Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Malachi 1:5
And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.
5. your eyes shall see ] Unharmed and in safety yourselves you shall witness the overthrow of Edom (comp. Psa 91:7-8).
will be magnified from ] Rather, be magnified over. It is an ascription of praise (comp. Psa 48:1) to God who extends, as it were, His tutelary care over Israel, while utter destruction overtakes Edom. The contrast with Edom is emphasized by the insertion of the personal pronoun, “ ye (Jews) shall say.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And your eyes shall see – Malicious pleasure in looking on at the misery of Judaea and Jerusalem, had been a special sin of Edom: now God would show Judah the fruit of its reversal, and His goodness toward themselves. , Ye have assurance of His love toward you and providence over you, when ye see that ye are returned to your own land, and can inhabit it, but they cannot do this: but they build and I throw down, and ye, therefore, praise and magnify My name for this, and ye shall say, The Lord shall be magnified on the border of Israel, i. e., His greatness shall be always manifest upon you; high above and exalted over the border of Israel which shall retain its name, while Edom shall have ceased to be. Wickedness gives its name to Edoms border, as in Zechariahs vision it was removed and settled in Babylon Zec 5:8, Zec 5:11.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Mal 1:5
The Lord will be magnified from (or upon) the border of Israel.
Each nation had its God
The deities were made to rival each other in the protection and blessing which they afforded to the nations that worshipped them.
I. This prophetic utterance. Evils abounded when the prophet lived. The sins of the people were eclipsing Gods glory; but the prophet knew that it would shine forth as the sun. It is therefore an utterance–
(1) Of holy faith;
(2) of firm assurance;
(3) of exultant expectation.
God must be magnified. It is necessary–
1. For the furtherance of His purposes.
2. For the vindication of His righteousness.
3. For the good of the universe.
II. How this utterance was, and may be fulfilled. The history of the Israelites abounds with confirmations of the prophets words. His faith would be strengthened as he remembered past dispensations. Though Gods ancient people were dispersed, the spiritual Israel remains. He has been magnified.
1. In the redemption of the cross.
2. In the interposition of providence in behalf of His Church.
3. In the holy lives and sufferings of His people.
4. In the missionary enterprises of His Church.
III. Where this should be fulfilled. In the border of Israel. The spiritual Israel must ever magnify God. This is the duty of the Church.
1. The Church should interpret all events so as to do this.
2. It should do it under all circumstances.
3. It should seek this first in all its organisations and evangelistic efforts.
Application. Let this be our aim continually–to magnify God. We often seek to magnify ourselves. Our truest greatness is in making Him great. (W. Osborne Lilley.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 5. Your eyes] Ye Israelites shall see, in your succeeding generations, that –
The Lord will be magnified] By his kindness in Israel, and his judgments beyond.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
You Jews who are now returned from captivity, and are blest with a rebuilt temple and city, who are settled in civil and sacred concerns,
your eyes shall see; some of you must needs, more will, and all might, observe what I have said, that my love is toward you, whom I plant, build up, and prosper, while I root up, pull down, and destroy your neighbouring kindred Edom.
Ye shall say; you should in point of duty, and some of you will take notice of it, and confess it.
The Lord will be magnified; or, Let the Lord be magnified, let his name be great and his praise great for his free love to Israel, for his great displeasure against the border of wickedness, for his truth in both.
From the border of Israel; let Israel from all his borders give God this praise.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. from the border of IsraelYe,restored to your own “borders” in Israel, “from”them shall raise your voices to “magnify the Lord,”acknowledging that Jehovah has shown to you a gratuitous favor notshown to Edom, and so ought to be especially “magnified from theborders of Israel.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And your eyes shall see,…. The destruction of the Edomites, and their fruitless attempts to rebuild their desolate places; and the difference between them and the Israelites, who were returned to their own land, and inherited it, when they could not; and the love of God to the one, and his hatred of the other:
and ye shall say, The Lord will be magnified from the border of Israel; Aben Ezra interprets it, ye that dwelt in the border of Israel shall say, the Lord shall be magnified, or let him be magnified; let greatness and glory be ascribed to him for what he has done: or, as Kimchi, give him praise and greatness because you are dwelling in your border, and their border is desolate; and your border is called the border of Israel, but theirs the border of wickedness; and so the Targum,
“let the glory of the Lord be multiplied, because he hath enlarged the border of Israel;”
and, according to Jarchi, the sense is, he shall show his greatness from our border, to make it known that we are his people: all show and own that God had loved them more than others, and therefore they ought to have honoured and obeyed him, in which they were deficient, and so ungrateful.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He adds, Your eyes shall see. The Jews had already begun in part to witness this spectacle, but the Prophet speaks here of what was to continue. See then shall your eyes; that is, “As it has already appeared of what avail gratuitous election has been to you, by which I have chosen you as my people, and as ye have also seen on the other hand how it has been with your relations the Edomites, because they had been rejected in the person of their father Esau; so also this same difference shall ever be evident to you in their posterity: see then shall your eyes
And ye shall say, Magnified let Jehovah be over the border of Israel; that is, “The event itself will extort this confession, — that I greatly enhance my goodness towards you.” For though tokens of God’s grace shone forth everywhere, and the earth, as the Psalmist says, is full of his goodness, (Psa 104:24😉 yet there was in Judea something special, so that.our Prophet does not in vain say, that there would be always reasons for the Jews to celebrate God’s praises on account of his bounty to them more than to the rest of the world. And the Prophet no doubt reproves here indirectly the wickedness of the people, as though he had said, — “Ye indeed, as far as you can, bury God’s benefits, or at least extenuate them; but facts themselves must draw from you this confession — that God deals bountifully with the border of Israel, that he exercises there his favor more remarkably than among any of the nations.”
After having briefly referred to those benefits which ought to have filled the Jews with shame, he comes at length to the subject he had in view; for his main object, as I have already stated, was to show, that it was God’s complaint that he was deprived of his own right and in a double sense, for the Jews did not reverence him as their Father, nor fear him as their Lord. He might indeed have called himself Lord and Father by the right of creation; but he preferred, as I have already explained, to appeal to their adoption; for it was a remarkable favor, when the Lord chose some out of all the human race; and we cannot say that the cause of this was to be found in men. Whom then he designs to choose, he binds to himself by a holier bond. But if they disappoint him, wholly inexcusable is their perfidy.
As we now understand the Prophet’s meaning, and the object of this expostulation, it remains for us to learn how to accommodate what is taught to ourselves. We are not indeed descended fronm Abraham or from Jacob according to the flesh; but as God has engraved on us certain marks of his adoption, by which he has distinguished us from other nations, while we were yet nothing better, we hence see that we are justly exposed to the same reproof with the Jews, if we do not respond to the calling of God. I wished thus briefly to touch on this point, in order that we may know that this doctrine is no less useful to us at this day than it was to the Jews; for though the adoption is not exactly the same, as it then belonged to one seed and to one family, yet we are not superior to others through our own worthiness, but because God has gratuitously chosen us as a people to himself. Since this has been the case, we are his; for he has redeemed us by the blood of his own Son, and by rendering us partakers, by the gospel, of a favor so ineffably great, he has made us his sons and his servants. Except then we love and reverence him as our Father, and except we fear him as our Lord, there is found in us at this day an ingratitude no less base than in that ancient people. But as I wished now only to refer to the chief point, I shall speak tomorrow, as the passage requires, on the subject of election: but it was necessary first briefly to show the Prophet’s design, as I have done; and then to treat particular points more at large, as the case may require.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(5) And your eyes shall see.Comp. such expressions as Psa. 37:34; Psa. 52:6; Psa. 91:8. As with the individual, so with a nation: to stand in safety and be a witness to the destruction of the enemy is looked on as a sign of Gods favour.
The Lord will be magnified . . . Israel.Some render, let the Lord be magnified, as in Psa. 35:27; Psa. 40:16; others, the Lord is great: i.e., has exerted His greatness. The latter seems the more appropriate rendering here.
From the border.Some say, beyond the border. This translation is not in accordance with the usage of the expression, which means simply over or above. (Comp. Jer. 4:6.) The meaning seems to be this: The Lord, whose protecting presence hovers specially over the border of Israel, is now great, in that He has restored Israel, but hath destroyed the nationality of the wicked descendants of the godless Esau. Border of Israel is purposely used in contrast to border of wickedness.
Mal. 1:6; Mal. 2:9.The priesthood rebuked. A close connection subsists between the different parts of this section; it ought therefore to be read as one continuous paragraph. The sub-divisions of it are Mal. 1:6-14; Mal. 2:1-9.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Mal 1:5. And your eyes shall see, &c. That is, the eyes of Israel, who are here addressed. See Mal 1:1. The latter clause should be rendered, The Lord hath done wonderfully for the borders of Israel.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Mal 1:5 And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.
Ver. 5. And your eyes shall see ] “The righteous shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him,” and say, “Lo, this is the man,” &c., said David of Doeg the Edomite, Psa 52:7 . And the same is here promised by God to his people as a pledge of his love, and a special privilege: others should hiss at Edom, and say by way of byword, “This is the border of wickedness,” &c., but the saints should make more of it (a bee can suck honey out of a flower, so cannot a fly), they should busy their eyes, and regard the work of the Lord; yea, they should so consider the operation of his hand, as to say sensibly, “Let the Lord be magnified. Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his place,” Isa 5:12 Psa 35:27 Eze 3:12 . God hath delivered me out of all trouble, saith David, and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies. The Edomites stood looking on and laughing at the Israelites’ destruction, Oba 1:12-13 . God saw this, and it displeased him (as he is wondrously sensible of the least indignity done to his people); he therefore pays them home in their own coin, and promiseth his Israel that they shall rejoice when they see the vengeance, they shall wash their feet in the blood of these wicked ones; become more cautious by their just destruction, Psa 58:10 . Learn we hence, First, to have our eyes open upon the judgments of God, whether general or personal; that nothing of this nature pass our observation, lest we incur the curse denounced, Isa 5:12 , and be made examples to others, because we would not be warned by the example of others. Lege historiam ne fiat historia. Sodom and Gomorrah are thrown forth (as St Jude hath it) for an example; suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. And Herodotus saith, that the ruins and rubbish of Troy are set forth for an example of this rule, that national sins bring national plagues, and that God greatly punisheth great offences. Ingentia, beneficia, flagitia, supplicia. Let him that looketh upon me learn to fear God. E . These words were engraven upon the standing picture of Sennacherib (after that God had by an angel slain his army, and sent him back with shame to his own country), as the same Herodotus testifieth.
Secondly, learn we how far forth we may look upon the overthrow of the wicked with delight: viz. not as our own private, but as God’s professed enemies; not simply as their ruin, but as it is a clearing of God’s glory, and of our integrity, Psa 9:16 1Sa 25:39 ; not out of private revenge, but pure zeal for God and his cause. I say pure zeal; for it is difficult to kindle and keep quick the fire of zeal without all smoke of sinister and self-respect.
And ye shall say, The Lord will be magnified, &c.
From the borders of Israel
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
SERMON #4. THE LORD WILL BE MAGNIFIED!
Text:Mal 1:5
Subject:The Coming Display of the Glory of God
Date:Sunday Evening May 17, 2009
Introduction:
Mal 1:1-5 is a proclamation of Gods distinguishing mercy, love and grace toward and upon his elect. Here the Lord God shows us, in language that cannot be misunderstood that he loves Jacob, his elect, and he hates Esau, the reprobate. In our text tonight, Mal 1:5, the Lord our God assures his chosen that, when he is done, when he has fulfilled all his purpose and performed all things after the counsel of his own will, then our eyes shall see his glory in all things.
(Mal 1:5) And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.
You, sons of Jacob, be assured of this, When Edom is destroyed forever, your eyes shall see the glory of the Triune Jehovah in all his mighty works. And ye shall say, The Lord will be magnified from the border of Israel.
He will be magnified in the border of Israel in Zion, among his redeemed in heaven.
He will be magnified upon the border of Israel because of the complete salvation of his Israel (Rom 11:27).
He will be magnified from the border of Israel from his elect in heavens glory.
It often appears that Edom builds and Esau prevails. It often seems that the gates of hell prevail against Gods church. It often look like the beast of hell will destroy the Christ of God, the church of God and the Gospel of God. But things are not as they commonly appear. THE LORD WILL BE MAGNIFIED! That is my subject tonight. I want you to see it, rejoice in the prospect of it and anxiously anticipate it. THE LORD WILL BE MAGNIFIED!
This is the desire of Gods elect in every age (Psa 35:27; Psa 40:16; Psa 70:4; Psa 83:1-18).
(Psa 35:27) Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
(Psa 40:16) Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
(Psa 70:4) Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.
(Psalms 83) Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. (2) For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. (3) They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. (4) They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. (5) For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: (6) The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; (7) Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; (8) Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah. (9) Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: (10) Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth. (11) Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: (12) Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession. (13) O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. (14) As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; (15) So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. (16) Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD. (17) Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: (18) That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.
(Mal 1:5) And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.
I spent a good bit of time studying this statement by Gods prophet, cross-referencing it with other portions of Holy Scripture. Then, when I got to Eph 1:10, I thought to myself, Thats the very best explanation that could ever be given of Malachis promise. So I want you to turn to Eph 1:10 and hear the Word of the Lord.
(Eph 1:3-10) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (7) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (8) Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; (9) Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (10) That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.
(Eph 1:10) That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.
Commenting on this verse, Robert Hawker wrote
There is not perhaps the fellow to it, in relation to the vast subject it treats of in all the Bible. It opens to us the very heart of God, as it respects his whole designs of grace, toward the Church. It shows us, how, from all eternity, the mind of Jehovah hath been occupied on this grand concern. Andit most plainly and decidedly shows that the whole designs of Jehovah, are to glorify the Lord Jesus. All is said to be decreed for him. All things are to center in him. The dispensation of (all) events, and the fulness of times, are all directing their several pursuits to this one termination. And, like the numberless rays of light, converging to one center, all are to meet in him. I admire the repetition, even in him. There is a blessed emphasis in it, and so designed to be, in order to intimate the importance of the thing: even in him. We have another beautiful example of the same kind (Col 1:20). By him I say, saith Paul. As if (and which is in reality the case,) the glory of Christ, (which is the only visible manifestation of Jehovah,) became the one and only object, for which the Lord went forth in acts of creation (2Co 4:16. Joh 1:18).
I acknowledge at the outset that I have no hope of entering into the depths of this vast declaration of Gods eternal purpose of grace in Christ. I have studied it with ever-increasing awe, reverence and gratitude for forty-three years. The more I study it, the more I realize that I have not yet begun to enter into the wonders of grace here set before us. All I can do is give you a brief sketch of what I see of our Gods infinite wisdom and prudence along the shore lines of this great ocean of grace.
Proposition: Everything that God has done, is doing and shall hereafter do is moving toward the accomplishment of this one great end. That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him. And, wen the end comes, your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel!
THE DISPENSATION
First, Paul speaks of a period of time that he describes as the dispensation of the fulness of times. What period of time is this talking about? And what is meant by the dispensation of the fulness of times? As in all things, we must seek the answers to those questions in the Book of God alone.
The word dispensation simply means, stewardship. It refers to the management of a household, or the management, oversight and administration of another persons property or business. In Eph 3:2, the Apostle speaks of the ministry God had given him as a dispensation of the grace of God (Eph 3:2).
(Eph 3:1-2) For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, (2) If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
That is what is to be called into the ministry. It is to be given a dispensation of the grace of God. It is to be given a stewardship of grace in the house of God.
Specifically, in Eph 1:10, the word dispensation refers to the universal dominion of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which he executes the will of God in time (Joh 17:2; Rom 14:9).
(Joh 17:2) As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
(Rom 14:9) For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
As Paul states it in Eph 1:20-22, the Lord God gave his Son, our divine Mediator, the reins of universal monarchy when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church. All power in heaven and in earth has been given to the God-man, our Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ, that he might execute his eternal purpose in the salvation of his people, to the everlasting praise of the glory of his grace. That is the meaning of the word dispensation in our text.
THE FULNESS OF TIMES
But what is meant by the dispensation of the fulness of times? Again, lets look into the Word of God for the answer. Our text tells us that Gods eternal purpose of grace is to be accomplished in the fulness of times by the gathering together of all things in heaven and on earth in Christ. The only other place in which we find a similar statement is in Galatians 4.
(Gal 4:4-6) But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (5) To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (6) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
The fulness of times obviously began with the first advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, his incarnation. Yet, Eph 1:10 tells us that it is something not yet fulfilled. So the fulness of times refers to the whole gospel age. It began with our Saviors first advent and will continue until his glorious second advent, culminating in the fulfillment of Gods everlasting covenant and the full salvation of all his elect in Christ. This is what Paul speaks of in Rom 11:25-29.
(Rom 11:25-29) For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. (26) And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: (27) For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. (28) As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers sakes. (29) For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
The contemplation of Christs dominion, executing all the will and purpose of God in providence, and that culminating in the complete salvation of all Gods elect, and the final gathering together of all things in Christ was glorious in Pauls eyes, and ought to be glorious in ours (Rom 11:33-36).
(Rom 11:33-36) O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (34) For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? (35) Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? (36) For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
A REUNITING
The word translated gather together suggests many things. It might be better translated gather together again, reunite, or restore. There was a time when all things were one. In the original creation, the angels of God were one; but they were divided by sin. Adam was one with the heavenly angels; sin divided men from the angels of God. All creation was one with Christ the Creator. How horrible and sad, how far reaching the consequences of sin are in Gods creation!
Sin has separated man from God; and sin separates men from men. We were created as one; then sin entered. And since the day sin entered, man has been divided. We are divided by race, by face, and by place! And the more we appear to try to unite the human race, the more we are divided!
After the fall of Adam, our parents were expelled from the Garden of Eden and fallen man was scattered as one race over the face of the earth. After the flood, mankind was divided into three races, and scattered through the earth. Since that day, the divisions and scatterings have constantly multiplied. No culture, no society, no civilization has ever stopped, or even slowed the divisions.
I grew up in the deeply segregated South during the tumultuous civil rights struggles of the 50s and 60s. In the last 50 years we have seen legislation after legislation, The Voting Rights Act, Forced Integration, School Busing, Affirmative Action, literally hundreds of laws, by which the courts of our land and the legislative branches of government, both State and Federal, have tried to bring men together; but all have been miserable failures. There is more racial division in the United States today than ever in our life time. The goal is good. How blessed it would be if men and women could live together as one! But such a goal is not attainable by human effort. I do not mean to suggest that we should not try to attain it. We should. But I do say that it is unattainable. All of human history and experience verifies that fact. But our text speaks of, and assures us of a reuniting of all things in Christ.
The word translated gather together also conveys the idea of recapitulation, or summarization. For example, sometimes in preaching I will summarize a message by going over the main points of it. It also suggests a mathematical sum, the total of things added together. Taken in this sense, it refers to the final summing up of all things in Christ.
All the Blessings and Promises of the Covenant.
All the Types, Shadows and Sacrifices of the Law.
All the Prophecies and Promises of the Old Testament.
All the Revelation of God in Holy Scripture.
All the Hosts of Gods Elect.
Christ is the Sum Total of all.
Again, those words, gather together in one, might be translated reduce to one. In a word, when all is said and done that must be said and done, Christ is All, in all! Everything shall at last be reduced to this, that he might have the pre-eminence, that he might be the Firstborn among many brethren.
What is grace, but Christ?
What is redemption, but Christ?
What is salvation, but Christ? (1Co 1:30)
What is heaven, but Christ?
What is the Church, but Christ?
What is the glory of God, but Christ?
What is the will of God, but Christ?
What is God, but Christ? (Col 2:9-10)
(Col 2:9-10) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (10) And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
SCATTERED TO GATHER
(Eph 1:10) That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.
I have no doubt that the primary thing intended by Pauls declaration in this verse is the gathering together of all Gods elect in Christ. The fact is, our God according to the abounding wisdom and prudence of his grace has scattered his elect across the face of all the earth in wrath that he might in his great mercy gather them all together in one in Christ, for the everlasting praise and glory of his own great name. We see this fact stated so commonly through the Scriptures that it is astounding that it is so commonly overlooked (Deu 30:3; Jer 31:10; Eze 11:17; Eze 20:34; Eze 20:41; Joh 11:49-52).
(Deu 30:3) That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.
(Jer 31:10) Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
(Eze 11:17) Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.
(Eze 20:34) And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.
(Eze 20:41) I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.
(Joh 11:49-52) And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, (50) Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. (51) And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; (52) And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
In redemption, by the sacrifice and blood atonement of his dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord God gathered together all his elect in one in Christ. God was in Christ reconciling the world of his elect unto himself, not imputing our trespasses unto us, but imputing all our sin to his darling Son who was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2Co 5:17-21).
(2Co 5:17-21) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (18) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (19) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (20) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christs stead, be ye reconciled to God. (21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
In the redemption of our souls at Calvary all Gods elect were brought together before his holy law and justice in one Head, the Lord Jesus. And all the sins of Gods elect were gathered together in him, made to meet on him, punished in him to the full satisfaction of justice, and put away by him, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace!
In regeneration and effectual calling, by the omnipotent grace and almighty mercy of God the Holy Spirit gathers Gods elect one by one into his garner, by the preaching of the gospel (Mat 13:24-30; Mar 13:27; Luk 3:17).
(Mat 13:24-30) Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: (25) But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. (26) But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. (27) So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? (28) He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? (29) But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. (30) Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
(Mar 13:27) And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
The gospel we preach is the fan by which the Son of God purges his threshing floor, separating the chaff from the wheat, the precious from the vile, and gathers his wheat into his garner.
(Luk 3:17) Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
Being gathered out of every nation, kindred, tribe and tongue, gathered from all the divided peoples of the earth, in Christ we are made one (Col 3:10-13).
(Col 3:10-13) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (11) Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (12) Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; (13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Then, when our blessed Savior comes again in his glory, he will gather all his elect together in resurrection glory. Paul calls this our gathering together unto him (2Th 2:1). He describes the majesty of it in 1Th 4:13-18.
(1Th 4:13-18) But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Our gathering together unto him What a blessed prospect! Let those five words echo through our souls. Our gathering together unto him What a gathering that will be! No wonder Paul calls this the blessed hope of every believing heart.
This gathering will take place at the end of the world, in the day when Christ returns to earth the second time, when the fulness of times is finished. Our Savior went away in the clouds of heaven, and in the clouds of heaven he will return. Visibly, in the body, he will return. And the very first thing that Christ will do will be to gather together his people (Mat 24:31).
(Mat 24:31) And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The sleeping saints will be raised first. Then the living saints will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye! It is written, The dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
(1Co 15:51-52) Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
When every member of Christ is found, and not one is left behind, when soul and body, those old companions, are once more reunited. That will it be a great gathering. All gathered to gather in one, in Christ, even in him!
Adam and Eve
Abel and Abraham
Abraham and Lot
Isaac and Isaiah
Noah and Simeon
Rahab and Ruth
Tamar and Bathsheba
Paul and Barnabas
Peter and John
David and Don!
Children of God, we have no reason to fear in the day of gathering, however fearful the signs that may accompany it. Before the final destruction of all things begins, we will be hidden in the secret place of the Most High.
What miracles of grace will be revealed in that day! We will see some in heaven whom we never expected would have been saved at all. The confusion of tongues will finally be reversed, and done away. The assembled multitude will cry with one heart and in one language, See what God has done (Num 23:23). We shall be gathered by Christ, gathered unto Christ, gathered in Christ, and with gathered Christ!
All the family will be gathered (2Pe 3:9).
We will all be of one mind in all things.
We will all be presented faultless before the presence of his glory, with exceeding joy!
We will never part!
And all sorrow will be gone forever!
Then, when all the saints are gathered to glory and all the wicked forever cast into hell, our Lord Jesus Christ will make all things new, and we shall see all things reconciled to God in that glorious day called restitution of all things! What a day, glorious day that will be!
(1Co 15:24-28) Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. (25) For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. (26) The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. (27) For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. (28) And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
(Mal 1:5) And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.
In that blessed day, when the Lord is magnified from the border of Israel, we will see and all the world will be made to see, and made to see clearly, what God has been declaring since the beginning: I loved Jacob, and hated Esau (Mal 1:2-3).
Amen.
Fuente: Discovering Christ In Selected Books of the Bible
your: Deu 4:3, Deu 11:7, Jos 24:7, 1Sa 12:16, 2Ch 29:8, Luk 10:23, Luk 10:24
The Lord: Psa 35:26, Psa 35:27, Psa 58:10, Psa 58:11, Psa 83:17, Psa 83:18, Eze 38:16, Eze 38:23, Eze 39:21, Eze 39:22
from: or, upon, Heb. from upon
Reciprocal: Jos 23:3 – And ye Psa 52:6 – righteous Psa 91:8 – Only Eze 39:9 – shall go Oba 1:19 – the south Mic 7:10 – mine
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Mal 1:5. The objective of the Lord in thus punishing Esau or Edam was that He might be magnified. Israel was supposed to see all this and ac- knowledge God’s greatness.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Observing Yahweh’s dealings with Edom, the Israelites would learn of His love for her and His greatness that extended beyond Israel (cf. Mal 1:11; Mal 1:14; Mal 3:12; Mal 4:6). They would eventually call on other people to appreciate Him too.
"While Edom does not have the most space devoted to prophecies against it in total number of verses (Egypt has that honor, thanks to Ezekiel), it has the widest distribution among the prophetic books. From Isaiah 34 in particular it is clear that Edom can be used by the prophets to stand as a synecdoche for ’all the nations’ (Isa 34:2)." [Note: Ibid., pp. 1281-82. For a list of oracles against foreign nations in the Prophets, see ibid., p. 1281.]
The point of this section was to get the Jews of the restoration community, who were thinking that God had abandoned them and forgotten His promises to them, to think again. Even though they seemed to be experiencing the same fate as their ancient enemy, the Edomites, God would restore them because He had entered into covenant relationship with them. He would keep His promises, both to the Israelites and to the Edomites, for better and for worse respectively. This reminder of the Lord’s love provided positive motivation for the priests to return to the Lord, and it should have the same effect on all God’s people who read these verses.