T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S disappoint us and do not keep their ■word? No, indeed, it does not, and we should always remember how we feel when people disappoint us, and when we say we will do a thing, to be sure and do just as we promised. We can not always depend upon people for many times they are careless and for getful, but we have a story today about a wonderful promise made by one who never fails to keep his promises. Prayer. Lesson Story. Do you remember the names of the two men who did so much for God’s people in the city of Jeru salem? Nehemiah and Ezra, and we remember how discouraged the people were because the walls were down and enemies came in and stole their crops, and they had a very hard time. What else did these men do for the people besides making their city beautiful and a safe place to live in? Yes, they taught them the Bible, and then the people became very happy. Now after God had been so good to these people would you not think they would always love Him and serve Him? The people did obey and worship God for a time, but after God’s messengers went away the people began to neglect to read the Bible, and then just like people today, when the Bible was laid aside, they did not go to God’s house on the Lord’s day to worship Him, and soon they fell into bad habits and evil ways. When people read the Bible and follow its teachings they are safe, but we are always in great danger as soon as we forget God’s word. Now God loved His people, so He sent another messenger to them, whose name was Malachi. The first thing Malachi told the people was that God would keep His promise He had made to them a long time ago, that -He would send a Saviour to the world; and that God’s promises would never fail. Then Malachi told them of God’s love for them, and of His sorrow be cause they had turned away from Him. They had not given enough money to
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keep God’s house in repair, for they had only brought their poorest gifts, and God had given them His best. But God was willing to forgive them if they would come back to Him, and bring the right kind of offerings. Boys and girls, you know if we truly love any one we just want to give him the best we have, and you know we can not read our Bibles and do as it teaches us to do, without loving God and giving Him our best service and gifts. God told them through his messenger, Malachi, that if they would bring Him all the money that belonged to Him (God), He would richly bless them. Malachi plainly de clares that if we will be honest with Him, if we will be square in our deal ings with Him, He will bless us. He asks the people to prove Him and see if His word is not true. So God says to the people, “ Return unto Me, and I will return unto you.” Then listen, boys and girls, to the wonderful prom ise. “ Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings.” This “ Sun of righteousness” is our own dear Saviour Jesus, who God had promised would come. Let us learn our memory verse. “He loved us and sent his Son.” Closing Prayer.— Our dear Heavenly Father, we thank thee for sending Jesus to be our loving Saviour. LET GOD WORK Duties are ours, events are the Lord’s. When our faith goeth to meddle with events, and to hold a court (if I may so speak) upon God’s providence, and be- ginneth to say, "How wilt Thou do this or that?” we lose ground. We have nothing to do there. It is our- part to let the Almighty exercise His own office, and steer His own helm. There is nothing left to us, but to see how we may roll the weight of our weak souls in well-doing upon Him who is God Omnipotent.— Rutherford.
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