Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-21

The Jewish people have always found
encouragement in their hours OF DARK
ness, disappointment and despair in the
hope of the MeSSiah'S coming. The IN
fluence of this faith has been closely
interviewer in their history and been
potent factor in the development OF
their national character. The clearest
and most definite prediction concern
ing the coming Of the Messiah in the
Old Testament is the one assigned for
our lesson. We know nothing concern
ing Malachi, my messenger" whose
prophecy concerning the Messiahs COM
ing coming brings to close the Olo
Testament. The message that ne de-
ljyered shows that he was cotempo-
rary and co-Worker with Ezra ana Ne
hemiah.
There is something modern about his
prophecy, for the same sinister forces
of iniquity and sin can be found IN our
day Malachi fearlessly pointed OUT
their national failures. A depraved
priesthood was Indifferent to the law
of God. They sought to mislead the
people, disregarding the prescribed
ritual, offering imperfect sacrmces,
bringing the law into public disrespect.
Their attitude in this respect brought
them into moral contempt among tne
masses, for their life and service olo
not harmanize with their pro1essen
faith. Divorce was common. men wan,
tonly divorced their jewish wives any
married heather women. Their soclal
and moral decay was apparent by tnelr
practice of gross immoralit1es that Vlo-
lated their obligations to God ana tnelI
duty to their fellow men. The propneI
charged them with robbing Goa ano
being as a class, "sorcerers, aouiterers'
neriiirers. oppressorS of the h1renng
the widow and the fatherless, treatng
the non-Jewish citizen as II ne mao ne
rights that a Jew was bound TO respecIi
and being def1antly goddess" AgaHs'
this dark background he painted PIC
ture of the Messiah's coming opening
new day for the nation.
Messiah's Coming Promised.
Malachi assured them that the Mes
siah was coming, but that before He
came His messenger would appear to
prepare the way for Him and introduce
Him to the people. This preolctlon
referred without doubt to John tne
Baptist. The New Testament WRITER'S
saw in this prophecy direct reference
to the work of John the Baptist, who
recognized that his own work was that
of a forerunner to the Christ. He
called upon men to repent, for he rec
ognized, what Malachi pointed out
that unless they did change their life
and ways of doing things they
could not endure His administration OF
Justice. The Messiah's coming was &c
be marked by a thorough cleansing Oh
their lives and complete reformation
For He is like refiner's fire and
! like fuller's SOAP" In one word, Judg-
| ment," Malachi pointed out the perils
| of the nation, whose polluted life called
| for the advent of the Mcssianic King
to purify it and introduce reign OF
Righteousness and justice among men
and nations. The ministry Of John
| the Baptist and his demand that the
| nation repent" fulfilled the prophecy
of Malachi concerning the work Of the
messenger whose work was to prepare
the way Of the Lord.
The prophets clear-cut analyZation
of their sin showed the nations need
of a reformation. The priests had be-
come mere ritualists and their prophets
were Journalists in their preaching
Malachi's messages harmonized with
those of the great social prophets, who
recognized that there should be close
relation between religion and life. Al
though he agreed with the great proph.
cts from the days of Amos down tt
! his own day, Malachi stated and en-
phasized the doctrine Of the tithes In
a way, that no other prophet had, fol
according to his doctrine OF the tithes
| national prosperity and glory depended
upon their fidelity to the tithes. He
demanded that the nation Whnm ne