Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-12-16
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON XII, 4TH QUARTER, IN
TERNATioNAL SERIES, DEC. N.


4 Compare Malachi 3:f-G, also Mat
thew 11:7-15 Commit verses 1918.
Tn the study of this lesson. 1t will
DE found helpful TO review what was
learned last week about Malachi and
his book. PeloiIbet suggests that We
/ note in the book some of its choice
sayings to be always associated with
| Malachi. and have the scholars learn
/ them by heart. such as:--..Haye we
not one father" (2:1O. 'sHe shall
ssft as a refincr and purifier OF silver"
| (3.3,.
| aWiil man rob Gody' (3:s). Bring
We all the tithes into the storebouseF
| enc. f}:10).
| "A book Of remembrance" GIG.
"fhey shall he mine, when ] make
M my jewels" t3:11.
"'rhe sun of righteousness, with
healing in his wings" t4:2D.
The applications of the lesson, as
seen In the circumstances in which its
truths were uttered, can be made sol
emn and effective
Historical setting of the lcsson:--B.
G. 43342 probably.
Place.-Ierusalcm and vicinity.
Place In history :--Nch. IL.
The section includes only the lesson
''Your words have been stout against
me. saith the Lord. Yet we say. What
have we spoken SO much against
theey"
by stout against me-" Is meant
hard, presuinptuous, impudent. (see
Jude 15}."
The latter part of this verse. in the
revised version, reads wherein have
: we spoken against theef" The words
$50 much" are omitted From Cam
bridge Bible we learn that the He
brew conjunction expresses reciprocal
action, spoken together ''one with
another" etc.
This evasion and endeavor to escape
the conviction that comes from wrong
doing, is one of the characteristics OF
mankind to-day, but the endeavor is
q failure, and even though men may
not admit 1t with their lips. down deep
in their hearts they know wherein
they have erred.
In answer to the question, wherein
have we spoken against thee?" the
prophet replied:
"Yc have said. 1t is vain to serve
God; and what profit is it that we
have kept his ordinance, and that we
have walked mournfully before the
Lord Of hostsi"
There are.many today who say II is
"A vain thing to be Christian. because
sit does not pay" Some who have
named the name Of Christ have said
to us i'm effect, IL not in exact words.
"what profit In IL to us" but they
knew in the. inmost recesses of their.
being that II WINS their sin that tr0u
bled them, and not the dealings OF
God To walk "mournfully," that is
with outward signs Of sorrow and re-
pentance for sins, in sackcloth and
ashes, and frequent national fasts,"
without sincere repentance in the
heart did not pay in olden times, nor
does it pay POW.
".And now we call the proud happy;
yea, they that work wickedness are
set up; yea. they That tempt God are
even delivered"
In the declaration I'VE call the
proud happy" Cambridge Bible says,
sThe word we Is emphatic, and sug-
gests a reference on the part of the
speakers to v. ~ Thou sayest that all
nations shall call them that obey thee
happy, we, on the contrary, call the
proud rebels against thee happy
They should have seen that their
own trials came from their own sin,
also that the prosperity of the wicked
(they that tempt God Is but for a sea-
son, but the, joy of the Lord abideth
forever. and no good thing will God
withhold from them that walk up
rightly in his sight.
'srhen they that feared the Lord
spake often one to another: and the
| Lord hearkened and heard it: and n
| book of remembrance was written be-
| fore him for them that feared the
| Lord, and that Thought upon his name.
| And they shall be mine, saith the
Lord of hosts. in that day when |
make up my icwels; and I will spare
them, as man spareth his own son
| that serveth him."
"Then shall We return anddiscern be-
| tween the righteous and the wicked.
! between him that serveth God and
! him that serycth him not
The word often is not in the He
brew. and the revised version is rem
dered "rhey that feared the Lord
| spake one with another"
There is n diversity of opinion as to
the proper translation of verses 1913
as regards their connection with vers-
es 1915. Geo. Adam Smith for then
| substitutes the Greek version ''such
] things Such things spake they
| that fear Jehovah" And the Lord
heard them. and keeps their names
written before him, and when the day
| OF his action comes they shall be sepa.
rated and spared. This is simply 70
transfer the fulfilmcnt of the promise
of Deuteronomy TO the future and to
another dispensation.
The second view is that among the
wicked ones who spoke so wickedly
OF God dwelt "A remnant who Were
| true children of God. These Were
! known to God by name. They were
drawn closer to God by the very pres
sure Of wickedness around them" (Pe-
| loubet.
Aside from these different views, w,
| know that by being true to God. the
fruit of our right doing, preceded 10y
saving faith in the Blood of the Lamb
! shall bring the blessing of the Lord tc
us in this life, and cause us to be mum
bered among his jewels in the last
great day. We can now discern be
4 - III.