KINDNESS AS THE WORLD WAY OF THINKING

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The Fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT

Podcast Episode: The Fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT – KINDNESS #1

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, AND SELF-CONTROL. There is no law against these things.” [Galatians 5:22-23 NLT]

We need to understand that love is the first characteristic of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is well placed at the head of the list, for it permeates all the rest of the attributes. Somehow, if we live a life of love, the other virtues will attend us all the days of our lives. Love is the key that unlocks the entire fruit basket of Galatians 5:22-23, as well as permeating 1 Corinthians 13.

A Call to Repentance and Seek the Lord

In Amos 5:11-13 NLT says, “11 You trample the poor, stealing their grain through taxes and unfair rent. Therefore, though you build beautiful stone houses, you will never live in them. Though you plant lush vineyards, you will never drink wine from them. 12 For I know the vast number of your sins and the depth of your rebellions. You oppress good people by taking bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts. 13 So those who are smart keep their mouths shut, for it is an evil time.”

Amos’s closing sermon called the nation to repentance and restated the outcome of the nation’s moral and religious apostasy. The emphasis was a call to seek the Lord {Amos 5:4, 6, 14). The past tense (“Fallen,” Amos 5:2) indicates that the fall of Israel was so certain that it could be viewed as already having taken place. In Amos 5:4-17 Amos called the people to repentance with the words “seek God and live” (Amos 5:4, 6, 14). Speaking out against injustice may not have been in his best interests, but Amos considered it necessary (Amos 5:13).

Rich landowners often leased their land to poor farmers for a share of the crop. The rich landowners may have been demanding more wheat than was fair from their sharecroppers (Wolff). Or perhaps the rich were exploiting the poor by other unfair business practices to increase their own wealth (cf. Amos 8:5, 6). However, they would never enjoy the wealth they were accumulating. built houses . . . not dwell in them . . . vineyards . . . not drink wine of them – Moses had told them of such curses many years before (Deuteronomy 28:30, 39).

Since God by His very nature hates bribery and injustice (Deuteronomy 10:17), He expects the same from officials who are chosen to uphold the law. turn aside the poor in the gate – They refuse justice to the poor (Isaiah 29:21).

Due to the corruption, the prudent will not bring his case before the justices, fearing an even greater injustice will result (McComiskey). Ultimately, the wise would realize that the days were evil (Ephesians 5:16), and would wait for God’s deliverance in silence and submission (Psalm 39:3).

Amos tells us the story of kindness by showing us what unkindness is. Listen to the brutality of the unkind. The unkind in Amos’ day built stone mansions, elaborately landscaped with lush vineyards. Yet, they continued to take from the poor. The problem with wealth is that sometimes the wealthy suppose that everyone else’s lifestyles are just like theirs. Nothing keeps people from feeling the hurt of the hurting like the magnification of their own comfort. I think about North Korea and you can Google it or Bing it and you’ll see.

Despite our own comfortable existence, we can become overwhelmed with the needs of the world. We wonder how one person can make any difference. We find we have little time to spare for the poor on the other side of the world, let alone those on the street corners of our cities. Kindness is our willingness to care about others who may not have our standard of living and may even live one comfortable ocean-moat away from our luxurious lifestyles. But the bottom line is that God expects our compassion. God desires our kindness to spread His healing to others. Amen!

A Call to Love and Obedience

In Deuteronomy 10:14-19 NLT says, “14 “Look, the highest heavens and the earth and everything in it all belong to the Lord your God. 15 Yet the Lord chose your ancestors as the objects of His love. And He chose you, their descendants, above all other nations, as is evident today. 16 Therefore, change your hearts and stop being stubborn. 17 “For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed. 18 He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. 19 So you, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.

Citizens of God’s kingdom model the attributes of God and help others. Citizens of the kingdom bring in new citizens through their kind acts.

We must be careful as we read the Pentateuch (Torah – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) that we do not see merely the “legal” side of God. Here in this passage, the Lord doesn’t say, “Thou shalt not,” but instead says, “Go to it.” Here, instead of simply telling Israel what they must avoid doing to keep from sinning, God deals with the more subtle kinds of sin – the sins of omission. To fail to defend the cause of the orphan or unborn child is sin. So is the failure to protect widows. So is the failure to help the foreigner who suffers from severe loneliness in a strange and engulfing culture.

Once when I was traveling in Japan, stationed there of my tour of duty in the US Marine Corps, my friends were attacked by thieves. They remember the ordeal of having to go to court and listen to the proceedings being carried out in Nippongo, a language they could not understand. I wish somebody like my wife Christie is with him or her because she can understand and speak that language. We knew the pain of being strangers in a strange land. They felt the odd sensation of being central in a court scene without the slightest ability to defend them. Praise God they met some Japanese Christians and helped them out. Christians are to look around and seek those who are lost and alone, those who are unable to defend or protect themselves. Once we find these people, we need to know that God has given us the green light; our purpose is to minister to those who are in need of a little kindness. If we are God’s children, we are to act like it. We are to look to God’s kindness to us and then spread that kindness to others. God’s purpose for our lives is that we model our actions and attitudes after His care for those who are in need. Amen!

Our Lord Jesus Christ Weeps Over Jerusalem

In Luke 19:41-44 NLT says, “41 But as they came closer to Jerusalem and Jesus saw the city ahead, He began to weep. 42 “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. 43 Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. 44 They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not accept your opportunity for salvation.”

Only Luke recorded this lament by our Lord Jesus Christ. In contrast to the great joy of the crowd, the man on the donkey began to cry at the sight of the city. The name of the city has “peace” as part of its meaning (Hebrews 7:2), but the people of the city did not know what would bring them peace. The “city of peace” was blind to the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). If the people had known what was truly happening and had recognized it for what it was, they could have found peace. But the Jewish leaders had rejected their Messiah (Luke 19:39, 47); they had refused God’s offer of salvation in Jesus Christ when they were visited by God Himself. Now the truth would be hidden, and soon their nation would suffer.

About forty years after our Lord Jesus Christ said these words, they came true. In A.D. 66, the Jews revolted against Roman control. Three years later Titus, son of the Emperor Vespasian, was sent to crush the rebellion. Six hundred thousand Jews were killed during Titus’s onslaught. This would occur as judgment because though some of the people believed (such as the disciples and other faithful followers), most had rejected the opportunity God offered them. But God did not turn away from the Jewish people who obeyed Him. He continues to offer salvation to both Jews and Gentiles. Hallelujah!

Our Lord Jesus Christ weeps over Jerusalem with a gentle heart. And what do His tears prompt? They lead to an entry into Jerusalem the following day with Jesus’ heart set on saving all who would call on Him. Surely, kindness and empathy will heighten our own relationship with Jesus Christ. It could be that kind people cry more easily than the unconcerned. Our Lord Jesus Christ weeps not because He feels sorry for the people of Jerusalem but because He sympathizes with their empty humanity.

Jesus Christ weeping! Our Lord Jesus Christ wept over the citadel or fortress, and the stronghold never knew. Tears are the ensigns of kindness. We see some pitiable or disgraceful situation, and we cry. Those who receive our kindness rarely suspect our tears, but they rejoice at our kindness.            

It has long haunted, worried, disturbed or troubled us that, years before we were saved, our Lord Jesus Christ wept over our condition until at last we came to Him. Those in Jerusalem who never suspected the weeping Jesus Christ are little different from us.

The truth is that God daily grieves or laments the fate of all who are lost. He cries or mourns over all who are self-serving, who never suspect that there are any larger reasons for which they were given life. When we become aware of the needs of those around us, we become like our Lord Jesus Christ in our desire to help others. We who are possessed of such kindness become followers of grace.

We move into the world serving a wonderful – and sometimes desperate – agenda: “What can I do to serve Jesus Christ? What can I do to make the world a better place? What can I do for all of those I see in need? We don’t actually do for the sake of others; we do as unto our Lord Jesus Christ.

In random acts of kindness, our Lord Jesus Christ gave to the needy for no other reason than that they were children of God. They went home healed. Kindness – instantaneous and unstoppable – heals our world. Amen!

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

In 2 Samuel 9:1-13 NLT says, “1 One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive – anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked. “Yes sir, I am,” Ziba replied. 3 The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.” Ziba replied, “Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.”
4 “Where is he?” the king asked. “In Lo-debar,” Ziba told him, “at the home of Makir son of Ammiel.” 5 So, David sent for him and brought him from Makir’s home. 6 His name was Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low to the ground in deep respect. David said, “Greetings, Mephibosheth.” Mephibosheth replied, “I am your servant.” 7 “Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!” 8 Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?” 9 Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him to produce food for your master’s household. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will eat here at my table.” (Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.) Ziba replied, 11 “Yes, my lord the king; I am your servant, and I will do all that you have commanded.” And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly at David’s table, like one of the king’s own sons. 12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. From then on, all the members of Ziba’s household were Mephibosheth’s servants. 13 And Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet, lived in Jerusalem and ate regularly at the king’s table.”

David said, “Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul?” The Hebrew family encompassed more people than does our modern society’s. Clustered around the father figure were wives, sons, daughters, younger brothers, unmarried sisters, grandparents, grandchildren, and perhaps other dependent relatives. A family was a small community. Second Samuel 21:1-4 names individuals as living who were clearly part of Saul’s “family” or “house” (KJV, RSV). This leads many scholars to hold that 2 Samuel 9 originally followed after that passage (McCarter).

Kindness, very closely equated with loyalty and akin to love, was held in highest regard throughout the OT. Aspects of kindness are constantly praised: e.g., the loyalty of a friend for a friend (cf. Proverbs 14:21; 28:8). But David was under a far greater obligation to Jonathan, which was extended to Jonathan’s descendants, because of the covenant he and Jonathan had made (1 Samuel 20:14-17; Ackroyd). Such a covenant had a sacred aspect in which the loyalty of devoted love was the decisive quality. Such covenants, not at all rare in the covenant-minded Hebrew society, were two-way: a consistent, unshakable loyalty to it was expected by both parties. The breaking of such a covenant was almost unthinkable.

Ziba was possibly Saul’s steward or estate manager, the one who oversaw the royal lands and stables, and who managed the farmhands and revenues from produce. Ziba’s role becomes clearer at 2 Samuel 9:9 and at 2 Samuel 19:18. Only a high functionary would be able to have fifteen sons and twenty slaves of his own.

Saul clearly left a considerable property in land that he had acquired as king. At this time a king who acquired lands by virtue of his office did not pass them on to his sons through laws of inheritance; they passed on intact to his successor, whoever he might be. This was true even of his harem, servants, and bodyguard (cf. 2 Samuel 12:8), and explains how David is able to “give” them to Mephibosheth, later withdraw them from him (2 Samuel 16:4), and then divide them between Mephibosheth and Ziba (2 Samuel 19:30).

When we are blessed by God and experience His mercies, we want to share His kindness with others. David wanted to show God’s kindness to another. He had been the recipient of God’s kindness Himself, and so he shared that mercy with one seemingly cursed by God. As we show kindness to others, we share God with them and take away their sorrows.

Kindness is the great virtue of the Christian life. Kindness is usually so automatic, so basic to our nature as Christians, that those who are kindest among us do not suspect themselves as kind. Watch those who regularly open doors for the elderly – they smile once the act is completed and hurry about their simple deed. Kindness is so Christ-like that it never stops to celebrate itself. Bellhops, flight attendants and others represent the sort of kindness, which is paid for, and professional. But all of us like those people best whom, having not been paid for behaving like a human being, behave like human beings just for the joy of it. That sort of kindness is Christ-like. It changes the world. Amen!

Teaching About Anger

In Matthew 5:21-26 NLT says, “21 “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ 22 But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. 23 “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. 25 “When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.“

“You have heard that the law of Moses says, ’Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ “Our Lord Jesus Christ was quoting from the Ten Commandments, called the law of Moses. The Pharisees were teaching that the command against murder, found in Exodus 20:13, referred just to taking another person’s life. Murderers were subject to judgment (i.e., execution; see Exodus 21:12; Leviticus 24:17) through certain legal proceedings, also described in the law.

“But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment!” Our Lord Jesus Christ taught that His followers should not even become angry enough to murder, for then they would already have committed murder in their heart.

“Anger,” here, refers to a seething, brooding bitterness that always threatens to leap out of control, leading to violence, emotional hurt, increased mental stress, spiritual damage, and, yes, even murder. Anger keeps us from developing a spirit pleasing to God. Our Lord Jesus Christ added, “If you say to your friend, ’You idiot,’ you are in danger of being brought before the court.” To stoop to insulting or calling a fellow believer a derogatory name makes one liable to prosecution. Angry words and name-calling reveal a heart far from God. “And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.”

In the Bible, three words are used in connection with eternal punishment: (1) Sheol, or “the grave,” is used in the Old Testament to mean the place of the dead, generally thought to be under the earth. (See Job 24:19; Psalm 16:10; Isaiah 38:10.) (2) Hades is the Greek word for the underworld, the realm of the dead. It is the word used in the New Testament for Sheol. (See Matthew 16:18; Revelation 1:18; 20:13-14.) (3) Gehenna, or hell, was named after the Valley of Hinnom near Jerusalem where children had been sacrificed by fire to the pagan gods. (See 2 Kings 23:10; 2 Chronicles 28:3.)

“So, if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” At certain times of the year, Jews brought sacrifices to be offered at the altar in the Temple in Jerusalem. The Jews brought their gifts as a matter of course, as part of keeping God’s law.

But our Lord Jesus Christ explained that those who come into God’s presence to worship must come with pure hearts, not hindered by broken relationships that they had the power to mend. Our Lord Jesus Christ explained that if the worshiper remembered someone’s anger against him or her, that person should leave the gift and go immediately to be reconciled to the offended brother or sister. Then he/she should come back to worship and offer his or her gift.

Worship is only valuable when it comes from real, warm human beings. Harsh worshipers never really see God for they have never seen their partnership in the human race. Our Lord Jesus Christ here teaches that it is a flawed idea that we can love God and remain indifferent to others.

 Our Lord Jesus Christ counseled all quarrelsome worshippers to be reconciled before they came to worship: “Leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother.” Sometimes people come to church and hope to present God a heart of loving admiration while they try to inflate their own personal reputations at the same time.

The church historically has been guilty of what James calls “fights and quarrels” (James 4:1). In our church and/or fellowship, when strangers come to worship, do they find members who extend kindness to each other and to the visitor in their midst? Or would visitors be far more likely to find the church embroiled in a cutting, hateful quarrel that would for the most part prevent members from even seeing the stranger?

Grudges and harsh viewpoints not only keep us from seeing the stranger in our midst; they keep us from seeing God. John put it this way, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.” (1 John 4:20).

From what John says, many angry worshippers may come and go to church and never see God at all. Kind people, on the other hand, enter worship with no human biases against others. Loving all others is the first step of giving uncontaminated love to God.  From the high, thin air of exalted worship, these who love can see directly into heaven. Our own kind hearts enable us to see the great God of Isaiah 6. He is for us always high and lifted up. We worship and live in such joy that we never see any contradiction between our own kind nature and the high level of adoration we offer to God. Indeed, there is no contradiction. Amen!

I am glad to join my loved ones in attending “The Fellowship Church at the City of Round Rock, Texas. We entered the fellowship and praise and worship God with no human biases against others. The message is “Holy Habit”. Hallelujah!

This concludes today’s message of this 1st Series of Podcast about > KINDNESS

Now, let’s talk about “Prayer and “Salvation”.

Prayer is the key that unlocks and reveals faith. Effective prayer needs both an attitude of complete dependence and the action of asking. Prayer demonstrates complete reliance on God. Thus, there is no substitute for prayer, especially in situations that seem impossible.

So, let our hearts and minds in tune with God, in the power of God, the Holy Spirit. Let’s continuously and persistently pray for God’s perfect will be done. We as Born-Again Christians have been tried and cleansed, we have moved freely into a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ that is more powerful than it was before our trials. We are at home in the presence and fellowship of God, for we are heirs with our Lord Jesus Christ, more like Him that we could ever have dreamed possible. So, let’s continuously and persistently pray for God’s perfect will be done. Amen!

The principle is that no one has anything of value to bring to God in order to deserve salvation, mercy, justification, or even a second glance from God. The proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored. Acceptance before God cannot be achieved by good deeds, piety, or any amount of self-proclaimed righteousness.

Let’s never get over the effect of God’s saving transformation on people’s lives. People who were lost in sin, filled with anger and bitterness, give up their hatred and become approachable as we have studied and learned last time. That is, of course, why we minister to others. Those of us who minister are not people to whom (fruit of the Holy Spirit) love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control comes naturally. We are people who have been remodeled by grace. We thankfully leave our old natures far behind as we embrace the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, the first of the list > agape love of God, and in our treatment of others. Amen!

Sunday by Sunday as we come to worship, let me encourage our brothers – and sisters-in-Christ, and I want my readers and listeners to be both strong in the faith and sensitive to others’ needs. Because all, we as Born-Again Christian believers are strong in certain areas and weak in others, we constantly need to monitor the effects of our behavior on others.

In these KINDNESS Series of Podcast, we will learn the following PURPOSES of this fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT:

• Learned and knew the world way of thinking
• To learn always to be kind in time of need
• To get angry without sinning by grace
• Learn to approach by grace
• Learn how to apply always the golden rule

On every Podcast, I always have three (3) questions we can answer from only these two (2) Sources: The Bible and the Guidance of the Holy Spirit. The following are:

First is about our > Observation: What do these passages or Scriptures say to you?

Second is about our own > Interpretation: What do these passages or Scriptures mean to you?

Third is about how we can apply > Application: How do the meaning of these passages or Scriptures apply to you or to your situation?

If you are not sure that you are Born-Again Christian believer or you have relatives, loved ones, friends, neighbors, and people in your circle of influence, please take a look and/or guide them to one of our ministries, “An Invitation To Meet Our Lord Jesus Christ” at https://homefellowshipchurches.org/an-invitation-to-meet-our-lord-jesus-christ/

Let’s give an opportunity for the lost souls to experience on being Born-Again Christian as explained by our Lord Jesus Christ in the book of John 3:13 in the New Testament of the Bible.

It is as simple as A, B, & C > Admit, Believe, & Confess. All Born-Again Christian believers prayed this simple prayer we called “Sinner’s Prayer”

“Father God, I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ. I acknowledge and admit that I am a sinner and I need a Savior. I believe and have faith in Jesus Christ who was born of Virgin Mary, died on the Cross for the penalty of my sins, and rose again that I may have the eternal life. I confess and declare Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and Lord of my life. Please comfort, guide, and help me Holy Spirit to live and grow in my spiritual life according to Your Words, purpose, and perfect will of God, in my Lord Jesus Christ name, Amen!”

If you prayed this, “Sinner’s Prayer” sincerely in your heart, you are Born-Again Christian believer. However, you are a spiritual baby who needs to grow up. (See 1 Peter 2:2). You need to find a church or fellowship to grow spiritually. We are glad to establish or bring the fellowship to your own home if it is safer.

Now, let me pray for all of you:

Father God, we come into your presence in our Lord Jesus Christ name, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ for Your agape love and forgiveness you have done on the Cross of Calvary, and continue to intercede for us in prayer. Thank you, Holy Spirit as our Helper and Comforter. Thank you for the wisdom, knowledge, understanding, courage and strength. We cling, yield, plug-in and tune-in to you Holy Spirit to help us understand God’s Words, obey them, receive Your divine revelation, know the Truth that sets us free, and apply them in our lives, in our Lord Jesus Christ name, Amen!”

Let’s praise and worship God in Spirit and in Truth. Give all thanks to God for all answered prayers.

Please send your > Praise Reports (answered prayers) and New Prayer Requests via email to: trinityblessings@homefellowshipchurches.org. God bless you all and our families!

A Call to Repentance and Be Blessed

In Malachi 3:7-15 AMPC says, “7 Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’ 8 “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. 10 Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it”, says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” [Malachi 2:2.] 11 “And I will rebuke the devourer (insects and plagues) for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruits before the time in the field,” says the Lord of hosts. 12 “And all nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight”, says the Lord of hosts.

If the people would obey God, giving as they should, God would flood His people with blessings. There would be an overabundance of God’s blessing if He was given what He requested.

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse – See 2 Chronicles 31:11; cf. 1 Chronicles 26:20; Nehemiah 10:38; 13:5, 12. If the temple storehouses were empty, it was the people’s fault. God had already blessed them with enough to give a little back to Him.

Instead of destroying our crops (blessings), God would make them come in greater abundance than we had ever imagined possible (Amos 4:9; Haggai 2:19; Zechariah 8:12). The devourer – probably referring to locusts, though the word here is general in meaning (Baldwin). In the Near East, locust swarms are known for their ability to damage huge tracts of agricultural land (see note on Joel 1:4).

A delightsome land – All of the blessings promised to Jacob would come to pass if the people would obey God (Deuteronomy 33:29; Zechariah 8:13). Their land would be a delight to all who saw it (Daniel 8:9).

The problem in Malachi 3:7-12 was the people’s departure from God as reflected by their neglect of tithes and offerings. Two annual tithes were required according to Israelite law – one for the Levites (Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:21), and one to be used in worship at the annual feasts in Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 14:22). A tithe was required every three years to provide for the needs of the poor (Deuteronomy 14:28-29). There is debate as to whether this tithe for the poor was in addition to or served as a substitute for the tithe used in worship.

The New Testament pattern for tithing is proportionate giving – a person is to give “in relation to what you have earned” (1 Corinthians 16:2). Certainly a tithe should be given proportionate to one’s wealth, but not all proportionate giving is a tithe.

The anticipation of blessing for obedience to God’s command to tithe was based on the Mosaic covenant, which promised blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience (Malachi 3:10; cf. Deuteronomy 28:15-68). Generally, God will meet the needs of His own people (Psalm 34:9-10; Philippians 4:19), but that is not an unconditional guarantee. There certainly were and are exceptions. Yet, where God chooses not to provide physically, He gives sufficient grace to go without (2 Corinthians 12:9).

The problem in Malachi 3:14-15 was that the people were guilty of arrogant words against God. They were saying, “There is no prophet who is serving God,” and “God is not concerned about justice.” God responded by showing that He did distinguish between the wicked and the righteous. The righteous would be blessed, and the wicked would be judged.