The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-09-19
Improved Uniform International
Sl11GdaySchool
' Lesson '
(By REV. p. B. FITZWATER. ID. Dean
Moody Bible Institute OF Chicago.)
To- 1929. Western Newspaper Ilnion.)
Lesson for September %
MALACHI FoRETELLs A NEW DAY

MALACHI FoRETELLS A NEW DAY
GOLDEN TEXT-Behold, / send my
messenger, and he shall prepare the
way before me.
LESSON TEXT-Malachi S:1-l1.
PRIMARY TOP1C-The Promise of
Gods Blessing.
JUNIOR TOPIC-The Promise of
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Our Part in Bringing in Better
Day.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
1C-Preparing the Way Of the Lord.
The subject of today's lesson is
broader than the printed text In or
der to teach this lesson effectively
the entire book should be surveyed.
The prophet pointed out the sins of
a corrupt priesthood, mixed marriages,
and failure to pay tithes.
|. The Base lnaratitude of Israel
dis.
God approached them with the ten
der affirmation, 81 have loved you"
1t was the burden of the prophet to
declare this fact unto them ". ~. So
worldly were the people that they
failed to discern Gods good hand up
on them. Israel'S attitude toward God
Is shown in the skeptical question,
"Wherein hast thou loved us" ". p
Malachi answers this question by
showing Gods choice of Jacob and
his passing by of ESau, his destruc-
ton of Edom and his saving of Israel.
u. Gods Severe Indictment dc
2:17; 3:7-15).
l. Against the priests Il 60 20.
They were guilty of:
~ Profanity q :G). Their profan-
ity consisted in despising the name of
God. To fail to honor God is to be
profane. To use His name in any I'M
real way is to be thus guilty.
(2) Sacrilege III, 81.
Their sacrilegious act was in offer
ing polluted bread and blemished sac
riices. To bring such offerings to an
earthly ruler would be a gross insult.
(3) Greed G:1O).
They were not willing to open the
doors of Gods house without pay.
"a WEAKNESS 0:12, 49,. Because
of the absence of love, the routine of
priestly duties became irksome. God
threatened them with severe punish
ment unless they would take His re-
Dukes to heart.
(5) Not teaching the law to the peo-
pie OLD. Those set apart to teach
Gods law to the people have a great
responsibility and God will most as
suredly demand an accounting.
Q Against the people (2:10-17; 81
49,.
~ For ungodly marriages (2:11,
12). Gods purpose in the prohibition
of mixed marriages was that He might
raise up a holy seed ". 49,. The
marriage of the believer with the I'M
believer today brings confusion into
the fold of God and turns aside His
purpose.
90 For divorce (2:13-16). Divorce
in Israel was the source of great sor-
row-even the tears of the wronged
women covering the altar ". 13).
(3) Public wrongs (3:5, g..
a. Sorcery-magic arts. This in
cludes the practice of occult sciences
b. Adultery. This is a sin of wider
extent than to the parties directly
concerned. 1t is canker which
gnaws at the very heart of society.
Unfaithfuness to the marriage rela-
ton should be regarded as a public
sin.
C. False swearing.
d. Oppression of the hireling, wild
ow and fatherless.
e. Turning aside the stranger from
his rights.
"a Withholding tithes (3:7-12).
Failure to pay tithes is robbery of
God. His claim upon Israel was the
tenth, plus free-will offerings. Our
responsibility is to give as God pros
pers US { l Cor. 16:D.
20 Blasphemy (3:13-15). They open
ly spoke against Cod saying that 1t
was proftless to serve Him.
III. The Awful Judgment Which
Shall BefalI the Nation Oils; 10y.
l. BY whom executed ". y.
1t is to be done by the Lord. All
Judgment has been committed unto
the Son of God Ono. 500, 80, Of.
Acts 1870, 81. When Christ comes
in power and glory to render judg-
ment, He will distinguish between the
righteous and the wicked, rewarding
them according to their deeds.
2. The time of 1924 ~.
1t will be at the second coming of
Christ. John the Baptist was the
forerunner of His first coming. Elijah
will be the forerunner of His second
coming.
8. The result 1913, 4, 1918; Al, y.
For the righteous it will be a day
Of healing and salvation; for the
wicked a day of Burning and destruc-
ton.
More Sorrow, More Joy