Malachi 3:16

“Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, etc.] Abarbinel thinks this is a continuation of the speech of the wicked; observing, that while they that work wickedness were set up, and they that tempted God escaped punishment, they that were religious, and feared God, “were destroyed one with another”, particularly by the plague; so he would have the word wrbdn rendered, which we translate, “spake often one to another”; in which sense he observes that root is used in (<281314>Hosea 13:14 <194703>Psalm 47:3 <121101>2 Kings 11:1) but rather this is opposed unto what they said, by such, who, at the time referred to (which seems to be between the time of Christ’s coming, spoken of…”

“"Then," when the ungodly utter such blasphemies against God, the godly hold mutual converse, defending God's righteous dealings against those blasphemers (Heb 3:13). The "often" of English Version is not in the Hebrew. There has been always in the darkest times a remnant that feared God (Kg1 19:18; Rom 11:4). feared the Lord--reverential and loving fear, not slavish terror. When the fire of religion burns low, true believers should draw the nearer together, to keep the holy flame alive. Coals separated soon go out. book of remembrance . . . for them--for their advantage, against the day when those found faithful among the faithless shall receive their final reward. The kings of Persia kept a…”

“Then they that feared the Lord spake often among themselves - The proud-speaking of the ungodly called out the piety of the God-fearing. “The more the ungodly spake against God, the more these spake among themselves for God.” Both went on until the Great Day of severance. True, as those said, the distinction between righteous and wicked was not made yet, but it was stored up out of sight. They “spake among themselves,” strengthening each other against the ungodly sayings of the ungodly. And the Lord hearkened and heard it - God, whom these thought an idle looker-on, or regardless, all the while (to speak after the manner of men) was “bending the ear” from heaven “and heard.” Not one pious…”

“Then - When contempt of God was grown so high. That feared the Lord - Those that were truly religious. Spake often - Conversed together the more frequently. And a book - All this is spoken after the manner of men. For them - On their behalf. Malachi 3:17”

“3:16-18 The prophet here serves as a recorder, reporting the audience’s reaction to his final message and God’s response to the discussion among those who feared the Lord. Although God listened to their deliberations (see 3:16), there is no evidence that Malachi’s message effected any real change in the majority of his listeners. 3:16 A scroll of remembrance—a Persian tradition—was a catalog of names with a record of events associated with those individuals. We are not told how many people signed the scroll. • Those who feared him were people who were loyal to the Lord as God, obedient to God’s commands, and righteous in conduct and worship.”

“that feared: Mal 3:5, Mal 4:2; Gen 22:12; Kg1 18:3, Kg1 18:12; Job 28:28; Psa 33:18, Psa 111:10, Psa 112:1; Psa 147:11; Isa 50:10; Act 9:31, Act 10:2; Rev 15:4 spake: Deu 6:6-8; Sa1 23:16-18; Est 4:5-17; Psa 16:3, Psa 66:16, Psa 73:15-17, Psa 119:63; Pro 13:20; Eze 9:4; Dan 2:17, Dan 2:18; Luk 2:38, 24:14-31; Joh 1:40-47; Joh 12:20-22; Act 1:13, Act 2:1, Act 4:23-30; Eph 5:19; Th1 5:11, Th1 5:14; Heb 3:13; Heb 10:24, Heb 12:15 and the: Sa2 7:1; Ch2 6:7; Psa 139:4; Mat 18:19, Mat 18:20; Act 4:31-33 a book: Est 2:23, Est 6:1; Job 19:23-25; Psa 56:8; Isa 65:6; Dan 7:10; Mat 12:35-37; Rev 20:12 that thought: Psa 10:4, Psa 20:7, Psa 94:19, Psa 104:33; Isa 26:3, Isa 26:8; Heb 4:12, Heb 4:13…”

“With these foolish speeches the prophet proceeds in Mal 3:16. to contrast the conduct of those who fear God, pointing to the blessing which they derive from their piety. Mal 3:16. "Then those who feared Jehovah conversed with one another, and Jehovah attended and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before Him, for those who fear Jehovah and reverence His name. Mal 3:17. And they will be to me as a possession, saith Jehovah of hosts, for the day that I create, and I will spare them as a man spareth his son that serveth him. Mal 3:18. And ye will again perceive the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not." אז, then,…”