Christian converse.
"Then," etc. When? When ungodliness was rampant (Malachi 3:13-15). As an excess of carbonic acid in the air makes the lamps in a mine burn dimly, so the atmosphere of prevailing ungodliness makes it hard to maintain a brightly burning piety. Christian converse is one means of sustaining a bright and vigorous godliness "in this present evil world," especially when the evil is more than usually "present" and pressing upon us.
I. THE SERVANTS OF GOD CONVERSING. The description of them, "They that feared the Lord," reminds us of the godly jealousy they cherished for the honour of God, like Noah, Nehemiah, and other servants of God in a corrupt age. Such fear is a source of purity (Psalms 19:9; Proverbs 14:27), and a safeguard in the most ungodly days (Isaiah 8:13, Isaiah 8:14). Fearing God, they think much on his Name so deeply dishonoured in their midst; and they do so because (as the term implies) "they highly esteemed his Name." They feel the danger of spiritual contagion and disease (Matthew 24:12). Lest their love should cool or their faith should fail, they conversed one with another. While the ungodly were uttering "stout" words against God (verse 13), they were speaking warm words on his behalf. Learn:
1. Charting circumstances may call for new means of grace. E.g. the meetings of the sons of the prophets and traces of public religious services (2 Kings 4:23) in the dark days of Elijah and Elisha. The institution of synagogue worship in the Captivity. The secret services of the catacombs. The gatherings in woods or on moors of Covenanters, Nonconformists, and the martyr Church of Madagascar. "The word of the Lord was precious in those days,"
2. Private Christian communion may do much to supplement or to supply more public means of grace. From public Church fellowship the godly could gain little in the days of Malachi. There was neither purity nor unity (Malachi 2:10, Malachi 2:11). In such circumstances all the more need for godly converse. "When the fire bums low, the coals that are alive should be brought together, that they may be blown into a flame." Illust.: Jonathan and David (1 Samuel 23:16-18); Jeremiah and Baruch (Jeremiah 45:1-5); Paul in prison and his friends "which have been a comfort unto me" (Colossians 4:11; cf. Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:24, Hebrews 10:25). Such. converse is enjoined in the family (Deuteronomy 6:6-8) and among believers (Ephesians 5:19). But to be a means of grace, it needs to be natural and spontaneous.
"But conversation, choose what theme we may,
And chiefly when religion leads the way,
Should flow, like water after summer showers,
Not as if raised by mere mechanic powers."
The spirit of it may be seen in Psalms 34:1-3, Psalms 34:11; Psalms 66:16.
II. GOD LISTENING AND APPROVING.
1. "The Lord hearkened, and heard." It is a solemn truth that God listens to everything we say (Numbers 12:2; Jeremiah 8:6; Psalms 139:4). Here this truth wears a cheerful face. As illustrations: Two Christians encouraging one another in God; Christ in their midst (Matthew 18:20; Luke 24:13-31). A Christian man on a lonely walk, courteously conversing with a stranger, and seeking to commend Christ to him. The stranger may go away to pray or to scoff. But that is not all. God hearkened and heard and noted the good deed done in his name. God listens with pleasure to all we say for him as well as to him.
2. "And a book of remembrance," etc. Older than the chronicles of the kings of Persia (Esther 6:1) or of Israel is the book of remembrance of the Divine King (Psalms 56:8). "Never was any good word spoken of God or for God from an honest heart, but it was registered, that it might be recompensed in the resurrection of the just, and in no wise lose its reward." That reward is referred to in Psalms 66:17.
LESSON. (Colossians 4:6.) Supposing a Christian's talk for one day were taken down verbatim, what proportion of it could be entered in God's book of remembrance as "good to the use of edifying" (Ephesians 4:29), and of any service in the great day of account (Matthew 12:37)?