em>” (Malachi 3:14-15). Those who feared God talked with each other, we must assume about their need to do better, and God took note of those who wanted to serve Him. Their names were written in a book of remembrance, which is called the Book of Life in other passages.<\/p>\n
It also mentions that they meditated on, thought about, or esteemed God’s name. They were not a group that wanted to do right and then later forgot about it. They kept God and His laws in mind. “Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man<\/em>” (Proverbs 3:3-4).<\/p>\n
God declares that He is going to take action against sinful Israel, which eventually led to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, but God also said that He would spare those who were truly His people. After giving many warnings about the approaching destruction, Jesus said, “And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other<\/em>” (Matthew 24:31).<\/p>\n
Thus, God makes a distinction between the righteous and the wicked — a distinction that we too must honor. There is a difference between those who serve God from their heart and those who do not serve God. At the core is whether they fear God or not. It isn’t just thoughts, but it comes out in their actions.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: Hey Jeffrey, Can you please help me understand what’s going on in Malachi 3:16-18? Is this text saying God is pleased with those who think about Him and meditate about Him? Is it saying He rewards those who do so and fear Him? Answer: “Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[352,1214,54],"class_list":["post-54593","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-fear","tag-malachi","tag-obedience"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":89808,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/malachi-do-we-truly-see-ourselves\/","url_meta":{"origin":54593,"position":0},"title":"Malachi: Do We Truly See Ourselves?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 27, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Steve Klein Malachi lived and prophesied in Judah and Jerusalem, approximately a hundred years after the first group of Jewish captives returned to their homeland from the Babylonian captivity. In point of time, this corresponds roughly with the events of the book of Nehemiah and the latter part of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":94882,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/malachi-pointing-men-to-christ\/","url_meta":{"origin":54593,"position":1},"title":"Malachi – Pointing Men to Christ","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 1, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Keith Greer Malachi contains four chapters and 55 verses. It is the 39th and final book of the Old Testament and the last Minor Prophet. Some have called it \"a bridge between the Old and New covenants.\" The name Malachi means \"messenger of Jehovah.\" The book says nothing about\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":15967,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-does-put-my-tears-in-your-bottle-mean-in-psalms-568\/","url_meta":{"origin":54593,"position":2},"title":"What does “put my tears in your bottle” mean in Psalms 56:8?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 4, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Can you help me with the meaning of Psalms 56:8, especially the part \"tears into thy bottle?\" Answer: \"You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?\" (Psalm 56:8). Each phrase is a reference to God remembering or recording what has happened\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":23767,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-does-the-esv-remove-that-god-hates-divorce-in-malachi-216\/","url_meta":{"origin":54593,"position":3},"title":"Why does the ESV remove that God hates divorce in Malachi 2:16?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 8, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Do you know why in Malachi 2:16 the ESV removes the saying that God hates divorce? Answer: \"For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her,\u00a0says the\u00a0Lord, the God of Israel, covers\u00a0his garment with violence, says the\u00a0Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":32630,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/freedom-in-christ-a-biblical-look-at-tithing\/","url_meta":{"origin":54593,"position":4},"title":"Freedom in Christ: A Biblical Look at Tithing","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 26, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Ajayi Samuel Ojeva \"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of bondage\" (Galatians 5:1). Men cherish freedom in every way. However, man is often led from freedom to bondage unaware. Men have been under\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":57831,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/reverencing-the-name-of-god\/","url_meta":{"origin":54593,"position":5},"title":"Reverencing the Name of God","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 12, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"by David Gibson I once overheard an older woman ask a middle-aged man as he entered the post office, \"Are they closed?\" \"Lord, no!\" he said. \"They ain't closed.\" In a Dallas hospital waiting room, several women were passing the time in conversation. 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