The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-09-14
IMPROVED UNlF0RM INTERNATIONAL
Sil19ldaySchool
' Lesson
tBy REV. r. H. FITZwATER, u. D.,
Teacher OF English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute Of ChicagoJ
Copyright 1914 Western Newspaper unios
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER II
THE MESSAGE OF MALACHI

LESSON TEXT-Mal alta
GOLDEN TENT Return unto me. and
will return unto you. saith the Lord OF
Hosts Nal 81
REFERENCE MATERIAI,-U Kings
'.'-2S. lisa. b Ezk. All. Acts o-S. IL
cor S1-y.i5
PRIMARY TOPlC-God's Promise OF
the SaNtors Coming
JUNIOR TOPIC-onerings That Please
God
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
What We Should Give to God
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
What the Bible Tea. hes About Giving
The subject of todays lesson IL
broader than the text. especially the
verses printed. The best way To- teach
this lesson Is To- give survey Of the
entire book. . ~.
Malachi was perhaps contemporary
with Nehemiah probably sustained the
same relation to Nehemiah that Hag.
gal aud Iechariah did To Z.rubbabel.
After the completion Of the walls Of
Jerusalem Nehemiah seems TO have
been called back To the Persian court,
Few years. Though outwarily the lives
III the people were correct, the prophet
pointed cut the sins of a corrupt priest.
hood, mixed marriages and a failure 10
pay tithrs.
!. israeIs Base inoratituds uI-5).
God approached them with the ten.
der affirmation Il have loved you" 1t
was the prophets burden to declare
this fact unto them ". ID. So formal
aud worldly were the people that they
Jailed {" see Gods hand upon them.
tn. attitude OF Israel to God Is shown
In the skepdcal insinuation Wherein
hast Thou loved US? The prophet
answers this by showing Cots choice
OF Jacob and His passing by Esau; His
destruction Of Edom and saving Israel
~. Gods Severe Indictment q %
2:lO.
l. Against the Priests q 80. %.
They were guilty U OF profanity
q 80. Their profanity was In despls-
Ing the name OF God To fail to honor
God IL to be profane. To use His
name Ia any unreal way Is to he thus
guilty. ca Sacrilege wv. 7, ~. Their
sacrflegious net was In Offering pol.
luted bread and blemished sacrifices.
To bring such offerings to nm earthly
ruler would be gross insult. Gifts
tn he acceptable with God must he
genuine; must cost something. We
should give to God our best. There Is
no intellect too brilliant To orer In the
Lords service. The young should not
esteem their lives wasted who offer
them on the altar Of missionary sacrl.
flee. CD Greed U:lO). They were
not willing tn open he doors of Gods
house without pay. our service should
he out ~ heart ~ love for God, not
FOR profit. This has vital application
Ia ministers and eVangcllstS to-day. To
enter Christian service because OF
worldly gain Is IL this type. co Wear.
mess q :l2.lO. Because of lack Of
love the routine of duty became irk.
some. 90 Not ten,hing the law To
the people G. :l-0). Those set apart
To teach Gods law to the people have
"A great responsibility and God will
most surely demand nm accounting
.. Against the People (2:1OIT:
lj). CD For ungodly marriages (2:l1.
l2). Gods purpose In the prohibition
of mixed marriages was that lie might
raise up holy seed ". l5). The mar
riage Of the believer with the unbe-
licyer today brings confusion into the
fold of God and turns aside Ills pus
pose. GU For divorce (2:l3.1d). hi
vorce was the source Of great SORROW
EVEN the tears pf the wrnnged WON
en- covering the altar ". lO. The Of
frrings Of "A man who had thus treated
his wife would be an abomlnation 20
God. The tears Of wrunged women
today are going up to God and make
even the prayers Of some men an
abomlnation to Him. CD Public |
wrongs G. =. %. (a) Sorcery
Those who practice such things should
be regarded ms public Offenders. % !
Adultery. This Is a sin Of wider extent
than the parties concerned. tc) False |
swearing. Cd oppression nf the hire
ling. widow and fatherless. (e) |
Turned ASIDE the stranger from his |
rights. ca Blasphemy (3:l3-l5). !
10. The Severe Judgments Which |
Shall BefsII the Nation (31-5; i1-6). !
I. by Whom Executed. This Is |
done by the Lord. Judgment has been
committed to the Son of God (Acts |
II :3O3D.
2. Time of Second Coming Of Christ
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 II will be a day Of burning
and destruction. A book Of remen-
brnnce IL now being kept A day OF