prophets and kings-第123章
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nd despised； may find access to the Father。
〃O Lord； Thou art my God； I will exalt Thee； I will praise Thy name； For Thou hast done wonderful things； Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth。〃 Isaiah 25：1。
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Chapter 59
〃The House of Israel〃
In proclaiming the truths of the everlasting gospel to every nation； kindred； tongue； and people； God's church on earth today is fulfilling the ancient prophecy； 〃Israel shall blossom and bud； and fill the face of the world with fruit。〃 Isaiah 27：6。 The followers of Jesus； in co…operation with heavenly intelligences； are rapidly occupying the waste places of the earth； and； as the result of their labors； an abundant fruitage of precious souls is developing。 Today； as never before； the dissemination of Bible truth by means of a consecrated church is bringing to the sons of men the benefits foreshadowed centuries ago in the promise to Abraham and to all Israel；to God's church on earth in every age；〃I will bless thee； 。 。 。 and thou shalt be a blessing。〃 Genesis 12：2。
This promise of blessing should have met fulfillment in large measure during the centuries following the return of the Israelites from the lands of their captivity。 It was God's
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design that the whole earth be prepared for the first advent of Christ； even as today the way is preparing for His second coming。 At the end of the years of humiliating exile； God graciously gave to His people Israel； through Zechariah； the assurance： 〃I am returned unto Zion； and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem： and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth； and the mountain of the Lord of hosts the holy mountain。〃 And of His people He said； 〃Behold； 。 。 。 I will be their God； in truth and in righteousness。〃 Zechariah 8：3； 7； 8。
These promises were conditional on obedience。 The sins that had characterized the Israelites prior to the captivity； were not to be repeated。 〃Execute true judgment；〃 the Lord exhorted those who were engaged in rebuilding； 〃and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother： and oppress not the widow； nor the fatherless； the stranger； nor the poor； and let none of you imagine evil against his brother。〃 〃Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor； execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates。〃 Zechariah 7：9； 10； 8：16。
Rich were the rewards； both temporal and spiritual； promised those who should put into practice these principles of righteousness。 〃The seed shall be prosperous；〃 the Lord declared； 〃the vine shall give her fruit； and the ground shall give her increase； and the heavens shall give their dew； and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things。 And it shall come to pass； that as ye were a curse among the heathen； O house of Judah； and house of Israel； so I will save you； and ye shall be a blessing。〃 Zechariah 8：12； 13。
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By the Babylonish captivity the Israelites were effectually cured of the worship of graven images。 After their return； they gave much attention to religious instruction and to the study of that which had been written in the book of the law and in the prophets concerning the worship of the true God。 The restoration of the temple enabled them to carry out fully the ritual services of the sanctuary。 Under the leadership of Zerubbabel； of Ezra； and of Nehemiah they repeatedly covenanted to keep all the commandments and ordinances of Jehovah。 The seasons of prosperity that followed gave ample evidence of God's willingness to accept and forgive； and yet with fatal shortsightedness they turned again and again from their glorious destiny and selfishly appropriated to themselves that which would have brought healing and spiritual life to countless multitudes。
This failure to fulfill the divine purpose was very apparent in Malachi's day。 Sternly the Lord's messenger dealt with the evils that were robbing Israel of temporal prosperity and spiritual power。 In his rebuke against transgressors the prophet spared neither priests nor people。 〃The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel〃 through Malachi was that the lessons of the past be not forgotten and that the covenant made by Jehovah with the house of Israel be kept with fidelity。 Only by heartfelt repentance could the blessing of God be realized。 〃I pray you；〃 the prophet pleaded； 〃beseech God that He will be gracious unto us。〃 Malachi 1：1； 9。
Not by any temporary failure of Israel； however； was the plan of the ages for the redemption of mankind to be
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frustrated。 Those to whom the prophet was speaking might not heed the message given； but the purposes of Jehovah were nevertheless to move steadily forward to their complete fulfillment。 〃From the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same；〃 the Lord declared through His messenger； 〃My name shall be great among the Gentiles； and in every place incense shall be offered unto My name； and a pure offering： for My name shall be great among the heathen。〃 Malachi 1：11。
The covenant of 〃life and peace〃 God had made with the sons of Levithe covenant which； if kept； would have brought untold blessingthe Lord now offered to renew with those who once had been spiritual leaders； but who through transgression had become 〃contemptible and base before all the people。〃 Malachi 2：5； 9。
Solemnly evildoers were warned of the day of judgment to come and of Jehovah's purpose to visit with swift destruction every transgressor。 Yet none were left without hope； Malachi's prophecies of judgment were accompanied by invitations to the impenitent to make their peace with God。 〃Return unto Me；〃 the Lord urged； 〃and I will return unto you。〃 Malachi 3：7。
It seems as if every heart must respond to such an invitation。 The God of heaven is pleading with His erring children to return to Him； that they may again co…operate with Him in carrying forward His work in the earth。 The Lord holds out His hand to take the hand of Israel and to help them to the narrow path of self…denial and
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self…sacrifice； to share with Him the heirship as sons of God。 Will they be entreated？ Will they discern their only hope？
How sad the record； that in Malachi's day the Israelites hesitated to yield their proud hearts in prompt and loving obedience and hearty co…operation！ Self…vindication is apparent in their response； 〃Wherein shall we return？〃
The Lord reveals to His people one of their special sins。 〃Will a man rob God？〃 He asks。 〃Yet ye have robbed Me。〃 Still unconvicted of sin； the disobedient inquire； 〃Wherein have we robbed Thee？〃
Definite indeed is the Lord's answer： 〃In tithes and offerings。 Ye are cursed with a curse： for ye have robbed Me； even this whole nation。 Bring ye all the tithes into the store…house； that there may be meat in Mine house； and prove Me now herewith； saith the Lord of hosts； if I will not open you the windows of heaven； and pour you out a blessing； that there shall not be room enough to receive it。 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes； and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground； neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field； saith the Lord of hosts。 And all nations shall call you blessed： for ye shall be a delightsome land； saith the Lord of hosts。〃 Verses 7…12。
God blesses the work of men's hands； that they may return to Him His portion。 He gives them the sunshine and the rain； He causes vegetation to flourish； He gives health and ability to acquire means。 Every blessing comes from His bountiful hand； and He desires men and women to show their gratitude by returning Him a portion in tithes
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and offeringsin thank offerings； in freewill offerings； in trespass offerings。 They are to devote their means to His service； that His vineyard may not remain a barren waste。 They are to study what the Lord would do were He in their place。 They are to take all difficult matters to Him in prayer。 They are to reveal an unse
