Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-09-14
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
Su11daySchool
= Lesson
Dy REV. p. D. FIrZwATER o. d,
Teacher % English Bleis tn the Moody
Bible institute OF ChicaGo.J
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER II
THE MESSAGE OF MALACHI


GOLDEN TExT-Return unto me. and
I VIII return unto you, saith the Lord of
Hosts.-MaI. 81.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-H Kings
n1-2S; lisa, 8: Elk. ELI; Acts 20-35; IL
Cor. S:1-9.5.
PRIMARY ToPIC-God's Promise of
the Savior's Coming.
JUNIOR ToPIc-onerings That Please
God.
INTERMEDTArEAND 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 d survey Of the
entire book.
Malachi was perhaps contemporary
with Nehemiah probably sustained the
same relation to Nehemiah that Hag-
gal and Zechariah did to Zerubbabei.
After the completion Of the walls OF
Jerusalem Nehemiah seems to have
been called back to the Persian court,
but returned to Jerusalem after a
rev years. Though %outwardly the lives
OF the people were correct, the prophet
pointed out the sins Of a corrupt priest
hood, mixed marriages and a>failure to
pay tithes.
]. israelss Base Ingratitude (1:1-5).
God approached them with the ten
DER affirmation II have loved you" II
was the prophets burden to declare
this fact unto them ". u. 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 i~nsinuatIon wherein
hast Thou loved us2' The prophet
answers this by showing Gods choice
Of Jacob and His passing by Esau His
destruction Of EdOm and saving Israel.
u. Gods Severe Indictment l:6-
2:17).
1. Against the Priests 1852, %.
They were guilty (1) of profanity
1:6). Their profanity was in despis-
ing the name Of God. To fall to honor
God is to be prOfane. To use His
name In any unreal way is to be thus
guilty. ~ Sacrilege (vv. Z, 81. Their
s~acrilegious act was In offering pol
iuted bread and blemished sacrifices
To 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 sacrl-
ice. Cd Greed (1:10). They were
not willing to open the doors of Gods
house without pay. Our service should
be out Of q heart of love for God, not
for profit. This has a vital application
to minister's and evangelists today. To
enter Christian service because of
worldly gain r. of this type. "a Wear
mess Il :12,I3). Because Of lack OF
love the routine Of duty became irk-
some. CO.. Not teaching the law to
the people Clio. Those set apart
to teach Gods law to the people have
a great responsibility and God will
most surely demand an accounting.
2. Against the People (2:10-17; 3:7-
15). ~ For ungodly marriages e III,
12). Gods purpose In the prohibition
Of mixed marriages wal that He might
raise up holy seed ". 15J. 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 e :13-16). DI-
vOrce was the source of great sorrow
eve the tears Of the wronged wom-
en- covering the altar w.. 49,. The Of
ferings of a man who had thus treated
his wife would be an abomination 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 1875, 81. (a) Sorcery-magic.
Those who practice such things should
be regarded as public offenders. (b)
, Adultery. This Is a sin of wider extent
than the parties concerned. te) False
swearing. (d) Oppression of the hire
! ling, widow and fatherless. lei
AuIHcu dhAue tuc sLLhuBcI AIuul HIS
! rights. az Blasphemy { :13-15),
|. III. The Severe judgments Which
! Shall Befail the Nation (8:1-5; 4:1-6),
. 4. BY Whom Executed. This h
J done by the Lord. Judgnanf has been
!. committed to the Son Of God (Acts
l7.808l).
2 Time of Second Coming Of Christ
] John the Baptist was the f~orernnnel
!. Of His first coming. Elijah shall be
] the forerunner of His second coming
: 8. Result. For the righteous 1t will
] be a day Of healing and salvation. nc
the wicked 1t will be q day Of burning
! and destruction. al book OF reraeni
brance is now being kept. A day 81
! retributiOn is coming.