The Holly chieftain., 1922-09-14
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL.
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' Lesson
BY REV. p. b. FITZWATER, D. D..
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago)
Copyright. 1922. wenern Newspaper Union
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER II
THE MESSAGE OF MALACHI,

LESSON TEXT-Mal. 3:l-4:3.
GOLDEN TEXT--Return unto me- ant
I will return unto you, saith the Lord Of
Hosts-Mal. 3:7.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-u Kings
T:1-23; Isa 6: Elk. 2:1-7; Acts 2O-35: III
Cor. S:I-9:l5
PRIMARY TOPIC-God's Promise of
the Savior's Coming
JUNIOR TOPIC-Oferings That Please
God
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
What We Should Give to God.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
What the Bible Teaches About Giving.
The subject of today's lesson is
broader than the text, especially the
verses printed. The best way to teach
this lesson is to give a survey of the
| entire book. sg
Malachi was perhaps contemporary
with Nehemiah probably sustained the
same relation to Nehemiah that Hac.
gal and Zechariah did to Zerubbabel.
After the completion of the walls of
Jerusalem Nehemiah seems to have
been called back to the Persian court,
but returned to Jerusalem after n
few years. Though outwardly the lives
OF the people were correct. the prophet
| pointed out the sins of corrupt priest
hood, mixed marriages and a failure to
pay tithes.
!. IsraeI's Base Ingratitude q :1-5).
God approached them with the ten
der affirmation II have loved YOU" 1t
was the prophets burden to declare
this fact unto them ". ~. So formal
and worldly were the people that they
failed to see Gods hand upon them.
The attitude Of Israel to God is shown
In the skeptical insinuation "Wherein
| hast Thou loved us? The prophet
answers this by showing Gods choice
of Jacob and His passing by Esau; His
destruction of Edom and saving Israel.
II. Gods Severe Indictment Il g.
2:1D.
l. Against the Priests q 80, 81.
They were guilty "a of profanity
Q:6). Their profanity was in despis-
Ing the name of God. To fail to honor
God is to be profane. To use His
name in any unreal way is to be thus
guilty. (2) Sacrilege wv. Z, 81. Their
sacr'iegious act was in Offering pol.
luted bread and blemished sacrifices.
10 bring such offerings to an earthly
ruler would be a gross insult. Gifts
to be acceptable with God must be
genuine; must cost something. We
should give to God our best. There Is
no intellect too brilliant to offer in the
Lords service. The young should not
esteem their lives wasted who offer
them on the altar of missionary sacri-
flee. (3) Greed Q:1O). They were
not willing to open The doors of Gods
house without pay. Our service should
be out of a heart of love for God, not
for profit. This has vital application
to ministers and evangelists today. To
enter Christian service because of
worldly gain is of this type. (4) Wear
mess Il :12,13). Because of lack Of
love the routine of duty became irk-
some. (5) Not teaching the law to
the people GID. Those set apart
to teach Gods law to the people have
great. responsibility and God will
most surely demand an accounting.
.. Against the People 2:1O-1T; 3:7-
1O. "a For ungodly marriages (2:11,
12). Gods purpose in the prohibition
| of mixed marriages was that He might
raise up holy seed ". 15). The mar
riage of the believer with the unbe.
lever today brings confusion into the
fold of God and turns aside His pur-
pose (2) For divorce q :13-1G). Di-
vorce was the source of great sorrow
even the tears Of the wronged wom-
en- covering the altar ". 49, The of.
ferings of a man who had thus treated
his wife would be an abomnation to
God. The tears of wronged women
today are going up to God and make
even the prayers of some men an
abomination to Him. (3) Public
wrongs (3:5. G). (a) Sorcery--magic.
Those who practice such things shoult
be regarded as public offenders (b)
Adultery. This is sin of wider extent
than the parties concerned. (c) False
swearing, (U Oppression of the hire
ling, widow and fatherless. (e)
Turned ASIDE the stranger from his
rights. (4) Blasphemy .(3 1870.
ilI, The Severe Judgments Which
Shall BefaIl the Nation (3 :1-5; 4:1-G).
]. by Whom Executed. This is
done by the Lord. Judgment has been
committed TO the Son of God (Acts
II :30-31).
.. Time Of Second Coming of Christ.
John the Baptist was the forerunner
of His first coming. Elijah shall be
the forerunner of His second coming,
3. Result. For the righteous II will
be day Of healing and salvation. To
the wicked it will he day of burning
and destruction. y book of remem-
brance is now being kept. A day of
retribution Is coming