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Selected Verse: Malachi 3:18 - King James
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Mal 3:18 |
King James |
Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Then shall ye . . . discern--Then shall ye see the falseness of your calumny against God's government (Mal 3:15), that the "proud" and wicked prosper. Do not judge before the time till My work is complete. It is in part to test your disposition to trust in God in spite of perplexing appearances, and in order to make your service less mercenary, that the present blended state is allowed; but at last all ("ye," both godly and ungodly) shall see the eternal difference there really is "between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not" (Psa 58:11).
return--Ye shall turn to a better state of mind on this point. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Then shall ye return, or turn - , not, "return" in the sense of returning to God, for in that day will be the time of judgment, not of repentance; nor yet, "then shall ye again see;" for this is what they denied; and, if they had ceased to deny it, they would have been converted, not in that day, but before, when God gave them grace to see it. They shall turn, so as to have other convictions than before; but, as Judas. The Day of Judgment will make a great change in earthly judgment. Last shall be first and first last; this world's sorrow shall end in joy, and worldly joy in sorrow; afflictions shall be seen to be God's love: Psa 119:75, "Thou in very faithfulness hast afflicted me;" and the unclouded prosperity of the ungodly to be God's abandonment of them. The picture of the surprise of the wicked in the Day of Judgment, in the Wisdom of Solomon, is a comment on the prophet (Wisdom 5:1-5), "Then shall the righteous man stand in great boldness before the face of such as have afflicted him, and made no account of his labors; when they see it, they shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall be amazed with the strangeness of his salvation, so far beyond all they looked for: and they, repenting and groaning for anguish of spirit, shall say within themselves, This was he whom we had sometimes in derision and a proverb of reproach: we fools counted his life madness and his end to be without honor: how is he numbered among the children of God, and his lot is among the saints!" |
The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
God
Summary of the Old Testament Revelation of Deity:
God is revealed in the Old Testament.
(1) through His names, as follows:
English Form Hebrew Equivalent Primary God LORD Lord El, Elah, or Elohim (Gen 1:1) note) Jehovah (Gen 2:4); note) Adon or Adonai (Gen 15:2); note) Compound (with El = God) Almighty God Most High, or most high God everlasting God El Shaddai (Gen 17:1); note) El Elyon (Gen 14:18); note) El Olam (Gen 21:33); note) Compound (with Jehovah = Lord) LORD God Lord GOD LORD of hosts Jehovah Elohim (Gen 2:4); note Adonai Jehovah (Gen 15:2); note) Jehovah Sabaoth (Sa1 1:3); note)
(See Scofield) - (Gen 1:1).
(See Scofield) - (Gen 2:4).
(See Scofield) - (Gen 15:2).
(See Scofield) - (Gen 17:1).
(See Scofield) - (Gen 14:18).
(See Scofield) - (Gen 21:33).
(See Scofield) - (Gen 2:4).
(See Scofield) - (Gen 15:2).
(See Scofield) - (Sa1 1:3).
The trinity is suggested by the three times repeated groups of threes. This is not an arbitrary arrangement, but inheres in the Old Testament itself.
This revelation of God by His name is invariably made in connection with some particular need of His people, and there can be no need of man to which these names do not answer as showing that man's true resource is in God. Even human failure and sin but evoke new and fuller revelations of the divine fulness.
(2) The Old Testament Scriptures reveal the existence of a Supreme Being, the Creator of the universe and of man, the Source of all life and of all intelligence, who is to be worshipped and served by men and angels. This Supreme Being is One, but, in some sense not fully revealed in the Old Testament, is a unity in plurality. This is shown by the plural name, Elohim, by the use of the plural pronoun in the interrelation of deity as evidenced in (Gen 1:26); (Gen 3:22); (Psa 110:1); (Isa 6:8). That this plurality is really a Trinity is intimated in the three primary names of Deity, and in the threefold ascription of the Seraphim in (Isa 6:3) That the interrelation of Deity is that of Father and Son is directly asserted; (Psa 2:7); (Heb 1:5) and the Spirit is distinctly recognized in His personality, and to Him are ascribed all the divine attributes (for example; (Gen 1:2); (Num 11:25); (Num 24:2); (Jdg 3:10); (Jdg 6:34); (Jdg 11:29); (Jdg 13:25); (Jdg 14:6); (Jdg 14:19); (Jdg 15:14); (Sa2 23:2); (Job 26:13); (Job 33:4); (Psa 106:33); (Psa 139:7); (Isa 40:7); (Isa 59:19); (Isa 63:10).
(See Scofield) - (Mal 2:15).
(3) The future incarnation is intimated in the theophanies, or appearances of God in human form (for example (Gen 18:1); (Gen 18:13); (Gen 18:17-22); (Gen 32:24-30) and distinctly predicted in the promises connected with redemption (for example (Gen 3:15) and with the Davidic Covenant (Isa 7:13); (Isa 9:6-7); (Jer 23:5-6).
The revelation of Deity in the New Testament so illuminates that of the Old Testament that the latter is seen to be, from Genesis to Malachi, the foreshadowing of the coming incarnation of God in Jesus the Christ. In promise, covenant, type, and prophecy the Old Testament points forward to Him.
(4) The revelation of God to man is one of authority and redemption. He requires righteousness from man, but saves the unrighteous through sacrifice; and in His redemptive dealings with man all the divine persons and attributes are brought into manifestation. The Old Testament reveals the justice of God equally with His mercy, but never in opposition to His mercy. The flood, for example, was an unspeakable mercy to unborn generations. From Genesis to Malachi He is revealed as the seeking God who has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, and who heaps up before the sinner every possible motive to persuade to faith and obedience.
(5) In the experience of the Old Testament men of faith their God inspires reverence but never slavish fear; and they exhaust the resources of language to express their love and adoration in view of His loving-kindness and tender mercy. This adoring love of His saints is the triumphant answer to those who pretend to find the Old Testament revelation of God cruel and repellent. It is in harmony, not contrast, with the New Testament revelation of God in Christ.
(6) Those passages which attribute to God bodily parts and human emotions (for example (Exo 33:11); (Exo 33:20); (Deu 29:20); (Ch2 16:9); (Gen 6:6); (Gen 6:7); (Jer 15:6) are metaphorical and mean that in the infinite being of God exists that which answers to these things -- eyes, a hand, feet, etc.; and the jealousy and anger attributed to Him are the emotions of perfect Love in view of the havoc of sin.
(7) In the Old Testament revelation there is a true sense in which, wholly apart from sin or infirmity, God is like His creature man (Gen 1:27) and the supreme and perfect revelation of God, toward which the Old Testament points, is a revelation in and through a perfect Man. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
Ye - Ye contemners of God and religion, return to your reason, forced by the convincing power of God's judgments. Discern - Clearly see the happiness of the righteous, and your own misery, who perish in your wickedness. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Then shall ye return - To your senses, when perhaps too late; and discern - see the difference which God makes, between the righteous and the wicked, which will be most marked and awful.
Between him that serveth God - Your obedience to whom, ye said, would be unprofitable to you.
And hits that serveth him not - Of whom ye said, his disobedience would be no prejudice to him. You will find the former received into the kingdom of glory; and the latter, with yourselves, thrust down into the bitter pains of an eternal death. Reader, ponder these things.
In the great day of the Lord, at least, if not long before, it will be fully discovered who have been the truly wise people; those who took up their cross and followed Christ; or those who satisfied the flesh, with its affections and desires, following a multitude to do evil. |
11 So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.
15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
6 Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting.
7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
20 The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.
20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.
5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.
13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
1 And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
10 But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
33 Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
13 By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.
2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.
14 And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.
19 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house.
6 And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.
25 And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.
29 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.
34 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.
10 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.
2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.
25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
1 A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.