Speak Often One to Another
Malachi 3:16
Then they that feared the Lord spake often to one another: and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
As I study my way through Malachi, I keep coming across these cool tidbits that I can’t help but extrapolate. Today, I was struck by a little phrase in Malachi 3:16. Malachi says that those who feared God spake often one to another.
This action of discussion with each other is a defining characteristic of the Jews who obeyed God during a time of open and public disobedience committed by not only the everyday people of Jerusalem, but even the religious leadership (i.e. the priests). Through Malachi, God accused the priests of offering polluted sacrifices, pocketing tithes, and allowing/participating in divorce and marriage to heathen women. Despite this widespread sin, there were those who remained faithful. Much like the 7,000 who refused to bend the knee to Baal when Elijah thought he was the only righteous Israelite left (1 Kings 19:18), there were those in Jerusalem who obeyed God.
God could have just said that there were those who feared the Lord. That would have told us that there were righteous who obeyed despite the evil in their society. However, God included this detail that they spake often one to another. Why?Well, there is not vain word in the Word of God, so it must be important.
These men and women didn’t just think that what the priests were doing was wrong and then go about their daily lives.They spoke the truth with each other. This act would serve to teach, encourage, and embolden one another,
When was the last time that you spake one to another with people in your life about the Word of God? Have you discussed the Word of God with your spouse, friends, or family? Does it feel awkward to you to do that? Is your church too afraid to discuss current events from the pulpit in order to preach a truth?
One of my favorite parts of my relationship with my husband is that we openly discuss Biblical topics with each other. We do this just about daily. There is no awkwardness to it, because we do it all the time. These times of Biblical discussion serve to teach, encourage, and embolden each other. It keeps us both stronger in the faith.
Our culture tells us that we shouldn’t talk about religion or that the preacher should leave politics out of the sermon. Well, that is a device of Satan. These Jews that feared God were marked by the fact that they talked about the Law and their society’s current condition.
The Bible speaks about this same topic elsewhere.
Take heed brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart ofunbelief, in departing from the living God.
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened throught he deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 3:12-13
The writer of Hebrews acknowledged the importance of DAILY exhortation between believers to keep each other faithful.Without it, there is a chance that sin can deceive a believer away from the church.
In Deuteronomy 6:6-12, God commands the people of Israel to continually teach the law to their children. They are to do this during everyday tasks. Why? So, that they do not forget what God had done for them.
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
And though shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the wya, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
And shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
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Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
Deuteronomy 6:6-12
In Isaiah 62, God is describing the future restoration of Jerusalem. It is a beautiful picture of the church and the new covenant. Because of these promises that God has issued, He tells us to keep watch and to “keep not silence.” In other words, we are to pray and talk about the promises that God has for us. Why? To continually remember God’s Words. We are to be ACTIVELY waiting for Christ’s return and restoration of the world. And, how are we to occupy our time? “Keep not silence!”
I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence.
And give him no rest, until he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
Isaiah 62:6-7
Is your daily speech including the Word of God? Are you exhorting your friends and family in the faith often? This is something that those who fear the Lord are characterized by. It may feel awkward at first, but bring up Jesus or an interesting Bible passage. Take a current event and analyze it with the Word of God. As Christians, this should feel natural.
And remember, my friends, let’s speak often one to another!