Today’s passage is Malachi 3:13-18. The Lord objects that his people have spoken harshly to him, complaining that it’s useless to serve him because he lets the wicked and proud get away with their sins and live wealthy lives. But those who feared and honored him wrote a book of their names to the Lord. He said he would remember them and spare them.
Why do those who honor God need to write a book of remembrance?
Why doesn’t God punish the wicked in our lifetime?
“Meditate on his name”(16).
The Book of Malachi has an interesting technique of God making a statement of complaint followed by the people asking him what he means and then given an answer.
It personalizes God in the same way that Job does.
God has a big complaint against his people for not honoring him.
Most of the people have a big complaint against God for not taking care of things the way they think they should be, and they’re resentful that God makes demands on them without being nice to them while letting the wicked get away with everything.
God makes threats and promises in the midst of continual demands to his people to return to him. In today’s passage I noticed something different.
The believers actually make a record of their obedience and honoring as a reminder to God of who they are. In the King James version, that honoring is called meditating on his name.
This made me think about my QT.
Every day I meditate on God’s name, although on some days it’s so brief that I can’t honestly say I’ve truly mediated, like yesterday.
On most days I write my meditation.
In a way, I’m making a book of remembrance to God.
I’m saying, “Here I am, a sinner, trying to meet you through your word. Please have mercy.” I think that’s what the people in verse 16 are saying too. “Here I am, Lord, please don’t squash me.”
Sometimes I think my QTs are God’s book to me that I need to read.
Although I write them, it’s really God writing them to me and for me, drawing my attention to my sins and making me see myself more objectively, reinforcing his holy standards of judgment.
Doing QT is a way of participating in God’s refining me. It’s a holy reminder of who God is and who I am as his creature, redeemed by his Son.
Application: share my QT with my daughter.
Lord, let your word write your love and your mercy ever more deeply in me so that I may honor you more truly.
