Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-12-22
Sunday School Lesson
Commentary.
e. r. WALKER, D. o.
PREPARATION FOR THE MESSIAH
!. r. WALKER, D. o.


Golden text-Repent ye; for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand.
\ INTRODUCTORY.
Malachi was the last of the glorious
line of prophets who had for a thou
sand years prophesied unto Israel in
the name and under the inspiration
of Jehovah. particularly showing be-
forehand the coming of the Just One.
EXPLANATORY.
Time: B. c. about 397 (?).
Place: Jerusalem.
Verse /. Behold,-Particular atten-
ton! A very important announcement
is about to be made-I-It is Jehovah
who Is speaking. In the first verse of
this book we read that 1t is "the bur-
den of the word of the Lord (Jehovah)
to Israel by Malachi"-will send my
messenger.-The word for messenger
signifies angel-one who is sent by an
other. 1t was customary for kings to
send messengers before them when
they were on journeys; and the Lord
Jehovah meant that as the great King
He would send His messenger in i'd
vance of His coming.> 1t is generally
understood that the reference Is to
John the Baptist. And this is the
teaching of the New Testament.
2. But who may abide the day of
his coming THE Israelites wanted
the Messiah to come as the God of
judgment, to cut off their enemies;
but judgment must begin at the house
of God. Joel said cid: 1.-The day of
the Lord is great and very terrible"
He is a judge who will do right, and
will be a swift witness against sin, of
all sorts, whether within or without
the walls of Jerusalem. Not only the
Sanballats and Tobians will feel the
condemnation of His presence, but also
the mobiles and rulers of Jerusalem.
The hierarchy-the scribes and Plar-
isees-the hypocrites of Israel, the
sinners in Zion-were to be dealt with
by this Coming One; and we all know
how the prophecy was fulfilled; how
men of Israel and of Jerusalem on all
sides drew back from the Messiah,
whose words were like drawn swords,
and smote them sore because of their
sins-and who shall stand when he
appeareth? THE question is it's an
swer, which is. No one will stand
before Him." 1t is like Psalm 1903.
IF thou, Lord, shouldst make iniqui-
ties, o Lord. who shall stand?" The
Pharisees brought an adulterous wom-
an to Jesus for judgment; but He said
unto them: Let him that is without
sin among you cast the first stone.'
There We're no stones cast; rather they
all turned and walked away. There
was none among them without sin; so
not one of them could stand--for he is
like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's
sope:-What metal can stand such
fire? and what garments can stand
such soap, without any revelation of
basesness and uncleanness? Only the
precious sons of Zion, comparable to
fine gold" can dwell in such fire; only
habits Of righteousness, free from sin,
can remain the same. under the trial
of such soap. Those who really stand
in the presence of such purifying and
purging agency will certainly have
their baseness purged away and be
thoroughly washed from iniquity.' In
the presence of the Son of God it is
either run or submit to sanctification
from all that Is drossy and defiling.
And here is the reason the people did
not stand in His presence and judg
ment 1T is then one ever present
judgment Every soul of man is in a
state of grace or out of it; in Gods
favor or under His wrath and the
judgment of the Great Day, in which
mems hearts shall be revealed, will be
but an outward manifestation of that
now hidden jupdgment." If we are
not now able to stand the test of His
presence, surely we shall not be able
to stand in that judgment. We have
here two powerful purifying agents
mentioned one, the hottest of tires,
by which baseness Is removed from
hard and stubborn metals; the other
the strongest kind of soap, able to re-
store a garment to Its original clean
ness. This latter represents the divine
agency in the washing OF regeneration,
which purifies from the habit of sin;
so that he that is born of God does
not commit sin: the other figure rep
resents the renewing of the Holy
Ghost, who, like fire. goes through the
whole being and thoroughly purges
| and purifies from all sin. We must
stand in the presence of this agency
now, and receive His judgment against
| all sin of habit and heart. or we shall
not be able to stand the severe test
of the Day of Judgment.
(Fzek. 22:1S). When the Lord
would speak of testing character. He
uses the figure of the assayest. Thus:
THE filming pot is for silver, the fur-
mace for gold; but the Lord trieth the
heart" prov. 17:3). When He would
promise the sanctification of His serv-
ant, the Lord uses the figure OF the
separation of base metal from the pre-
cious. Thus: And l will turn my
hand upon thee, and purely purge
away thy dross, and take away all thy
tin" Elsa. 1:25). And when He would
give utterance to His highest appro-
val of His own He speaks OF the pre-
cious sons of Zion, comparable to fine
gold" clam. 4:2). Gold and silver are
purified by, fire; and the baptism, or
| publication which is for His people
is with the Holy Ghost and fire." or
| la A. Iyol,, Ghost lika fireb-that