The Day God Eavesdropped
Mal 3:13-18
13 "You have said harsh things against me," says the LORD. "Yet you ask, ’What have we said against you?’
14 "You have said, ’It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty?
15 But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.’"
16 Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name.
17 "They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him.
18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.
AT THE TIME OF THE WRITING OF MALACHI, the nation of Israel had strayed far from God. Those were dark days indeed. Sin abounded. Unbelief prevailed. The majority of people went their own way, giving little thought to the will of God or the ways of God. They laughed at the prophets and showed utter contempt for the law of God.
Does all of this sound strikingly familiar?
But even in the midst of all this darkness, God had a remnant! He always does. He had a people who revered His name and sought to do His will. And as they saw the spiritual darkness of their day, they drew closer together for mutual support and encouragement. There were not many of them, but they were committed to remaining faithful to God, no matter what. They would meet in a secret place to encourage and cheer each other and find fellowship with one another—forerunners of the underground church.
WHAT SPECFICALLY WENT ON IN THOSE MEETINGS?
1. They TALKED about the Lord.
2. They THOUGHT about the Lord.
3. They SANG about the Lord.
Everything they said and did was built around the person of God. In verse 16 Malachi tells us how God reacted to all of this.
1. He GAVE ATTENTION to what was going on.
2. He LISTENED very carefully.
3. He EAVESDROPPED!
4. He STRAINED TO HEAR their conversation—like that of a parent listening to the noises of a new-born baby in the night.
5. He SHUSHED THE ANGELS that He might hear. He told David to stop playing his harp for a moment.
Have you ever eavesdropped on anyone—listening very carefully to hear what was being said? Sure you have! I remember listening to my parents discuss Christmas gifts as a little boy—straining to hear their conversation—through the register in my sister’s room.
In that darkened day, when a spiritual awakening was so needed, thanks be to God, a few people thought about God’s name. They talked about Him, revered Him, loved Him and met to discuss His wonderful ways. And as they did, God eavesdropped. He tuned in to their frequency. He strained to hear their remarks. It was like music to His ears.
Malachi tells us in verse 16 that the Lord enjoyed it so much that He had it written down in a book! That’s what the Lord does. He listens to our conversations, our prayers, our testimonies—and if they’re all about Him, He calls on an angel to take notes—to have a permanent record. And He delighted Himself with it. He writes down what was said and who said it!
The ears of God strained to hear what the remnant were saying. Kings were making edicts, but God was listening to His people. Generals were giving orders, but God was listening to a handful of folks praising Him. Judges were speaking in court, but God was listening to His remnant. Politicians were making speeches, but God was not listening to them; His ears were tuned to His faithful followers.
In verse 17, God is saying, “In that day when I make up my jewels, I’m going to remember that crowd and spare them.” The word jewel is the Hebrew word, “segula” and means “God’s very own special possession or treasure.”
Are you one of God’s segula? Is He paying special attention to what you say because your life is bound up in His? This is far more than just being saved—just being a Christian. There are Christians and then there are consecrated Christians whose sole aim in life is to do the will of God.
How does one become a part of God’s very own special treasure? Let’s look a little more carefully at this remnant.
1. They Remained True to God
It wasn’t easy to stay faithful to God. The days were dark. Corruption was everywhere. Hypocrisy abounded. Evil ruled the day. The same could be said of today. Its never been easy to follow God’s ways. But God always has a remnant.
This remnant said, “Let the world curse God; we will praise His name.” They stood for righteousness in a wicked nation. They worshipped regularly. They endured the ridicule of family and friends. And God looked down on this group of faithful ones and smiled. He said, “They are going to be My special possession.”
Illus: “The Faithful Professor”
In 1947, a professor at the University of Chicago was scheduled to teach an advanced seminar in astrophysics. At the time he was living in Wisconsin, doing research. He planned to commute twice a week for the class, even though it would be held during the harsh winter months. Registration for the seminar, however, fell far below expectations. Only two students signed up for the class. People expected the professor to cancel, lest he waste his time. But for the sake of two students, he taught the class, commuting 100 miles round trip through back country roads in the dead of winter. His students did their homework. Ten years later, in 1957, they both won the Nobel prize for physics. So did the professor in 1983.
Illus.: “The General Took His Stand”
Fredrick the Great of Germany, was a scoffer, but his great general, Von Zealand, was a devout Christian. One day at a gathering, the king was making coarse jokes about Jesus and the whole place was ringing with laughter. Von Zealand arose stiffly and said, “Your majesty, you know I have not feared death. I have fought and won 38 battles for you. I am an old man now. Soon I will go to be with the One who saved me from my sin—the very One you are blaspheming against.” With trembling voice, King Fredrick replied, “General Von Zealand, I beg your pardon, I beg your pardon! And the gathering quickly dispersed quietly.
You can be a Christian and not take a stand for God at work or school, but you won’t be a part of God’s special treasure.
You can be a Christian and neglect the Bible and prayer and witnessing and church, but you won’t be a part of God’s special possession because you won’t be talking about Him and He won’t be eavesdropping on you. God’s segula remains faithful in every situation.
Not only was this remnant faithful, but…
2. They Esteemed His Name
See it there in the latter part of verse 16?
They were in awe of the Lord
They considered His majesty
They honored Him by their words and lives
They remembered the mighty acts of God
They believed what the prophets had said and wrote about Him.
The psalmist said, “Blessed is the man that does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit at the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1).
There is so much disregard for the majesty of God today—even among Christians—even in church, We whisper and talk and pass notes during prayer and preaching. We don’t say grace at meals.
In an address in Dallas, Texas, the beloved Corrie Ten Boom, author of The Hiding Place, said that many times people would approach her and say, “Corrie, what a great faith you have.” She smiled when she told how she replies back to them. “No, it’s what a great God I have.”
3. They Spoke About God to One Another
When these folks got together in their meetings, they didn’t spend time:
Gossiping
Criticizing
Talking about their problems
Talking about the weather or sports or current events
They could have, but they chose not to. The times were too dark, so they talked about the Lord. They testified about God’s blessings and presence. They spoke of answers to prayer.
Have you ever noticed that anyone who is in love will talk about that person or thing? The fellow who loves football will gravitate to those who share his passion for the game and talk about it constantly. The same could be said about politics, camping, or any number of other loves.
God’s special treasure, His segula, are those who love to get together to share the things of God.
The world is waiting to see if Christianity means anything to us. Is it real? Is it different? The average believer is concerned only about getting to heaven—the bare minimum. Why don’t they care as much about glorifying His name—about producing fruit for His glory?
Here’s a fellow who gets married. He makes plans for a honeymoon. He buys just one ticket, gives it to the gal and says, “Take off and have a good time.” She says, “But aren’t you going?” He says, “Must I do that to be married?” She says, “Well, no, but I was expecting you to go along.” And he answered, “Look, we got married, didn’t we? I just don’t want to be fanatical about this!” “Well,” she replies, “I just don’t think its fanatical for me to ask you to go with me on the honeymoon.” He says, “But I’ve already seen Niagara Falls. You go to the Falls. And I’ll go to San Francisco.” And she says, “Look, people who are in love and get married ought to go places together! That’s the whole purpose for getting married.”
The analogy may be poor but the message is obvious—those who commit their lives to Christ (are called the Bride of Christ) ought to go places TOGETHER!
CONCLUSION
God looked down in Malachi’s day and saw darkness. There was an idol on every corner. Heathenism covered the land. I think the Lord said,
I didn’t make them for that. I made them to love
Me. I made them to fellowship with Me.
This was a sad day for God. No one seemed to care much about knowing Him or talking to Him or about Him. In the wickedness of that day, suddenly the Lord heard a sound. He bent a little closer and heard the words, “I love the Lord.” His ears turned in that direction. He looked down and saw a little group of people gathered in church. They were talking about Him—in public and private conversations.
The Lord listens for a few moments. Then He says, “They’re talking about Me. They love Me. They’re thinking about Me. Their lives are bound up in Me. I’m going to have them as my jewels—My special possession.”
And all the creatures of heaven applaud and sing for joy!
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