Series 39

Study 5 JEWELS

CALLED BY A NEW NAME
by Francis Dixon
Scripture Portion: Malachi 3: 7-18 (KJV)

In Revelation 21:19-22 the Lord tells us that the heavenly city is ablaze with jewels; and in Malachi 3:17 (KJV) the Lord speaks of His people as His jewels. Are you one of the Lord’s jewels? The dictionary defines a jewel as – “a precious stone, or anything or anyone highly valued.” This leads to our first point:-

 

1. The Lord has a company of people He calls His Jewels because they are very precious to Him.

Malachi 3:17 (NIV) translates ‘jewels’ as “treasured possession”; so the Lord has a people who are a treasured possession to Him. Who are these highly valued ones? Every Christian, everyone who is born again, is a treasured one, so what amazing grace that the Lord should make us His jewels and should tell us we are very precious to Him! Why are we so precious?

  1. (1) Like jewels, we are God’s creation. No man can make a jewel; no chemist has ever been able to make a diamond, a sapphire or a ruby. These are the amazing productions of our Creator – and so is the Christian – God’s creation from beginning to end (2 Corinthians 5:17). Of course, there are imitation jewels, not the genuine article, and there are Christians that are only so-called: they are not real Christians at all.
  2. (2) Like jewels, we are a very rare people. Why is it that jewels are so rare? If you could dig up diamonds in your garden they would no longer be precious. We have to remember that there are comparatively few who love the Lord and who are keen to follow His ways. Notice Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:13-14 and compare Luke 12:32. At the time of Malachi’s prophecy there were only a few, a small remnant, who were God’s jewels. The majority were just like common stones. Are you part of the remnant?
  3. (3) Like jewels, we are very beautiful – not beautiful in ourselves, but God has crowned us with His salvation (Psalm 149:4). He has placed within us His own divine life, and we have been filled with heavenly brilliance.
  4. (4) Like jewels, we are very varied – in size, shape, colour and texture. So are Christians! Some Christians are like diamonds, some like sapphires, some like emeralds, while others are like pearls. We are not all alike. We were all made in the same laboratory (Ephesians 2:10), but we all show the divine life in different ways.
  5. (5) Like jewels, we are precious because of our value. Some jewels are worth a fortune – but think of the cost of redemption (1 Peter 1:18-19)! No money could redeem us, for only the precious blood of Christ could do that

 

2. What are the characteristics of the Lord’s Jewels?

Verse 16 gives us the answer: “Then…” When? When the majority of God’s covenant people were out of touch with Him and were sinning against Him, there were some who did three things, and these tell us the marks or characteristics of those who are the Lord’s jewels:

  1. (1) They feared the Lord. This was not a slavish fear but the reverential fear of a child for its parent. It is the fear of holy worshippers. Instead of acting as those did who are mentioned in Malachi 3:13-15, these who are called ‘jewels’ feared the Lord. Do we fear Him? Look up Psalm 34:9-11.
  2. (2) They talked with each other (verse 16). Their lips were full of praise to God and of testimony before others (Psalm 66:16). Is that the testimony of your heart and soul? If you are His jewel it should be.
  3. (3) They honoured His Name (verse 16). Their meditation was centred on the Lord Himself – upon His Name, that is, His Person and work. What is His Name? Twenty-four times in this prophecy He is called “the Lord Almighty”, which indicates His great power and might. Now we think of Him in terms of repentance, faith and love, and we meditate upon His might, His power, His grace and His glory.

Are these marks or characteristics of God’s jewels true of us?

 

3. What is the Lord’s attitude towards His Jewels?

Notice that in verses 16-17 we are told three things that indicate the Lord’s loving interest in His jewels:-

  1. (1) He listens to them. “…the Lord listened and heard…” – that is, He bent down from heaven and listened to the holy conversations of His precious ones. Compare Jeremiah 8:6 with Luke 24:15. As the Lord draws near to us what does He hear from our lips?
  2. (2) He records the history of His Jewels. Verse 16 tells us that the Lord has “a scroll of remembrance”! In this book every detail is accurate. Is it the Lamb’s Book? No. It is the book in which the Lord records the faithful service of His people. What surprises we shall get when we look into that book on that day! We shall see that God did hear our prayers, that He did bless our faithful service, and that even the little things that were done in His Name were blessed of Him and recorded – look up Matthew 25:35-45.
  3. (3) He assures their eternal security. Verse 17 tells us that the Lord says, “They will be mine, says the Lord Almighty, in the day when I make up my treasured possession.” What day? – in the day when the Lord Jesus comes again (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Not one treasured possession will be lost or missing. All the elect will be gathered safely in (compare Psalm 87:6 with John 6:37; John 10:28-29; 2 Timothy 1:12; 2 Timothy 2:19). He welcomes them as “sons”. Verse 17 tells us that the Lord gives to His jewels all the privileges of sonship. How wonderful the grace of God is! Look up and compare Romans 8:16-17 with Hebrews 1:2.