T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S bing God of tithes and offerings. The first mention of tithes is found in Gen. 14:20, where Abraham gave unto Melchizedek tithes of all the spoil he had taken from the kings whom he de feated. Abraham recognized Melchizedek as God’s representative and so honored him. Tithing was God’s law for His people Israel. It carries with it a very sig nificant truth. God is the Ruler of the universe. He is a jealous God. He de mands recognition. He is the Giver of gifts. He is a generous giver, but He desires to keep His people' in remem brance of Him. Just as our Lord estab lished the communion of the Lord’s Supper as a memorial of His love and devotion for His disciples and of His desire that they should remember the sacrifice of His blood in their behalf. God demanded the firstlings of the flock, as parents dedicate their chil dren. He demanded tithes of the land, the trees, the flocks. (Read Leviticus, chapter 27.) God does not need any thing from His people, but His people do need to be kept in remembrance of Him as their Ruler. God’s plan was orderly. He made provision for the temple worship. Tithes were paid to the Levites for their sup port (Num. 18:21-24). Tithes were made for the feasts and sacrifices and were sent (or the money from their sale) to Jerusalem (Deut. 14:28, 29). Tithes are a recognition of God’s right to offerings, and of the gratitude and homage due Him (Prov. 3 :9). In our lesson, God is calling atten tion to the failure of the people to bring their tithes and offerings, which He calls robbery, and pronounces judgment upon them: “ Ye are cursed with a curse.” This means that mischief will befall them; evil will come upon them. God cursed Cain for murder. He cursed the earth because of the sin of Adam and Eve, and the curse is on it today. You
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Introduction: Tlhe teacher should read the four chapters of this book. It is short but full of suggestive teaching. The truths are very applicable for our day. “ Malachi” m e a n s LESSON “ m e s sen g e r.” He EXPOSITION prophesied during the T. O. Horton days of Israel’s return to their land, and was the last of the Old Testament prophets. It is a heart-searching message, re vealing the heart of God and the sins of the people. The two advents of the Lord are seen, and the two fore-run ners, John the Baptist and Elijah. (1) THE COMING OF THE RE DEEMER, vs. 1-5. “ Behold, I wiir send my messenger.” Here we have the prophecy of the coming of John the Baptist and of Christ. John, whom Christ acknowl edges, was foretold by Malachi (Luke 7:27) and (Matt. 11:10). “F o r this is he, of w h om it is w ritte n , Behold, I send m y messenger before th y face, w h ic h sh a ll prepare th y w a y before thee.” The description of the sudden ap pearance of the Messiah is vivid, and of the attitude and condition of the pe :- pie true to facts as related in the Gos pels. Human nature has never changed. Two classes of people professing to be worshippers are described and are the counterparts of Cain and Abel— the true and the false— and their successors are with us today. John the Baptist and Jesus Christ, both with love in their hearts; de nounced sin and prophesied judgment, and we have no difficulty in seeing the reproduction of this picture in our day. (2 ) THE CURSE OF AND CURE FOR ROBBING GOD, vs. 6-15. “ Ye are cursed-—Prove me now.” This portion of our lesson is perhaps the most important, as it embodies one of God’s great fundamental laws which is but little understood by the church. God’s people are here accused o f rob
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