Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-21
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N5eR@kIYN J
'f7lABER'N|' Y
M .BIRLE.STUDIES.
WAITING FOR MESSIAH.
WAITING FOR MESSIAH.


MaIachl ~, /; ~, o--beS' 81
Behold He shall come, saith the
Lord. even the Messenger of the Gov
enant whom yc delight in. But who
may abide the day of His eemingi for
lie is like fullers' soap and like Il re-
iiner's fire"
Malacli's prophecy, the most strik-
ing features of which constitute the
lesson of today, concludes the Old
Testament canon. 1t contains not
only Divine rebukc for sin, but also
Il Divine promise of rescue. 1t fits
we'll to the time generally assigned to
Nehcmiah's period. 1t remained
for Israel to show thorough repent
ance and to institute thorough re-
forms.
The Jews, comparing themselves
with other nations, perceived that as
result of being Gods people they had
been held TO (; more strict account
than other nations. 50 that although
their nationality was superior, it was
through repeated and severe chas-
tisements. They were even question:
ing the prefitableness of being God $
chosen people The arrogant. proud
nations around them f1ourished in tenn
poralities more than they. They
could not stand this: they forgot that
they we're a people for purpose. and
that to fit them for Divine service in
the future, trying experiences we're
permitted and We're really evidences Of
Divine favor What son is he whom
the father chastcncth not? If We be
without Chastisement, then are We not
sons"
ri
brought forward by the words, "They
that feared the Lord spake often one to
another. and the Lord hearkened and
heard il, and a book of remembrance
was written before Him for them that
feared the Lord and thought upon His
Name They shall be Mine, saith the
Lord of Hosts in that day when | make
up my jewels"
lsrael-Typica and Antitypical
The foregoing has revealed very much
Of all prophecies respecting lsrael's IA
vors to be fulflled-a portion in spiritual
Israels experiences and another portion
in natural Israels The faithful of the
Jewish Age. Abraham. Isaac and Jacob
and all the Prophets will surely have a
great reward. When Messiah's Kingdom
SHAH u iiiduE VI dttI pil llAt spun pun ,
invisible to men, those Ancient WORTHLESS,
who were once called the Fathers, will
have a very high rank of service in con-
nection with the Kingdom in that they
will be its earthly representatives and
opponents. Instead of Thy Fathers
shall be Thy children Iof Messiahl
whom thou tMessiahl mayest nuke
princes lrulersl in all the earth. Psalm
xiv. Is.
Spiritual Israel, as history shows Us, is
tie great Messiah for whom the Jews
have 50 long waited. This Messiah Is one
that has many members-Jesus is its
Head the Church are His members
This Messiah Jesus. and His members OF
Bride. constitute the spiritual Seed OF
Abraham. "as the stars of heaven .
These must first be completed, and will
he gloritjed in Kingdom power before the
Ancient Worthless can receive their bless
ing on the earthly plane, and before nat
ural Israel can be gathered to them as
the nucleus of the Kingdom of God on
earth, to which ultimately ali nations.
peoples, kindred and tongues shall flow
for a share in Israel's New Covenant
blessings. OF these St Paul says, IF We
be Chrsts then are ye Abraham's See i
Ttypified by IsaaeI and heirs according
10 the promise. Galatians ill, 20.
These are Gods jewels on a spirit plane,
as the faithful Jews of the past are the
Jewels on the earthly plane, marked or
enrolled for distinguished honor in con-
uection with Messah's Kingdom
Messenger of the Covenant,
The 1sraeltes, discouraged with their
failure to keep the Law and to get the
blessings promised therefrom, were en-
couraged by the Lord with the promise
that some day Il great Messiah would
appcar-grcater than Moses with whom
God would make Il New Covenant on
their behalf The New Covenant would
be superior to the old one in that il
would have a better Mediator, for Israel
already had Gods perfect Law. The
New Mediator would not relax the Law,
either. The advantage to accrue through
Him, would be that somehow His Cove
nant and Sin-Offering would be more
efiicacious than that which Moses inSti-
tuted, because it would put away sin
forever and give willing Israelites new
heart a heart of flesh, after which they
would be given everlasting life on condi-
ton of maintaining their relationship
with the Almighty.
Jeremiah particularized this saying
1T shall come to pass after those days,
saith the Lord. that | will make New
Covenant with the House of Israel and
with the House of Judah, not according
TO the Covenant which l made with their
fathers when | led them out of Egypt 8
but their sins and their iniquities will
remember no more. Jeremiah Xxi, 81.
Israefs hope, thenceforth was in the
Messiah, whose coming would bring to
them the New Covenant blessings. They
have waited for Him since. Who can
help admiring the persistency of the
Jewish faitb-their loyalty to God? Who
can help noticing how sharply it is in
contrast with their previous unbelief and
idolatry? Who can doubt that God still
loves His people whom He foreknew and
whom He has promised shall DE re
gathered back to their own land and
back to His favor, under the New Cove
nant?-Romans XII, Is.
But the Prophet Malachi clearly init
mates that there might be disappont-
ment in connection with the much longed