Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-12-22
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The Sunday
| School Lesson
MALACHI REsuKlNG AND EN-.
CoURAGiNG JUDAH.
s. S, Lesson for Dec. "a. 1911.

MALACHI REsukiNG AND EN-.
COURAGiNG JUDAH.
Golden Text-"Return unto me, and
I will return unto you, saith the Lord
OF hosts NAL. 81.
Malachi 3:7-18. Commit 1915, II.
Time-43O B. c. Place-Jerusalem.
Exposition.--I. The guilt and folly
of robbing God. The prophecy of NAL
achi was occasioned by the unfaithful-
ness OF the people toward Jehovah.
They were blind to their unfaithful-
ness; when Jehovah brought his
charges, they constantly replied with
wherein have we done this or that
tch. I:6, z; 2:14, II; SET. 8, Is, R. W.
Malachi was speaking for God. In
the earlier part of this chapter God
had declared that he would send his
messenger to prepare the way for
himself and the character Of the mes
senger and his work Tvs. 1-5). The
Lord was coming to execute Judgment
upon various classes of sinners and to
be a swift witness against them ". 81.
All through his dealings with Israel
God had called them to repentance
and promised them pardon ". Z; Ct.
Lev. 26:40-42; Deu. 4:29-31; 3:14; !
X. S:47-49: Neh. I:S, 8; Isa 55:6. Z;
Jer. a:12-14. 20; Eek. 10: 30-32; Hos.
14:1-4; Zech. :1:3; Acts 3:19-21, R. ";
Jas ,4:8). From the days OF their
fathers Israel had gone astray from
Gods ordinances, and from the days
Of the fathers Gods constant cry was,
Return unto me and l will return
unto you ". y. In the blind self
righteousness of their hearts the PEG.
pie asked, wherein shall we return Z"
With similar pretense of guiltlessness.
those who reject Christ today are say
ing, "Wherein shall we return :" It
is startling question that God puts
in verse 5. will man rob God?'
Then God goes on to tell how, In
"tithes and offerings" The law of
tithes in the letter Of 1t belongs to the
Old Covenant, but we are under moral
obligations higher than the Jew. and
the man who does not set a proper
portion of his income apart for Gods
work is robbing God. Do you give as
much as you ought for foreign mis-
sions? We rob him in the use Of our
time, talents, our strength, our use Of
the Lords Day, etc. The result Is
appalling Eye are cursed with a
curse ". 9) The curse Of God rests
upon the nation and it rests upon the
Individual who robs him. Does 1t resi-
upon you?
II. Bring ye all the tithes into the
storehouse." 1912. When the whole
1.-THE is brought into the storehouse so
the needs of Gods work are fully sup
piled then the windows Of heaven are
opened and blessing poured out that
exhausts all our capacity to receive
(cf. Matt. $685. 2 Cor. 9;6. s; Phil.
Ills 10; Deu. %: 12;.I K. 1916: 1 Jno.
3:16-22J. Let any one who doubts It
prove God by trying him. Destroying
insects had been sent into their land
destroying their harvests, because of
their forgetfulness of God (cf Amos
4:9: 7:1-13: Hag. 1871: 2:10. II
they repented, Jehovah promised to
rebuke the devouring insects (cf Joel
2:2O); and promised them abundant
harvests in field and vineyard. but the
better reward was that all nations
should call them blessed ", IL; CT.
Deu. 4:6, y. The time Is coming
when Israel shall return and when
all nations shall call them blessed
lisa. 61:9: Jer. 1919; Zeph. 1913. 20:
Zech. 8:23), and the time is coming
when their land shall be a delight
some land" ". ~; CT. Deu 1910;
11:12; Dan. 11:41; Eek 36:33, 80;
Jer 1927: Zech. 8: 3-5).
III. Your words have been stout
against me. saith the Lord" 1915.
God adds charge to charge against
his guilty people. Not only had they
been faithless in their conduct, they
had been defiant in their words ".
13). There are not few today who
do not hesitate to speak against God.
they criticise his demands and his
providential dealings with them
What presumption! Il (cf. Rom. 800;
s11:33). There are those. today who
say, 1T is vain to serve God" and
that there is no profit In obedience to
him and that his religion Is mourn.
full thing ". 14). And there are those
today who call the proud happy and
regard the wicked as the ones who
are built up. Malachi's indictment Of
the people of his own day fits exactly
many today both in and out of the
church.
~. They that feared the Lord
spake often one to another" 1918
In the darkest days God always has
a faithful remnant (v 16). They soct
find one another out and speak one
to another Jehovah is pleased and
hearkens and hears and puts It down
in his book OF remembrance There
is a. book Of loving record kept Of
those who fear the Lord and think
upon his name. They are Gods pc.
culiar treasure ". II, r. "; CT Elk.
1875; I Pet 2:9, r. w. The time Is
coming when Gods people shall re-
turn and discriminate between the
righteous and the wicked, between
him tat serveth God and him that
serveth him not.
AN sENvlABLE MORTAL,