The Arvada enterprise., 1922-09-14
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER II
THE MESSAGE OF MALACHI

LESSON TEXT-Mal. 3:l-s:3.
GOLDEN TExT-Return unto me. and
will return unto you. saith the Lord of
Hosts.-Mai. 3:I.
REFERENCE MATEEIAI-II Kings
T1-x3 Isa. G. Elk. .:l-7. Acts 3o-35. II
Cor. sl-9:l5.
PRIMARY ToPIC-God's Promise OF
he Saviors Coming.
JUNIOR TOPlC-Oncrings That Please
God.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
What We Should olive 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 10 give y survey Of the
entire book.
Malachi was perhaps contemporary
with Nehemiah; probably sustained the
same relation to Nehemiah, that Hag.
gai and Zecl,ariah 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 y
few years. Though outwardiy the lives
Of the people were correct. the prophet
pointed out the sins Of corrupt priest
hood. mixed marriages and failure to
pay tithes.
!. israsi's Base inoratitude Il :l-5).
God approached them with the ten.
der affirmation Il have loved you" Ii
was the prophets burden to declare
this fact unto them ". ~. So formal
ana worldly We're the people that they
failed to see Gods hand upon them.
The attitude Of Isrnc to God is shown
in the skeptical insinuation "Whcrein
hast Tl-,u 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 :G-
2:l1).
I. Against the Priests Il :G2. %.
They were guilty W of profanity
II 90. Their profanity was In despls-
Ing the name of God. To full to honor
God is TO be profane. To use His
name in any unreal way is to be thus
guilty. (2) Sacrilege (vv. Z, ~. Their
sacrilegious act was in offering pol
lutcd bread and blemisled sacrifices
To bring such offerings TO an earthly
ruler would be 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 br!!li,nt to offer in the
Lords service. The young should. not
esteem their lives wasted who offer
them on the altnr of missionary sacrl-
flee. (D Greed u:lO. They were
not willing to open Tho doors of Gods
house without pay. Dur service should
lie out Of heart Of love for God, not
for profit. This has Il vital application
to ministers and evangclists today. To
enter Christian service because Of
worldly gain is Of this type. az Wear
mess u:l2,13). Because Of lack of
love the routine OF duty became irk-
some. (O Not teaching the law to
the people (::1-0). Those set apart
to teach Gods law I" the people have
\ great responsibility and God will
most surely demand an accounting.
.. Against the People (2:1O-17; So
10. ~ For ungotily marriages 2:11.
12). Gods purpose In the prohibition
Of mixed marriages was that He might
raise up holy seed ". 10. 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 (c:13-10). Di-
vOrce was the source of great sorrow
even the tears Of the wronged wOn-
en- covering the altar ". 13). The OF.
ferings " man who had thus treated
his wife would he an abOminatiOn to
God. she tears OF wrOnged women
even the prayers OF some men nn
nbOmlnatlOn TO Him. (3) Public
wrongs t3:5. o.. (D SOrcery-magic.
Those who practice such things should
he regarded as public Offenders. (b)
Adultery. This Is n sin Of wider extent
than the parties concerned. (c) False
swearing. (dD Oppression Of the hire.
ling. widow and fatherless. (e)
Turned ASIDE the stranger from his
rights. a. Elasphemy G:l:t15.
~. The Ssvsrs Judgments Which
Shall 0sfaii the Nation t3:l.5: 4:1-0).
I. by Whom Executed. This II
done by the Lori. Judgment has been
committed to the Son ot God (Acts
II ::O-3i).
.. Time Of Second Coming Of Christ.
John the Yaptist WIS the fOrcrunner
of His first coming. Elijah shall he
the forer,inner Of His second coming.
3. Result. For tn. righteous II will
be q day Of healing and salvation. To
the wicked 1t will he n dny Of burning
and destruction. A book ~ remcm-
brnnce is now being kept. 4 day Of
retrlbutlOn Is coming.