Malachi Chapter 3 (Continued) {God's Blessing Two Fold - Protection and Provision} 11a~~"And I {God} will rebuke/restrain {ga`ar} the devourer/invader {'akal - internal and external enemies} for your {pivot's} sakes." 11b~~"And he shall not destroy/overthrow the fruits of your ground   {idiom used to describe economic ruin of an agricultural society}; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field   {idiom meaning the grape vine will not be barren at the time of   harvest indicating economic disaster again}," said the Jehovah/God of the Army/hosts. 12a~~"And all nations/gentiles {gowy} shall 'call you blessed'/'pronounce you happy' {'ashar}." 12b~~"And you will be a land of delight/pleasure {chephets}," said the Jehovah/God of the Army/hosts. {Indictment Against Israel} 13a~~"Your words {contents of speech express thoughts} have been 'strongly negative' {chazaq} against Me", said Jehovah/God. {Note: Chazaq means to be hard, obstinate. In other words, disoriented toward God's grace} 13b~~"Yet you say, 'What have we spoken so much against You?' "   {what are we guilty of?} 14a~~"You have said, 'It is useless {shav'} to serve 'Elohiym/Godhead." {Note: This is an expression of unbelief. They see no true value is serving God.} 14b~~"And what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance {Mosaic Law}." {Note: 'Profit' here indicates human viewpoint thinking. Unbelievers can only see things in 'physical terms' - overt happiness, money, success, pleasure, social life, friends, loved ones, health, sex, materialistic things and status symbols of life.} 14c~~"And that we have walked mournfully before the Jehovah/God of the Army/hosts?" {Note: Now this is 'legalism' here and it is always phony. They wear sackcloth and 'appear righteous' but in their mind, they do not have the Word of God. They create taboos to follow. Ritual without reality is meaningless and useless. Jesus called this type 'white-washed tombstones' - all pretty on the outside but inside dead men's bones.} {Human Viewpoint - Incorrect Viewpoint} 15a~~"And now we call the proud {zed} . . . happy {'ashar}. {Note: The 'proud' here is the unbeliever who has all the details of life, but is minus God and His Word. They made their overt success by pleasing the ruler of this world - Satan. And, other people - including immature believers - think they are happy. But they are missing the capacity to be happy which only comes from relationship with God (salvation) and then drinking of the tree of life (bible doctrine).} 15b~~Yes, they who manufacture/make   {out of the details of life} {'asah} wickedness {rish`ah} are built up {banah}.  15c~~"Yes, they that tempt 'Elohiym/Godhead are even delivered {safely}." {Note: This type looks at the evil men who deny the Lord and yet seem to prosper and live to long lives, while some apparently righteous types suffer. They ask in arrogance why does God let this happen.} {Now Other Side of the Fence} 16a~~"Then they who revered Jehovah/God   {believers who are Occupied with the Lord   and love Him and His Word} spoke often one to another   {concept of fellowship with other believers}. 16b~~"And Jehovah/God was caused to draw near, and kept on hearing   {idiom for God listens to faithful believers and shama` - hear listens   and obeys - meaning He grants blessings when His righteousness   permits}."  16c~~"And a book of remembrance received writing before Him for them that revered Jehovah/God, and who kept on 'thinking categorically' {chashab} upon His Name." {Note: When Malachi was written, Jerusalem was under Persian control. The Persian kings kept a book of those who did favors to the king and he would later reward them. This is being used as an example for God keeps record of the achievements of believers and they will be evaluated someday and rewarded if warranted.} 17a``"And they shall be Mine   {idiom: literally 'they shall be unto me' - an idiom of possession} in that day {in the Millennium}," said Jehovah/God of the Army/hosts, "when I make up My own 'peculiar treasure' {c@gullah}   {'Phase III'/'eternity future' rewards'}." 17b~~"And I will have compassion {chamal} on them, as a man has compassion on his own son who served him." {Note: Please note here the relationship first (Family of God) and then service.} 18~~"Then {2nd Advent} You will return, and see/discern {ra'ah} between the righteous {tsaddiyq} and the wicked {rasha`} . . . between him who served 'Elohiym/Godhead and him that served {Him} not." {Note: In Eternity future, there will be a record of all those who loved the Lord. Believers will be able to see their actions that brought Glory to the Lord.} ************************************************** Joshua_Sozo™ and Syndein ™ are the Trademarks of Syndein a California DBA of Kenneth Sidley & Associates, Inc., a California Corporation. All rights reserved. Copyright© Syndein 1982-2010. All rights reserved. This page is sponsored by Kenneth Sidley, CPA, an Orange County California CPA (949) 706-3133. Please call Ken for high quality, low cost CPA services in Orange County California. This includes audit, review, compilation, tax returns, Quickbooks, and business consulting services. This page is sponsored by Moxxor For Pain Free Living. Moxxor is a highly concentrated Omega 3 product that has reduced inflammation in this writer. Please go to this website to read more about Moxxor.