The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1922-09-14
MPR0YED UNlFORM INTERNATIONAL
Sli111ldoySclnoo1
y Lesson V
'by REV. p. b. FITzWATER. d. D..
Ieacher Of English Bible in the Moody
BibIe institute OF ChicagoD
Copyright. 1922. Western Newspaper Unto,
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER II
THE MESSAGE OF MALACHI

VIII return unto you, saith the ord Of
Hosts--Mal. 3:7
REFERENCE MATER1A1,-11 Kings
iG7-23; Isa. 6: Elk 2I-7. Acts .o-Y5. n
Cor. S:l-9:l5
PRIMARY ToPIC-Gods Promise OF
the Saviors Coming.
JUNIOR TOPIC-OTerings That Please
!NTERMEDTATEI 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 u survey OF the
entire book.
Mainchl was perhaps contemporary
with Nehemiah; ; probably sustained the
same relation to Nehemiah TINT Hag.
esll ana Zechariah did to Zerubbabel.
AFTER the completion of the walls of
Jerusalem Nehemiah seems to have
Deen called back to the Persian court
but returned to Jerusalem after n
few years. Though outwardly the lives
VI the people were correct, the prophet
pointed out the sins Of 81 corrupt priest
mood, mixed marriages and a failure to
| pay lllHOS
!. lsraePs Base Ingratitude q :1-5).
COD approached them with the ten
der affirmation IL have loved you" II
was the prophets burden to declare
this fact unto them (v. ~. So formal
ana worldly were the people that they
tailed to see Gods hand upon them.
Ihe attitude of Israel to God Is shown
IN the skeptical insinuation "Whcrein
mast Ihou loved us?' 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 q :6.
2:1D.
l. Against the Priests Il 90, o..
Ihey were guilty U) of profanity
| l:6) Their profanity was in dcspis-
ing the name OF God. TO fail to honor
God is to be profane. 10 use His
name In any unreal way is to be thus
guilty. (2) Sacrilege wv. 7, 81. Their
sacrllegiOus act was in Offering mol
lutcd bread and blemishcd sacrifices,
10 bring such offerings to IN earthly
ruler would be gross insult. Gifts
TO he acceptable with God must be
genuine; must cost somethinh. we
should give to God our best. Tore 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 sacrt-
fce. (3) Greed Il :1O). They were
not willing to open the doors of Gods
house without pay. Our service should
be out of heart of love for God, not
Tor profit. This has vital application
to ministers and evangelists today. To
enter Christian service because Of
worldly gain is Of this type. "a Wear
mess u 1919. Because of lack OF
love the routine of duty became irk-
some. (5) Not teaching the law to
the people clio. Those set apart
to teach Gods law to the people have
n great responsibility and God will
most surely demand IN accounting.
2. Against the People (2:10-17; II
l5). ND 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 (2:13-16) Di-
vorcc was the source Of great sorrow
even the tears Of the wronged wom-
en- covering the altar (v. 13) The Of
fcrngs of man who had thus treated
his wife would be an abomination to
God. The tears Of wrongcd women
today are going up to God and make
even the prayers Of some men an
nbominaton to Him. (3) Public
wrongs (3:5. G). (a) Sorccry-magic.
Those who practice such things should
be regarded as public offenders. %
Adultery This is Il sin of wider extent
than the parties concerned. (c) False
swearing. (D Oppression of the hire
ling, widow and fathcrlcss. (e)
Turned assoc the stranger from his
rights. (D Blasphemy g 1870.
III. The Severe Judgments Which
Shall BefaII the Nation (3:1-5; 4:1-6).
]. BY Whom Executed This is
done by the Lord. Judgment has been
committed to the Son Of God (Acts
IT 7:30-31).
2. Time Of Second Coming of Christ.
John the Baptist was the forcrunncr
of His first coming. Elijah shall be
the f0rerunner of His second coming.
3. Result For the righteous 1t will
be day Of healing and salvation. T0
the wicked it will he n day of burning
and destruction. a book Of rcmem.
brance Is now being kept. A day OF
| retrihutfOp 10 oomipv