coming to set up His kingdom upon the earth. In either case there is a law here that operates any time and anywhere. Sin cannot be hidden from God. “ Be sure your sin will find you out” is a universal principle. God says through Zephaniah, “ I will search Jerusalem with candles” ( 1 :12), that is, no dark corner in the city will be left unexamined. Sin must be dealt with. The best way is to repent of it, confess it, and let God put it away. See First John 1:9. The Result o f Repentance Portrayed 3 :1 6 -2 « Doubtless the picture in this section is of the faithful remnant who in the latter days will repent of their sins, turn to the Lord, and receive His incom parable blessing. The prophet Zechariah tells how in that day these will look upon Him whom they have pierced and mourn for Him and for their sins (12:10; 13:1). The result will be that described in the verses o f this section of our study. Blessing will be outpoured. Through them the Millennial Kingdom will be established. Fear will be taken away (Zeph. 3:16 ). The Lord will dwell in their midst to save, protect and re joice in them (v. 17). They will again be able to enjoy their solemn assemblies (v. 18). They will be released from bondage which they have experienced among the nations (v. 19). In that day they will be a blessing to all peoples of the earth (v. 20). Indeed in that day God’s people Israel shall be “ the head, and not the tail” (Deut. 28:13) as they now appear to be. Thus our lesson calls our attention to this conclusion: repent ance brings blessing. It is a principle taught again and again in God’s Word. Helps for the Children Zephaniah Tells of God’s Forgiveness Zeph. 1:1; 2:3; 3:9-20 Memory Verse: “Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in loving kindness unto all them that call upon thee” (Psa. 86:5 R.V.). The minor prophet, Zephaniah, prophe sied in the days of Jeremiah, before the Israelites were taken into captivity. Like the other prophets, Zephaniah was given a message of warning if the people did not obey and worship God, and a mes sage of loving forgiveness by God if they would return to Him and walk in His ways. He called upon the people to seek the Lord that they might escape His anger in the day of judgment. After Zephaniah had shown the people the sad results of disobeying God, he told them of the blessings that would be theirs in the future when they wholly turned again unto Him. God’s heart would be filled with joy over His people when they once again placed Him first in their lives. As is always true, some of the people refused to. repent of their sins and return unto their God. Those whose hearts were truly sorry for their sins were joyous as they heard the good tidings about God’s plentiful forgiveness. With David, the psalmist, they could exclaim, “ Thou, Lord, art good, and
ready to forgive, And abundant in loving kindness unto all them that call upon thee” ! Do you sometimes become discouraged when you sin and pray for your Lord’s forgiveness and then commit the same sin again? As long as we are in our fleshly bodies we shall sin. How our hearts rejoice because our Saviour through His servant John has promised: “ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” June 18, 1950 WHOLEHEARTED RELIGION With this book of Malachi we stand on the threshold of 400 years of pro phetic silence. No inspired writer will use his pen until the New Testament writers begin their ministry. As far as preparation for Christ’s coming into the world is concerned, it is brought to a cli max with this book. The book seeks to get God’s people in readiness fo r that great event. For one thing it shows that vital religion is a thing o f the heart, not a matter o f outward observance. The key which unlocks the message of Malachi is the word “ wherein” which occurs seven times in as many replies of God’s people to the charges which the prophet lays against them. See 1:2, 6, 7; 2:17; 3:7, 8 ; and 3:13 A.R.V. True Godliness Includes Love of the Brethren 2:10 All of Judah had come from one com mon father, Abraham, and were created by one God, Jehovah of hosts. Therefore, this being so, they should have acted like brothers; the special creation of God to be His “ peculiar people.” Even so among Christians there ought to be this same brotherly attitude. “ Let brotherly love continue” (Heb. 13:1) is a New Testa ment admonition which needs to be observed. Christians have the same Fath er. They have the same Elder Brother, Christ, whose very life is their precious possession. They ought therefore, to manifest His life in their attitude one toward another. John, in his First Epistle, makes some solemn statements relative to this matter (e.g. 3:14-16). True Godliness Includes Keeping God’s Ordinances 3:7 The word “ ordinances” is to be taken here in its inclusive meaning o f laws and commandments of God’s revealed will. Never had Judah completely kept God’s ordinances. Again -and again they had departed from the divine will. Is not this true of us as well ? True Godliness Includes Money Matters 3:8-10 Judah had not been fair with God in respect to their income. They owed God and did not pay. The whole nation was guilty (9 ). If God’s people expect His blessing upon their lives they must be fair with Him in the matter of giving. T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S Mai. 2:1«; 3:7-10; 4:5, 6 Pointers on the Lesson
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