T H E K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S the altar speaks of His sovereign claims. The priests had lost their sense of the Divine requirements. They of fered the lame, the torn and the blind, and men today have their “ carpenter of Nazareth” , the “ ethical Jesus” and the “ Joyous Comrade” . We must know Him and confess Him as the Eternal Son of God, the Incarnate Word, the spotless Lamb of Calvary, risen, as cended and glorified. The table was set for the priests, but they had lost their taste for it. It was a high privilege to eat the loaves in the holy place, but the priests said in that day of apostasy, "Behold what a weariness it is!” An other point of controversy between Je hovah and His people was the denial of His holiness, ch. 2:17. Their moral standard was as low as their condition, and they made God such a one as them selves. Ch. 3:8 speaks of the depleted storehouse. God would spare them the chastening if they would return unto Him. The Levites were to have the tenth in Israel for an inheritance. In addition to this, the Israelite was to pay a tithe for the great feasts and also every three years a further tithe for the poor and the stranger. Num. 18. It would seem from this that each Israelite gave a quarter of his income to the work of the Lord. Thè last reproach that God brings against the people was that they despised His service, ch. 3:10. The prophecy closes with a happy contrast. There is one note of cheer amid the discord. There was a remnant among the remnant who feared the Lord and spake often to one another, ch. 3:16. They doubtless realized the low state of the people of God and took their share in it, but they also took sides with God and justified Him in His words and ways. “ They shall be mine, salth the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels.”
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v. 7. Return unto me. We, too, have failed in the very things here charged, yet God has not cast us off. Are we not blind to our highest interests? The obvious weakness COMMENTS FROM and ineffectiveness MANY SOURCES of many a Christian Keith L. Brooks life will never be overcome except by a whole-hearted return to the Lord. De ferred obedience must be rendered, di verted offerings paid.—Holden. v. 8. Will a man rob God? Have we robbed God in the realm of thought? In the hostelry of the mind, among the many transient guests and permanent dwellers, have we always had room for the Lord Jesus? Have we deprived God of His just dues in the domain of speech? Have we remained silent when His power was questioned, His dealings criticised, His veracity denied? Have we robbed Him of- service by standing idle in the harvest fields? Have we de prived Him of heartfelt gratitude for His sovereign grace? Have we refused Him filial obedience to His laws?— Farr. Ye have robbed me. Self keeps a sharp eye on the check-book to see that too much is not bestowed on objects of charity, and it whispers artfully, “ Re member how our expenses are increas ing,” and “ Charity begins at home.” Smooth-tongued self has an oily plea always ready, and if Christ’s sentinel is not there to challenge and silence the cunning seducer, self carries the day.— Cuyler. Wherein have we robbed thee? Robbing God is such a despicable crime that those who are guilty of it are not willing to own themselves guilty. They rob Him of His honor, of that which belongs to Him, of themselves, of the Lord’s day, of their offerings, yet ask, “Wherein have we robbed thee?”— Henry. In tithes and offerings. We do not begin to give offerings to God until we have paid the tithe which we owe to God. We are not in a position to make a present to the grocer when we are still owing him an account.'—Lewis. v. 9. Ye are cursed. There was a boy in a Roman carnival who was cov ered all over with gold-leaf and he died from stoppage of the perspiratory sys tem. There are many men undergoing a process of spiritual death because they are gold-leafed all over with hoarded money.-—Gordon. Christians believe that there is only one real yellow peril -—the lust for gold.— Bryan. v. 10. Bring the tithes. It does not s^y, “ Bring tips,” but “ Bring tithes.”—
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