The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-09
THE SUNDAY.SCH0OL LESSON.
Dec. 10, 1s99-Malachi 4, ell, and iii,
S-12-Lessons I'm Giving.

Tertu,lian calls Malachi 1.-The transforming
between the two dispensations-the skirt and
boundary of Christianity" The Jews call him
the seal because lasD of the prophets. For this
reason. IL for no other, the book would have Pc
culiar attractions. But IL has high intrinsic
merits aside from the mere accident of its posi-
ton. Delitzsch afirms the language to be Wig
orous. pure and beautiful. and Kohler the
soning to be concise and cogent. Jesus
familiar with Malachi and interpreted his last
words to be the annuncation of his har-
binger-John the Baptist. AS affrms. THE
book makes unspeakably solemn close for the
Old Testament" The age of Malachi
was exceedingly degenerate 1t had been better
If the temple had been closed entirely than that
such a hollow mockery Of workshp should be
kept up. The tithes of the people were scant In
measure and despicable in qualty-moldy bread
fering to their civil governor he would have
spurned 1t. and then they add injury to insult by
asking wherein they have despised weared
or polluted robbed God No wonder
two advents stand close together. seem, in fact.
to be one-the advent in mercy and the advent in
great white throne in the background |.
The last book of of the old Testament is a per-
feet Mount Sinai. quakng. flashing, laundering
with the righteous Indignation of Jehovah
against the people whom He had lifted to
heaven in privilege. but who were all unworthy
of their exaltaton. Who may abide the day of
His coming? He shall be as fierce as the re-
line salt. He will burn like oven and leave
neither root nor branch. But here. as
against ns II os psCp
at this late date, In spite of all their stout
e eaE9 m e e nc Cod
it, into the treasure-house. the sluices Of bless
ing will be thrown wide open and they will have
more favor than they have capacity to contain.
The Analysis
1.-The Book of Malachi.
. Enhanced by its position.
Intrinsic merits.
Style vigorous.
Matter concise
u-Degeneracy of Malachrs age.
Tithes withheld.
Defense attempted.
IH-Book OF Malachi A Mount Sinai.
Righteous anger OF God
Fire and soap.
IVA beatitude against the woe.
Tithes brought in.
Siuices OF heaven opened.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN
There was an invisible kingdom OF God in the
midst Of the visible kingdom. Those who feared
God and spake to one another were known only
to God visible and historic continuity is not
indispensable even under the dispensation.
Every age has its Elijah. Malachi was as GER
tainly the Elijah of his day as John the Baptis,
OF his Any man who with persistent earnest.
ness. drives the people to a choice between God
and Baal. is an Elijah The greatness OF the
Dental history He was the last prophet to urge
Israel to a wise choice
A beautiful and indispensable trait OF the mod
ern minister Is given when Malachi saws the
priests lips should keep knowledge (ii, a.
Lange's paraphrase is admirable. Keep knowl-
edge, not from the people, but for the people.
Ministers must be men OF knowledge; for how
are they able to teach others the things OF God
who are themselves unacquainted with these
things, unready in them?
The imminent appearance OF the Lord In His
church Is the tombstone Of the church. In what
state would He find 1T? No tables OF money
changers; seats of dove-sellers: no mody
bread or lame lambs: tthes withheld. no
peevish questioning? We better. doubt.
than the church in the age OF Malachi and OF
Herod. But better In the ratio OF our added
light and privilege? That is the question