Middletown transcript., 1922-09-16
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
Sll19ldayScflool .
Lesson '
(By REV. p. B. FlTZWATER. D. D..
Teacher of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute OF Chicago.D
Copyright 1929. Western Newspaper Union.
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER II
THE MESSAGE OF MALACHI

LESSON TEXT-Mal 3:1-4:3
GOLDEN TExT-Return unto me, and
will return unto you, saith the Lord OF |
Hosts.-Mal. 3:7.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-II Kings
H:7-23 Isa 6: Elk. 2:I-7; Acts 20-35; ii |
Cor S: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 Is
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
gai 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
few years. Though outwardly the lives
OF the people We're correct, the prophet
pointed out the sins OF Il corrupt priest
hood, mixed marriages and failure to
pay tithes.
!. lsrae's Base Ineratitude Il :1-5).
God approached them with the ten
| der affirmation Il 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.
u. Gods Severe Indictment Il &C.
2:1D. ..
l. Against the Priests Il 90, o.
They were guilty O of profanity
G:G. 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) Sacrilcge wv. I, 81. Their
sacrilegious act was in Offering pol
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 be
genuine; must cost something. We
should give to God oue 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-
fee. (3) Greed G:10). They were
not willing to open the doors of Gods
house without pay. Our service should
be out of n heart of love for God, moi
for profit. This has Il vital application
to ministers and eyangelistS today. Tt
enter Christian service because o1
worldly gain is of this type. (D Wear
mess q :12,13). Because of lack o
love the routine of dnty became irli
some. 20 Not teaching the law t.
the people e. :1-0). Those set apar
to teach Gods law to the people have
, great responsibility and God vii
} most surely demand an accounting.
2. Against the People e :10-1I; 3:7
, 15). CD For ungodly marriages (2:11
f 1o). Gods purpose in the prohibition
i | VI Dl1AtI 1ih1tliStS HtlS liitll lit itiiS Sii
. raise up holy seed ". 15). The mar
;. rlage of the believer with the unbc
lever today brings confusion into tn
i fold of God and turns aside His pun
pose. (2) For divorce (2:13-l6). ID
o vorce was the source of great sorroN
even the tears of the wronged won
D en- covering the altar ". 13). The oi
$ ferings of man Who had thus treate
& his wife would be an abomination t
God. The tears of wronged woihe
d today are going up to God and max
even the prayers of some men n
r. abominaton to Him. t3) Publ
d wrongs (3 :5, G). (a) Sorcery-magi
= Those who practice such things shoul
be regarded as public offenders. Il
Il Adultery This is sin of wider eXteI
II than the parties concerned. (c) Falls
q swearing. (d) Oppression of the hir
ling. widow and fatherless. {,
If Turned aside the stranger from h
rights. (D Blasphemy 6 3;13-15
+ They openly spoke against God aSser
ing that it was profitless to ser'
r. Him.
. III. The Severe Judgments Whit
nj ehaIl Befall the Nation (3 10; Ale
is 1. BY Whom Executed. This
IS done by the Lord. Judgment has be-
er committed to the Son of God (Ae
1880, 3D. When Christ returns t
e. faithful and the unfaithful shall be d
s. ferentiated and rewarded according
lr their deeds.
2. Time of Second Coming of Chri
n John the Baptist was the forerunn
be of His first coming. Elijah shall
the forerunner of His second comlr
8. Result For the righteous il W
- be day of healing and salvation.
70 the wicked it will be a day of burnt
and destruction. A book of rene
\ brance is now being kept. a day
| otl.iLutinn Is coming