Once again, welcome to our studies
of the book of Malachi. We're going to look at a few
verses in the book of Malachi chapter 3. If you turn with me
to the book of Malachi chapter 3 tonight, as we continue this
wonderful study of the gospel according to Malachi. Like so
many other books in the Old Testament, we find the ravages of the fall. We find how the fall has affected
every atom of the universe. every thought and the intent
of the heart, how that it has just caused such problems among
the human race and all around us. The disease that took place
in that day and time as it is today, the aging process, the
pain, all of that death, we just notice that. And here in the
book of Malachi, we find even the effects of the fall upon
those who were selected, or chosen, or volunteered, or however it
happened, to be the religious leaders of the people. Even among
Judaism, among those who were supposed to be following God,
we find that the ravages of the fall took their effect upon them.
And those who were not born again, those who did not know anything
about the gospel, and even though put into a position of authority
or put into a position to lead other people, they demonstrate
to us, as we have found in this book, having no thought towards
God, They raise their fist and say, we'll not have this king
rule over us. They're going to go their own
way. They make promises that cannot be kept. They blame God
or give God a bad eye in front of all the people. And so it
is today. And yet we find every once in
a while throughout all these books from the very beginning
to here and through the rest of the Bible, even though the
fall is mentioned with such dramatic terms and illustrations, we have
the Lord God of heaven share with us some blessed passages
of scripture that he will save his people from their sins. And we come to that verse of
scripture or one like it here in the book of Malachi. And in
the book of Malachi chapter three, it tells us in verse 16, then
they that feared the Lord spake often one to 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. So there's going to be some out
of the host that were going to do these things to give credence,
to give an illustration of the work of God in their heart. And
then we come down to verse 17 and we find the reason for all
of this. It isn't just because they were
good people. It wasn't because they were different
than everyone else. It was because God got involved
in their lives. And He intended to do this from
before the foundation of the world. He intended to do it in
eternity, in the covenant of grace. He intended to get involved
in people's lives and that it would be He that would make the
difference and give them a new heart that would love God and
that would follow Him. Here in the verse 17, and they
shall be mine." And this is truly a statement that we find that
gives us great hope and great joy, and we're caused to rejoice
that the Lord said, they shall be mine. I have a people, saith
the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels, and
I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
So we have several things mentioned in that verse of scripture. They're
mine, in the day when I make up my jewels, and I'll spare
them as a man spareth his son." There's a great deal of love
demonstrated in this passage of scripture. That thought there
about my jewels, that's an Old Testament word, segula, and I've
noticed among some of the commentaries that they use that term as a
term of possession of property, valued property. peculiar particular
treasure a treasure and I'm reminded of a passage that we read not
too long ago in the book of 1st Kings chapter 8 So would you
turn with me to the book of 1st Kings chapter 8 and 1st Kings
chapter 8 verse 52 We have a wonderful verse of scripture that God shares
with us through this Solomon and he's led by the Holy Spirit
and in the book of 1 Kings, 1 Kings chapter 8. And there in verse
52, 1 Kings chapter 8 in verse 52. And thine eyes have been
opened unto my supplication, the supplication of thy servant,
and to the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto
them in all that they call for unto thee. for thou didst separate
them from among all the people of the earth. to be thine inheritance,
as thou spakest by the hand of Moses thy servant, when thou
broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God." We notice
in this verse of Scripture that the one who is speaking these
words has realized, has been revealed the fact that there
is a people that were separate from among all the people of
the Now truly Israel was a type of that. There were many among
Israel that knew nothing about the gospel. They had no thought
of God in their heart. They were just like all the rest
of the folks around them. But there were some that truly
share with us a picture of the church. And that is, you have,
for thou didst separate them from among all the people of
the earth to be thine inheritance. This Israel illustrates that
point. And thou spakest by the hand
of Moses, as you did. You brought our fathers out of
Egypt, and you brought them out because they were your inheritance,
thine inheritance. Christ gathers his segula, his
chosen ones, as a man would do by saving the most valuable things
in such a time of fire destruction. I was in a friend's home the
other day, and I was looking at a settee by a window, and
he showed me that the cushions could be taken aside and a door
could be lifted out. And in that place, he had all
of the family pictures. And the first thing they would
do if a fire broke out was to break the window out and throw
all those pictures out because that was the first thing they
wanted to deliver. Well, if we can think of that here with regard
to the Segula, the particular treasure, my jewels, Christ gathers
his Segula, his chosen one, as a man would do by saving their
most valuable things in such a time as a fire or destruction."
So there's a very special thing about them. Of all the things
that the person would have, this is what he chose, and that would
be the pictures. Of all the peoples of the earth,
God has chosen, in Christ Jesus, because of the covenant of grace
and because of all that Christ has done for them, he has chosen
to save a peculiar people for himself and he will deliver them
out of all the peoples of the earth. They shall be mine, saith
the Lord of hosts, in the day I make up my jewels or I make
up my special treasure. What a wonderful blessing. We
are allowed to receive, in this verse, make up my jewels. Christ has some who are his jewels,
or particular treasure, as the word used here means, who are
loved with an everlasting love, chosen in him, redeemed by him,
justified by his righteousness. They are a peculiar, particular
people separate from all others. and preferred above all others.
Christ has the strongest affection for and takes such special care
of. He has appointed a day for them
when all heaven will rejoice in their salvation. He has appointed
a day when he will bring the grace of God in the gospel to
them and they are appointed to hear it and God will create the
new birth in them. He promised this all through
the scriptures, but particularly mentioned in the book of Romans
chapter 8. Over there in the book of Romans,
and we so often are brought to that wonderful passage of Romans,
Romans chapter 8, beginning with verse 28, that passage of scripture
about the great blessings of the Lord in the covenant of grace
for, and we know, verse 28 of Romans chapter 8, and we know
that all things work together for good to them that love God,
to them who are called according to his purpose. For whom he did
foreknow, he also did predestinate." So as we read through here, we
find the blessings of making up his jewels. the blessings
of calling out his treasure, the blessings of bringing those
people out of Egypt, out of this world, out of sin. And as he
mentions through here, this is what he does for them. They are
only recipients of these blessings, these rich blessings of grace.
They're not the participants in them. Our heart had no interest
in them. And God must do the work on his
own. Our righteousness is not a righteousness
that will cause God to turn to us because our righteousness
is filthy rags. We have no good thoughts or deeds
towards God. And it is only by his grace after
we're born again that we have those things. For whom he did
foreknow before the foundation of the world. He had a chosen
people. He also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of his son. I have to say at this point
that when my wife and I travel, we like to get on a plane with
a predestinated destination. It's hard to get on a plane when
they say we don't know where we're going. Well, he predestinated
to be conformed to the image of his son that he might be the
firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate,
them he also called. So we have these purposes of
grace, God working in and through and by the preaching of the gospel.
Those he did predestinate, them he also called. They have this
promise. In whom he called, them he also
justified. And whom he justified, them he
also glorified. For whom he did foreknow. In
Malachi 3.17 has the two works. My jewels. These two words are
translated from a Hebrew word, segula, which is used eight times
throughout the Old Testament. And as we read these, we're so
reminded of Romans chapter 8, verses 28 through 30, about the
work of grace that God promised us here as the gospel goes and
is preached. The first time that we run into
this word in the Old Testament, this word Segula that's mentioned
in Malachi chapter 3 and verse 17, my jewels, is found in the
book of Exodus chapter 19. Would you turn there with me
to the book of Exodus chapter 19? This again, we find the wonderful
blessings of grace brought out throughout the Old Testament
that as he mentions here, as he shares with us here in the
book of Exodus chapter 19, We have this segula, or my jewels,
and here it is translated, a peculiar treasure. Exodus chapter 19,
verse 5, now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed and
keep my covenant, then ye shall be my peculiar people, my peculiar
treasure unto me above all people, for all the earth is mine. Now,
those who do are. We don't become his procured
treasure by doing these things. We are his procured treasure
because we do these things. He works it out in us. If ye
obey my voice, indeed. The Lord Jesus Christ says, my
sheep hear my voice and they follow me, and I give unto them
eternal life. If ye obey my voice, indeed,
and keep my covenant, then you are identifying yourself as my
peculiar treasure. Then ye shall be my peculiar
treasure unto me, my segula, my jewels that I'm making up. In the book of the Psalms 135
and verse 4, and in the book of Ecclesiastes 2.8, this same
word is used, and it's also translated there just like we have it here,
peculiar treasure. In the book of Deuteronomy chapter
7, book of Deuteronomy chapter 7 and verse 6, if you'll turn
there with me, we have this word used again. but it's translated
just a little bit differently. Here it tells about a special
people, Segula, the Segula of God, the jewels, my jewels, my
particular treasure. Here in Deuteronomy chapter seven
and verse six, for thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God. The Lord thy God hath chosen
thee to be a special people unto him above all people that are
upon the face of the earth. How come they're special people,
and how come they're special people above all the people that
are on the face of the earth? The Lord shares with us in that
verse of scripture. The Lord thy God hath chosen
thee, and to be a special people. This word Segula is called a
special people. They are identified only by God
in all the world, but they are recognized as God's people for
by faith. That's what we read in the book
of Hebrews chapter 11, that those folks by faith, they did what
they did, and faith truly is trusting the Lord Jesus Christ
with all our salvation. None is hinged upon ourselves.
In the book of Deuteronomy chapter 14 we have this word Segula translated
again in our version. In the book of Deuteronomy chapter
14 and there in verse 2 this word is translated just a little
bit differently. It all boils down to the same
thing. Here we have the Segula, a peculiar
people. We saw a peculiar treasure, my
jewels, special people, and herefore thou art a holy people unto the
Lord thy God. And the Lord hath chosen thee
to be a peculiar people unto himself above all the nations
there upon the earth. Now truly, the nation of Israel
was put into a very high position before all nations upon the earth.
And we find that they were really the test case if Anybody could
ever attain righteousness on their own. It should be these
people because God chose them, a particular people out of all
people, and he paid special attention to them above all other people
on the face of the earth. And he drew them out of Egypt. He brought them into the promised
land. He performed so many miracles for them. He provided so much
for them. He brought them into a land.
There was very few people. As they took over that land,
that promised land, as they came in and took over, very few graves
were dug for those who fought for Israel. God did the fighting. Did this change them? Were they
saved as a result of the special treatment that God gave to them?
We find no. It is only by grace that they
are ever different. And so as he brings out this,
he's sharing with us about Israel, but they are a picture and a
type and a shadow of the church. This word is also used. Segulah
is used in Deuteronomy 26 and verse 18. And in that verse of
scripture is called a peculiar people. In 1st Chronicles, this
same word is translated just a little bit differently, but
it shares with us again a little facet, a different facet, about
what this word means. Segula. In the book of 1st Chronicles, 1st Chronicles chapter 29, and
in verse 3, First Chronicles chapter 29 and
verse 3, Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house
of my God, I have of mine own proper good of silver and gold,
which was given to the house of my God, over and above all
that I have prepared Proper good is what we find in
this verse of scripture that shares with us the Segula. I
have my own proper good of silver and gold and silver. This word
Segula translated in one place about my jewels, my treasure,
my particular treasure, my particular people, and I have my own proper
good. The Lord here gives us the insight
about this word concerning himself and the relationship with this
word to his people. Now what does this mean? What
do all these verses of Scripture mean? What are they bringing
us to? What are they setting our eyes on? What are they doing
for our heart? They are teaching us, throughout
the Old as well as the New Testament, the wonderful teaching that God
was involved with saving His people before the world began,
and that is that He chose or elected a people. This word,
or these passages of Scripture, as we read in Malachi 3.17 is
teaching us election. God has a chosen people, an elect
people, pictured by the choice of Israel, yet in reality made
up of Jews and Gentiles. The fountainhead is God and His
sovereignty and His good pleasure. It is first and in its highest
sense spoken of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's one of the things
we need to go back to when we study this subject, and even
as we see my jewels. I will make up my jewels. Now
there is one jewel above all jewels, and that's the jewel
of the Lord Jesus. Would you turn with me to the
book of Isaiah? In the book of Isaiah, we have the Lord Jesus,
Jehovah, spoken as the elect of God. In Isaiah, Isaiah chapter
42 and verse 1, Isaiah chapter 42 and verse 1, we have this
wonderful thought about the Lord and Him being the elect elect,
the first. Behold, my servant, whom I uphold,
my elect. This word is used with regard
to the Messiah, to the Lord Jesus. to Jehovah, in whom my soul delighteth. I have put my spirit upon him,
he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles." This wonderful
passage of scripture is brought into the New Testament in the
book of Matthew. Matthew chapter 12, as we look
at the Segula, as we look at the jewels, my jewels, here in
the book of Matthew chapter 12 and verse 14, we think about
the one that is the head jewel, the one that all the jewels come
under, the one, the elect one who all the elect fall under.
Here in the book of Matthew chapter 12 and verse 14, then the Pharisees
went out and held a counsel against him how they might destroy him.
But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence, and great
multitudes followed him, and he healed them all, and charged
them that they should not make him known, that it might be fulfilled
which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Behold my servant,
whom I have chosen, my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased,
I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to
the nations." This wonderful passage of scripture takes us
right back to the book of Isaiah 42 and verse 1. It is a quote
from that passage, and this quote is sharing us with regard to
the Lord Jesus Christ, that he is truly, truly the first chosen. All others are chosen in him.
The Lord Jesus shares with us what election is. The scriptures,
without exception, declare the truth of this wonderful subject,
and that it is based all on free grace, no merit, and results
wholly from the sovereign will and purpose of God. The Lord
did not set his love upon Israel nor choose them because they
were more in number. Remember that passage of scripture
over the book of Deuteronomy? Deuteronomy chapter seven. Would
you turn over there with me as we find the Lord through Moses
sharing this with Israel? Deuteronomy chapter seven, verse
six. For thou art a holy people unto
the Lord thy God. The Lord thy God hath chosen
thee to be a special people unto him above all the people that
are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set his love. Now in that verse of scripture,
we have that Segula, but the Lord did not set his love upon
you nor choose you because you were more in number than all
the people. Ye were the fewest of all people,
but because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep an
oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought
you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house
of the bondman, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt." The
passage of Scripture shares with us about the Lord and what He
did for Israel as a type and a shadow and a picture of what
He does for the Church. In II Timothy 1-9, Who hath saved
us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our
works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was
given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. The Segula of
the Lord the jewels of the Lord were chosen in Christ before
the foundation of the world 2nd Timothy 1 9 is just what we read
now while you're there in the book of Deuteronomy jump ahead
just two chapters Deuteronomy chapter 9 verse 4 Deuteronomy
chapter 9 and verse 4 Speak not thou in thy heart. Oh My goodness
here. We have the crux of the matter
Don't go bragging what you've done for the Lord Speak thou
not in thy heart, after that the Lord thy God hath cast them
out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the Lord
hath brought me in to possess this land. Can you imagine those
Jews saying that? For my righteousness the Lord
has blessed me. And how often we hear that in
religion and Have said it probably in our own heart, Lord, you're
blessing me because I have been so good. I have been righteous. I've done all the good deeds.
I've gone to church every Sunday. Remember the bars you used to
get on your pins after years of Sunday school? faithful Sunday
school year after year and For my righteousness the Lord hath
brought me in to possess this land. It's because of my righteousness
that I am where I am but For the wickedness of these nations
the Lord doth drive them out from before thee Not for thy
righteousness or for the uprightness of thy heart Dost thou go to
possess their land? We're not given anything spiritual
because we're righteous or because of the uprightness of our heart
is only because God has done a work before the foundation
of the world. If he had not chosen a people in eternity past, there
would not be one person in glory in the end. If it wasn't for
God interfering in our lives, going against our grain, going
against our nature, going against our will, if it wasn't for that,
nobody would ever be saved. And here we find that the Lord
is speaking through his minister in the Old Testament, don't you
dare think when you get into the promised land that you did
it because you were good. Just look at yourself through
the travels, through the 40 years of wilderness. These 10 times
have you tempted me. So the Lord shares with not for
thy righteousness or the uprightness of thy heart verse 5 here dust
out go possess land But for the wickedness of these nations the
Lord thy God to drive them out from before thee and that he
may perform The word which the Lord swear unto thy fathers Abraham
Isaac and Jacob What did he have with Abraham Isaac and Jacob?
He had a covenant of grace. He made a promise to them. And
this promise is the promise of grace by faith Abraham, by faith
Isaac, and by faith Jacob. What does that say? It means
that those three patriarchs all had all their faith and trust
in the Lord Jesus Christ and not in their righteousness or
uprightness of their heart. So he shares with them these
things. The Jews, encouraged by false
prophets, misconstrued God's promised preservation of His
elect as an unconditional guarantee of their national security. God
never promised that. He promised eternal security
for His church. He promised eternal security
for all His elect. But He never promised national
security. If we misunderstand election
as taught in the scriptures, we will have the eternal election
of God apply to nations, groups of people, lines of ancestors,
when in fact eternal election applies only to the individuals
whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. If we misconstrue
election, we're going to apply this to things that was never
applied by God. In Romans chapter two, would
you turn with me there? We have the Segula, we have my
jewels, we have my special treasure, we have my particular people
mentioned throughout the scriptures, and it's not because they were
of national descent, but it was because they were chosen in Christ. Here in the book of Romans, Romans
chapter two, New Testament, Paul was used to pin it, but he is
led directly by the Holy Spirit. He is speaking by inspiration
of the Holy Spirit. And he says, for he is not a
Jew which is one outwardly. He's not talking about national
Israel here. Romans chapter 2 verse 28. For
he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision
which is outward in the flesh. Most of the Jews were depending
upon their righteousness and the uprightness of their heart
and being related to Abraham. for their position before God. But Paul brings out what we find
throughout the Old Testament. It's not a Jew which is one outwardly.
I did not set my affection on you because you are great, because
you are righteous, because you are upright of heart, because
in fact you are not. I set my affection on you because
of grace, my unmerited favor. And that's what he does for Jews
and Gentiles alike. He is not a Jew which is one
outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh,
but he is a Jew. which is one inwardly, and circumcision
that is of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter,
whose praise is not of men, but of God. Now what does that mean
to us? He is a Jew which has been born
again. That's what a true Jew is, a
true worshiper of God, a true child of Abraham, is one who
has been born again. And that new birth cannot be
made by us anymore then those people could say they're inheriting
the promised land by their own righteousness and by their own
uprightness of heart. God said, no way. That is not
it. You're not coming into the promised
land because of your uprightness of heart or your own righteousness. In other words, the elect are
elect to salvation, not national election. No argument that Israel
was special. It might be viewed as a test
case. What would happen if a nation
was given such special place, miracles, signs, wonders, special
protection, food, water, special worship rites? Would this make
them spiritual followers of Jehovah? No, it did not. They must have the new birth
in order to follow God. In the book of Deuteronomy, once
again, the Lord shares with Israel. After all this time, Israel,
it shares in Deuteronomy chapter 29. The Lord, speaking again
through his preacher, has this to say. Deuteronomy 29, verse
four. Yet the Lord hath not given you
a heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear unto
this day. Why did they walk so contrary
to God's word, so contrary to his law? Why did they walk so
contrary to the instructions of the prophets? Why did they
walk so contrary to the instructions of Moses? Why did they walk so
contrary to the instructions of the judges? Why did they walk
so contrary to all of these things? Because God did not give them
a heart to perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear unto
this day. When God does that, They will
love God. My people, my sheep, the Lord
says, I love them and they love me. That's part of the everlasting
covenant. Only those that are brought to
faith in Jehovah were members of the elect remnant. Only those
that God worked in. In the book of Joel, would you
turn with me to the book of Joel? Joel chapter two. Joel chapter
two, verse 32. Joel chapter two and verse 32.
Only those that are brought to faith in Jehovah were members
of his elect remnant. Whoever, whosoever, whosoever. Now we hear that a lot in religion,
whosoever will. Well, the answer is, what about
the will? You know, God must make us willing. In the day of His power, He must
make us willing. Here it says, And it shall come
to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord
shall be delivered. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said. and in the remnant
whom the Lord shall call. So there's a remnant according
to the election of grace, and those will call on the name of
the Lord, or those will trust the Lord God Almighty. They will
have faith. God gives them faith to have
faith, and their faith is that they have given everything, every
hope, every piece of their salvation is in the Lord Jesus Christ,
Isaiah wrote in the very first chapter of the book of Isaiah,
chapter 9, he shares with us, you know, the oxen, they knew
their master, and Israel didn't know. And in verse
9 he says, except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very
small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should
have been like unto Gomorrah, Individually, there are a few,
but nationally, not. Nationally, none. Israel served
the purpose of God. Judah served the purpose of God.
The Messiah was brought into the world as promised. In Hebrews
chapter 8, Hebrews chapter 8, Hebrews chapter 8, These mention up here of an everlasting
covenant mentioned in the Old Testament. The first covenant
was faultless. For if the first covenant had
been faultless, the first covenant had fault. And what was the fault?
People couldn't keep it. Promised they would, but they
couldn't. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days
come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the
house of Israel and with the house of Judah. Now, that's not
at some future date, because this is the eternal covenant.
And it says in verse 9, not according to the covenant that I made with
their fathers in the day when I took them out by the hand and
led them out of the land of Egypt, because they continued not in
my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord, because
they continued not in my covenant. I regarded them not, saith the
Lord. The covenant was void when they
broke it. covenant had always been in effect
because it was a covenant between the Godhead and for the benefit
of the elect individuals, the Segulla, the chosen particular
people that are mentioned throughout the Old Testament as well as
the New Testament. For the benefit of the elect
individuals, this covenant was for. Those that he will make
up his jewels, I will call them out. They are mine. They're like
jewelry that I would pick up if the house was burning down.
They are my very special. These are the ones I will keep.
All the rest will fall away, but these I will keep to myself. Two Old Testament passages sum
up all. Jonah chapter 2 and verse 9,
salvation is of the Lord. And there is a verse in the book
of Habakkuk that is quoted several times in the New Testament. Would
you join me over there in that little book of Habakkuk? Chapter
2, verse 4, the preachers of the
New Testament had this passage of scripture given to them. and
they read it often, and they quoted it many times. And this,
with salvation as of the Lord, is the summation of the gospel
as it's preached in the Old Testament. Behold, his soul, which is lifted
up, is not upright in him. But the just shall live by his
faith." Whose faith? God's faith. The just shall live
by his faith. The just shall live by faith
is brought out in the New Testament by the Apostle Paul as he wrote
to people that were trusting in their own righteousness. The
just shall live by faith. Those who are justified have
the faith of God given unto them to walk by faith and not by sight. Peter wrote in the book of 1
Peter 2. In 1 Peter 2 and verse 9, these words are
left for us. This passage of Scripture is
almost mentioned in the Old Testament, but it is applied to the Church
in this passage of Scripture. In the Old Testament, it was
looking at Israel, but they couldn't keep it. They did not have a
heart given to them by the Lord. These words are written about
those in Israel that did have a heart, that God had given them
a heart to have faith. By faith, Abraham. By faith,
Isaac. By faith, Jacob. By faith, Moses. Those who had faith. But your
chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a sagula, a peculiar
people, that ye may show forth the praises of him who hath called
you out of darkness into his marvelous light. You are my jewels,
my royal jewels, my particular treasure. The church was chosen
in eternity to be the Lord's particular treasure. make up
of the elect ones, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people,
and nation, as we read in Romans chapter 5 and verse 9. In Romans
chapter 11, Romans chapter 11, we have again the Apostle Paul
writing by inspiration. He didn't write this on his own.
There apparently were some books, some letters, that Paul wrote,
but they were not inspired letters because they're not in our Bible.
If they had been, they'd have been there. He writes about those
letters. Romans chapter 11 and verse 7,
it says, what then? Israel hath not obtained that
which he seeketh for, but the election hath obtained it, and
the rest were blinded. We find in the New Testament
the God, the Israel of God, the special particular people that
Israel was a type of in the Old Testament. There were those in
the Old Testament that the Lord Jesus, when he was nearly stoned,
if it had been his time, but it wasn't, They would have taken
him out and stoned him. What did he bring up? That God
dealt with Gentiles in the Old Testament. There were many widows
in Israel, but there was none of them like that widow, and
she was a Gentile. And he sent his prophet there.
And there were many lepers in Israel, but we find there was
only one that was dealt with, and he was a Gentile. Naaman
the leper. So the Lord illustrates this
point, that he is sovereign over all things. He is a people, and
he will make up his jewels. He will bring them out of every
kindred nation, people, and tongue, and he will make up his jewels. They will be assembled around
him. They will be the glory of his
work. They will be the trophies of
His grace. They will illustrate the point
of His great work of redemption. There will not be one there with
a haughty spirit or bragging on themselves. They will all
be saying, worthy is the Lamb that was slain. He is the reason
for redemption. He is the reason that we are
redeemed. So we're going back over there
to the book of Malachi, that last book of the Old Testament
in the third chapter and in verse 17 we have, I will make up my
segula, I'll make up my jewels, they are my particular people,
they are my particular treasure, they're out there throughout
the world I've sown them in every kindred nation, people, and tongue.
They are in all colors. They're all nationalities. They're
in all religions. I was told one time that if you
spent, as a kid, you spent six or ten years among a certain
religion, that you were going to be that for life. I'm thankful
that's not true or I'd still be in religion. God moves us
out of that by His grace. He takes us out of religion.
He shows us the Lord Jesus Christ. He shows us what we are by nature
and He shows us what He is by His glory. And they shall be
mine. Malachi chapter 3 and verse 17
saith the Lord of hosts in that day when I make up my Segula
my jewels my particular people and I'll spare them they are
deserving of death but I will spare them how and why we only
know why is of grace how by him becoming our substitute and laying
down his life a ransom a payment price for our sin and spareth his own son that serveth
him. Now as we come to the conclusion
of this week's lesson in the book of Malachi, I just want
to mention what we plan to look at next week, and that's verse
18 of this chapter. Then shall ye return and discern
between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth
God and him that serveth him not." He's been bringing that
out in this chapter, in the previous two chapters. This is what my
people are like. This is what religion is like.
This is what I've done for my people. These I've left alone.
They identify themselves as my people by having faith. These
identify themselves as not being my people for not serving God,
not caring, even though they're given the responsibility of attempting
to serve God, they cannot do it. They're elected to that position. So many preachers have only a
local call. Their mama called them. Their
preacher called them. Their daddy called them. Somebody
called them. But these preachers in the Old Testament, these pastors
in the Old Testament, these preachers and pastors in the New Testament,
they were called of God. God gave them the new birth,
and then he called them to preach the wonderful gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ. And that gospel is the Lord has
some jewels, and he will find every one of them and save them
by his grace. And then we'll look to discern
the righteous and the wicked, and them that serve God and those
who serve him not. May God bless you wherever you
are.