John Calvin Commentary Malachi 3:12

"And all nations shall call you happy; for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith Jehovah of hosts." — Malachi 3:12 (ASV)

This verse is taken from the law, in which, among other things, God promises such a happy state to His chosen people that the nations themselves would acknowledge in them the blessing of God. A contrast, however, is to be understood: having fallen into such misery, they had become, as it were, detestable to all nations, according to what the law also declares concerning them:

“If thou shalt keep my precepts, all nations shall call thee blessed; but if thou wilt despise me, thou shalt be a sport to all nations, all shall shake the head and move the lips; yea, they shall be astonished at the sight of thy misery, and whosoever shall hear his ears will tingle” (Deuteronomy 28:1, 15).

So, as the Jews were consumed, as it were, in their miseries, the Prophet says, “If you turn to God, that happiness which He has promised you shall not be withheld. He has it, as it were, ready in His hand, like a treasure that is hidden, according to what is said in Psalm 31:19, ‘How great is the abundance of thy goodness! but it is laid up for them who fear thee.’”

God then means that He will not prostitute His blessing to dogs and swine, but that it is always in reserve for His children, who are teachable and obedient. The nations then shall call you blessed, for ye shall be a land of desire.

This promise also is taken from the law, in which God says that He had not in vain separated that land from the rest, because it was to be an example or a representation of His kindness throughout the whole world. We indeed know that God has always been bountiful even to all nations, so as to satisfy them abundantly with provisions; but the land of Israel is called the land of desire, or a desirable land, because it was the special scene of God’s bounty, not only concerning food and drink, but also concerning other more excellent blessings. He now adds—