Then those who revered the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD took note and listened, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who revered the LORD and thought on his name. They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, my special possession on the day when I act.
Malachi 3:16-17

Eavesdropper. It’s an interesting word. An eavesdropper is a person standing under the eave of a house listening secretly to a conversation happening inside the house. Today’s scripture describes God as the omniscient eavesdropper, listening in on all our conversations.

Today’s scripture is from the last of the Old Testament prophets, Malachi, warning a nation in steep decline. Verses immediately preceding this scripture reveal conversations of the masses heard to arrogantly say:

• “It is vain to serve God.” (3:14)
• “What do we profit by keeping his command?” (3:14)

Such reckless conversations might remind us of “the dullest of people, fools” who imagine that God “who planted the ear, does not hear” (Psalm 94:8-9). But God does hear, and He does remember the conversations in today’s media, academia, marketplace, and coffee shops.

Yet, amidst the tragic collapse of the nation, Malachi singles out that small remnant gathering to talk about the Lord and His goodness to them. Malachi sees in this that, “The LORD took note and listened, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who revered the LORD and thought on his name.”

Malachi alludes to the custom of ancient kings keeping “a book of remembrance” (Esther 6:1-3) so that they might reward friends who were faithful. So the prophet is saying that as we gather with others to talk about the Lord that He ‘eavedrops’ on our conversations. He keeps meticulous notes on what His people say, promising, “They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, my special possession on the day when I act.”  God rewards those who love Him and gather to talk about Him. He pays special attention to the “two are three gathered in His name” (Matthew 18:20).

Amidst the precipitous decline in our own nation, it is heartening to see people in a coffee shop, on the Internet, in homes, or on the phone talking about the Lord and His goodness. Such are the seedbeds for reviving a nation!

Why not bring God into your conversation the next time you have coffee or lunch with a friend?  Why not share how God has blessed you or answered prayer? Or, how about getting together just for the purpose of talking to God and worshipping Him. It need not be more than those “two or three gathered in His name”! God will count you as His “special possession” on the Day He is going to act!

“Come and hear, all you who revere God, and I will tell you what he has done for me”.
Psalm 66:16

A fellow traveler,
Tim