Charles Spurgeon Commentary Malachi 3:16

"Then they that feared Jehovah spake one with another; and Jehovah hearkened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared Jehovah, and that thought upon his name." — Malachi 3:16 (ASV)

They that feared the LORD spake often one to another:

They could not bear to hear their God spoken of in this way, so they went to one another's houses, they found each other, and talked to one another.

And the Lord hearkened,

He loves to listen to the holy talk of a holy people: 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.

That is a very precious expression; perhaps you cannot speak much for the Lord, yet you think all the more about him; and God remembers those who think upon his name. Yet, often, thinking leads to speaking, and there ought to be no speaking without previous thought. God loves to listen to the thoughtful conversation of a loving people who stand true to him in the midst of an ungodly crowd, and he thinks very highly of them.

Then—

At that very time—