St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1935-12-27

send my messenger, ana ne snail
prepare the way before me. NAL
achi 81.
PRIMARY ToPIc-God's Best
Promise Comes True.
JUNIOR TOPIC-How God Kept
His Best Promise.
INTERMEDIARY AND SENIOR
TOPIC-Bringing in Better Day.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
ToP1c-Preparing the Way of the
Lord. 4
(The lesson committee has provid-
ed as an alternative a Christmas
lesson, using the text Matthew q:
1-12).
The subject of today's lesson is
broader than the printed text. In
order effectively to teach this lesson,
the entire Book of Malachi should
be surveyed. The prophet pointed
out the sins of the corrupt priest
hood, mixed marriages, and failure
to pay tithes, with the portrayal
Of the coming Judgment and glori-
GUS new day with Christ reigning
in his glorious kingdom.
I. The Base Ingratitude Of Is-
rael (1:1-5).
God approached them with the
tender affirmation, 81 have loved
thee" It was the burden Of the
prophet to declare this fact unto
them ". u. So worldly were the
people that they failed to discern
Gods good hand upon them. Israel's
attitude toward God is shown in the
skeptical question. wherein hast
thou loved us?" ". p. Malachi an
swers this question by showing
Gods choice of Jacob and his pass
ing by Of Esau, his destruction of
Edom and his saving of Israel.
II. Gods Severe Indictment Il g.
2:17; 3:7-15).
1. Against the priests Il 10y.
They are guilty of
a. Profanity Il 80. Their pro-
family consisted in despising 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.
b. Sacrilege CIT, 81. Their sac
religious act was in Offering pol
luted bread and blemished sacri-
fees.
c. Green (1:1O). They were not
willing even to open the doors of
Gods house without pay. Service
to God should be out Of a heart Of
love for him,
d. WEAKNESS Il: II, 13). Because
of the absence of love, the routine
Of priestly duties became irksome.
e. Not teaching the law to the
people (2:1-9). Those set apart to
teach Gods law to the people have
a great responsibility and God will
most assuredly demand an account
ing.
2. Against the people (2:1O-17;
3:7-15).
a. For ungodly marriages (2:11,
12). Gods purpose in the prohibit
ton Of mixed marriages was that
he might raise up a holy seed ".
15). Marriage with the heather
would Illustrate this purpose. Mar.
riage Of the believer with the I'M
believer today brings confusion into
the fold of God and turns aside his
purpose.
b. Divorce (2:13-16). Divorce in
Israel was the source of great sor-
row. Even the tears Of the wronged
women covered the altar ". 13).
The offerings of the man who had
thus treated his wife would be an
abomination to God.
c. Public wrongs (3:5, g..
(1) SOrcery or magical arts. This
includes the practice of occult sci
ences, such as spiritualism, NEGRO
NANCY, fortune telling.
(2) Adultery. This is a sin Of
wider extent than the direct parties
concerned. It is a canker which
gnaws in the very heart Of soci-
ETY.. Unfaithfulness to the mar
riage relation should be regarded
as public sin. Such sinners should
be ostracized from society.
90 False swearing.
az Oppression of the hireling, the
widow, and the fatherless.
(5) Turning aside the stranger
from his rights.
d. Withholding tithes from God
(3:7-12). Failure to pay tithes is
robbery Of God. His claim upon
Israel was tenth, plus free-will
offerings Our responsibility is to