The Bolivar County Democrat., 1922-09-16
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
Si119ldaySchool
' Lesson '
(By REV. p. b. FITZWATER. D. D.,
Teacher of English Bible In the Moody
I Bible Institute of Chicago.D
Copyright 1922 Western Newspaper Union
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER II
THE MESSAGE OF MALACHI

LESSON TEXT-Mal. 3:1-43.
GOLDEN TEXT-Return unto me. ana
will return unto you. saith the Loro Oh
Hosts-Mal. 3:7. |
REFERENCE MATERIAL-U Kings
H;7-23; lisa. 8: Elk. 2:1-7: Acts 2o-sS: IL
Cor. 8:1-9:15
PRIMARY ToPIC-God's Promise Of
the Saviors Coming
JUNIOR TOPIC-Offerings 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 Ii
broader than the text especially the
verses printed. The best way to teach
this lesson is to give a 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 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 u
1
OF the people were correct, the prophet
pointed out the sins Of corrupt priest
hood, mixed marriages and a failure to
pay tithes.
!. IsraePs Base Ingratitude Il :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 ". ~. 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 us7 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 :6-
2:1D.
1. Against the Priests Il :6-2, 81.
They were guilty U) Of profanity
G: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. 7, 81. Thelr
| eShAC6Aouo at was Ill OACIlu6 pOi'
luted bread and blemished sacrifices
To bring such offerings to an earthly
ruler would be a gross insult. Gifts
to be acceptable with God must bt
genuine; must cost something. VIZ
should give to God our best. There il
no intellect too brilliant to offer in thu
Lords service. The young should mo-
esteem their lives wasted who offel
them on the altar of missionary sacrl
fee. (3) Greed (1:1O). They wer'
not willing to open the doors Of God''
house without pay. Our service shoult
be out of heart Of love for God, no
for profit. This has a vital application
to ministers and evangelists today. T.
enter Christian service because o
: worldly gain is Of this type. (4) Wear
mess q 1913. Because of lack O
love the routine Of duty became irk
some. (5) Not teaching the law tt
the people (2:1-9). Those set apar
to teach Gods law to the people have
a great responsibility and God will
most surely demand an accounting.
2. Against the People (2:1O-17; ~
15). % 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
vorce was the source Of great sorrow
even the tears of the wronged wom-
en- covering the altar ". 13). 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 (3:5, g.. (a) Sorcery-magic.
Those who practice such things should
be regarded as public offenders. (b)
Adultery. This Is sin Of wider extent
than the parties concerned. (c) False
swearing. (d) Oppression of the hire
ling, widow and fatherless. (e)
Turned aside the stranger from his
rights. (D Blasphemy (3:13-15).
They openly spoke against God assert
ing that 1t was protitless to serve
Him.
III. The Severe Judgments Which
Shall BefalI the Nation (3:1-5; :1-6).
l. BY Whom Executed. This is
done by the Lord. Judgment has been
committed to the Son Of God (Acts
1880, 3D. When Christ returns the
| faithful and the unfaithful shall be diff
ferentiated and rewarded according to
| their deeds.
| 2. 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 1t will
be day of healing and salvation. To
the wicked it will be day of burning
and destruction. A book of remem-
brance is now being kept. A day Of
retribution is coming.
God Will Give His Strength.