The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1940-06-20
MALACHI DEMANDS HONESTY
TOWARD GOD

- W EAA~D SCO
LESSON TETT-Malachi 3:7-18.
GOLDEN TEXT-Brin3 We all the tithes
into the storehouse, that there may be meat
in mine house, and prove me how herewith,
saith the Lord OF hosts, If 1 VIII not open
You the windows of heaven, and pour you out
q blessing, that there shall not be room
enough to receive it.-1lalachi $40.
Spiritually sick-and desperately
so-Was Israel in the days of NAL
achi. The nation had been released
from captivity in Babylon and had
been back in their own land for
almost a century. The outburst of
religious enthusiasm which charac-
terized their return had resulted in
the rebuilding of the temple ezra
1:1-4). In this they were encour-
aged by Eaggai, as we recall from
our lesson Of last Sunday. They had
later been led by Nehemiah in re-
neWed interest in spiritual things
and in the rebuilding of the city
wall, but now again they had turned
away from God. Malachi came
with what one might call God last
word before judgment upon their
sins. The lesson centers around
four words.
l. Apostasy.
eye have turned aside" ". T,
r. W. This was Gods complaint
against His people. In spite Of His
blessings upon them, they had inter-
married with the heather, they had
dealt treacherously with their breth-
rem, and had neglected to worship
God. What was even worse, they
felt no conviction about their sin
and denied that they owed God any
thing, not even the debt Of common
gratitude.
Read the insolent, self-confdent
questions and assertions of the
people in verses 7, 8, 10 and A..
Think how perfectly they fit the atti-
tude Of thousands Of unbelieVers and
backsIidden Christians in our day.
One might almost think that NAL
achi were reading the secret
thoughts of our own people, and pos
sibly of our own hearts.
IL. Robbery.
Illness commonly has its center Of
infection, whether it be physical or
spiritual sickness. Malachi struck
at very vital point when he re-
vcaled that the heart Of Israels dif-
ficulty was dishonesty toward God.
That dishonesty reflected itself in
c-1Nipi+1,~l 41,ir,rr- 20
was talking to an arguing genera
ton Gust like ours), he gave them
a concrete Illustration of their deceit
they had withheld from God the
tIthes and offerings.
Men VINO would never cheat the
telephone company out Of a nickel
will rob God consistently Sunday
after Sunday by simultaneously
slipping a thin dime into the collec-
ton plate. II that is all a man can
and should give, God will bless it
and multiply it for His glory. But
certainly it does not befit one who
lives in luxury to give Gods work
the smallest piece Of change which
he can decently slip into the plate.
Timing may be said to be an Old
Testament principle Doubtless it
is also true that the principle Of New
Testament Christianity is that all
we have belongs to Cod, but often
the one who hides behind that fact
does not give as much as the people
of Old Testament times. Is that
honest?
III. Judgment.
God is love, but that does not
mean that His patience is without
limit nor that He will forever with
hold judgment He says, through
Malachi ". 81, eye are cursed with
a curse" The blessing has been
withheld ". 10y, The devourer is
in the land ". ~. He promised
them release and blessing if they
repented and returned to the right
way, which obviously means that
their failure to do so would bring
judgment. We know that Israel
despised Gods warning and to this
day is paying for its sin. Will
America be wise enough to heed
Gods call?
Nv. Blessing.
So often the loving God had to
speak through His prophets of i'm
pending judgment on sin, but how
gracious He is in that He always
holds out the promise of blessing for
repentance and obedience.
Look at the precious promise in
verse 10. Thousands of Christians
join the writer in saying, THAT is
true in A. D. 1910 just as it was
in 400 B. c." Read verses II and
y. Note that our God is not only
a great God, but a good God.
Consider the blessings of spiritual
fellowship-the certainty of victory
revealed in verses Is and II. One
marvels that Israel could resist such
loving plea just as one wonders
also why men of our own day of
Gods grace still resist His gracious
invitation.