Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-16
for SUNDAY ScbMb.
STAR LESSON FOR DECEMBER ~.
PREPARATION FOR MEssIAH.-M.l m:,1s
BY Rev. !. E. Gilbert, DID
SECRETARY AMERICAN SOCIETY OF REIIGIt Us Ell

he crimes against men he next mentions
tne utter disregard OF their duties toward
ing away and appropriating 10 themselves
what belonged to God This was in har.
mony with the dishonesty and selfshness
praeticed toward their fellows. Bad as It
Is 10 Cypress hirelings, widows and tho
fatherless. Il is Infinitely worse to ignore
what ought to be given to the Almighty,
That act was a fragrant and surprising de-
parture from the standard of rectitude
Hence, the prophet cries out In amazement
VIII man rob God?' Is there any one
sunken so low In sin, so lost to all sense
of duty. as to commit such deed? 1t IS
on account of this that curse rests upon
the nation. upon the whole nation, for all
alike have offended In this way. These
words are uttered with remarkable bold
ness. as coming from one who knew and
dared to speak.
TTTHING. Verse 10Y What was
meant under the last head finds full ex-
PLANTATION in this verse. The robbing was
of tithes and offerings. 1t was customary
for pious people to give 10 per cent of their
income to the Lord. The origin OF the
to Melchzedek Gen, xiv:20). and Jacob
recognized the act as commendable Gen,
xXvif:22). Both .of these patriarchs appear
to have done what had before been COM
mon. Moses enacted law on the subject
Qev., xxvii:32), which became an impor-
tant feature OF that dispensation, for the
tithes were given TO the ministers of re-
ligion (Numb.. xvii:2D. enabling them to
devote their entire time to sacred things.
To keep them back was. therefore rob-
berry, a very serious Interruption of Gods
plan for the conduct of affairs. Hence the
people are exhorted at once to bring In the
tithes all of them, that there may be no
lack in the house of the Lord or in the
houses of those that serve the Lord
BLESSING. Oversees 10. II. 12) A
great promise was attached to the perform
ance of this act, showing what Importance
was laid upon the ordinances OF religion.
That promise under three heads. First
the windows OF heaven would be opened
{Gen., vii:iD and good things would be
poured out, beyond the ability to receive
them. Notice the source. the act and the
quantity. Second. the things that have
caused trouble, the worms, locusts and va
venting the ingatherIng of fruit, all this
shall be removed. This is the negative side
as the first was the positive. Third, the
resulting prosperity. the granting of good
and the removal of evil shall be witnessed
by the people OF other lands and Israel shall
be called blessed. These three promises
are put out with an appeal to all to try
the Almighty, to prove Him by brinsing IN
the tithes and thus TO see whether He VIII
keep his word.
CONCLUSION. A few suggestive
thoughts may be stated in order: / The
greatest event in the history or the world
is the coming of Jesus Christ, the advent
of the Jewish Messiah. He was and is the
central character of the ages. Time looked
forward to Him and began again In Him.
. But Christ was never understood by
them who preceded Him or by His con-
temporarles, and is scarcely now under
stood by the masses of men. He IS the
marvel Of all marvels In that He came TO
reform and purify the world. 3. They
serve Christ who abandon their sins and
seek righteousness. This Is the true and
only return to him which is well-pleasing
in His sight. They who do wickedly are
enemies Of Christ. 4. The establishment
of the kingdom of heaven in the earth Is
largely dependent upon the maintenance
Of public worship, and therefore the sup
port of churches and ministers should be
encouraged. 8. They who are faithful in
the performance OF the outward duties OF
religion may expect Gods blessing In q
most conspicuous way TO be witnessed by
the ungodly world.