Newspapers / The Future Outlook (Greensboro, … / Dec. 15, 1967, edition 1 / Page 2
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THE FUTURE OUTLOOK J. F. JOHNSON Editor & Publisher MISS EMMA P. JOHNSON News Reporter L. A- WISE Staff Photographer Make all checks payable to and mall to: THE FUTURE OUTLOOK P. 0. BOX 20331 ? GREENSBORO, N. C. 27420 PHONE BR 3-1758 Second Clan* Postage Paid at Greensboro, N. C. lOe Per Copy Published Weekly $6.00 Per Tear Tragedies Never Take A Holiday Fire never takes a holiday. It is most destructive when one least expects it, especially when preparations are being made for occasional dates. When the Gibbs' of Greensboro, home was demolished by fire early Wednes day morning, November 29, six children were brought to safety by the mother, Mrs. Marie Gibbs. Mr. Gibbs suf fered severe injury trying to escape. The church, school and community came to their rescue with a good-will con tribution to them, making it possible for them to continue their Christmas plans. In planning for Christmas celebration, be aware of hasty cleaning-up around the home. One often reads about fire resulting from clothes and rubbish piled up which easily takes fire from matches or spontaneous combustion. One should make a memorandum when planning for Christmas, especially of people rendering services, as the police women who bring traffic under control while chil dren travel to and from school in the rain, snow and sleet. They have stated that they stay over-time to permit teach ers to travel through the least congested amount of traf fic. These people don't even receive a Christmas card from the teachers to whom they have shown such con Christmas-giving is a matter of exchanging gifts to remind our friends that God gave His only son for our Savior, while many are still too busy to make a sacrifice to the shut-in and poverty-stricken children. Many tragic deaths occur on occasional dates. Some are accidental. The most pathetic thing which happens during this time is to have neighbors, with their children, come into the house of the bereaved family for the sole purpose of eating. Many relatives and friends have come from out of town and are tired when they reach their destination and would appreciate a meal prepared by someone besides themselves, but when people from the neighborhood come into the house to eat, the matter is taken a little bit too far. It has been publicized that the men in Vietnam are in need of articles for oral hygiene, deodorants, stationery and pocket games. This writing would not be complete without mentioning the many men in service, especially in Vietnam. Be sure that the regulations of the post office | are followed closely as you mail your gifts. l Harnett Funeral Services AH FmOMm Available ? Air Conditioned Chapel OjfMlti Mew Postal BafUtag The Hmrgett Family Greensboro, N. a Call: 278-S2M This Wee\'s Sunday School Lesson Keeping Life's Covenants WHAT IS OUR CONCERN? The observant student of Scripture can point to a number of striking parallels between our day and Malachi's time The various news media graphically report civil violence stemming from needs left unmet because of economic and cultural differences, failures in commu nication, and political expedien cy in places like Watts, Cicero, and San Francisco. Popular periodicals discuss such lively and disturbing issues as those raised In the question, "Is God dead?" Simultaneously the same publications seek to analyze the revolution in con temporary morals. Television documentaries por tray the increasing problems in volved in poverty, crime, and drug addiction even among ju veniles. Many motion pictures, claiming to be "adult" films, are based on various means of ex ploiting personality. Almost uni versally, the secular press de plores the apathy of individuals who refuse to become involved in incidents and issues affecting both corporate and personal wel fare. At the same time, increasing impersonalism and increasing suicide rates go hand in hand. Meaninglessness has become a major problem. Many persons among us sincerely believe that they are completely alone and that the only meaning life holds for them is what they are crea ting for themselves. Even a prominent churchman, in resign ing his high post, recently swept away any concept of divine gui dance or intervention by declar ing, "If it's not natural, it's not real". BEFORE YOU BEAD THE SCRIPTURE At the outset of this unit we should note that the Book of Malachi is the product of an anonymous author. The word Malachi is not a proper name. Rather, it is a term meaning "my messenger." An early editor applied this term to the prophecy as a title, lifting it from 3:1: "Behold, I send my messenger." The word is not used anywhere else as a proper name, and the oldest versions of the Scripture never treat it as such. Indeed, in the Septuagint (the Greek transla tion) Malachi 1:1 reads, "By the hand of his messenger." Another indication of the ano nymity of the author is the ab sence of any reference to his family or place of residence. Nevertheless, both the content of the book and its manner of pres entation mark it as true Hebrew prophecy. The style of the book indicates that it was first written, not spoken. Its spirit and aim paral lel those of earlier prophets as the author speaks directly to the problems of his day. In presenting his message, the writer used an argumentative approach that reminds us of Socrates. First, he stated the truth he wished to emphasize. Then he indicated the objection he anticipated to It Finally, he answered the objection by re stating and verifying his original proposition. In all, the book con tains seven such formal argu ments. WHAT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS The Scripture for today is Malachi 1 and 2. Selected verses are printed below. See Horn Bi ble Study suggestions in the back of the quarterly. Malachi :6-9 6 "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. You say, 'How have we despised thy name?' 7 By offering polluted food upon my altar. And you say, 'How have we polluted it?* By think ing that the Lord's table may be despised. 8 When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that no evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that no evil? Present that to your governor; will he be pleased with you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. 9 And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts." Malachi 2:10, 13-16 10 Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the .cove nant of our fathers? . . . 13 Arid this again you do. You cover the Lord's altar with tears, with weeping and groaning be cause he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor at your hand. 14 You ask, "Why does he not?" Because the Lord was witness to the covenant be tween you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. 15 Has not the one God made and sustained for us the spirit of life? And what does he desire? Godly offspring. So take heed to yourselves, and let none be faithless to the wife of his youth. 16 "For I hate divorce, says the Lord the God of Israel, and covering one's garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So take heed to yourselves and do not be faithless." Memory Selection: Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another? ? Malachi 2:10 HOW WE UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURE The time in which the Book ol Malachi was written cannot definitely be placed. Apparently the work comes from the Persian period, when Judah was under the rule of a governor. (Malachi 1:8) This seems to be attested by the author's use of the word pehah to designate the official in charge of the district, for the term is applied in other places to Persian officers. That it was a time of both spiritual and eco nomic need is apparent. The firm establishment of the Persian empire under Darius had ended any hope of the He brews for political independence. Their vassalage undoubtedly protected them from hostile neighbors, but it also brought them a limited and petty exist ence. They were reduced to the position of supporting a foreign governor and were faced with the galling obligation of paying tribute. Farming, upon which most of the people depended, was prov ing difficult. Parasiti > and pre mature fruit created vexing problems. (3:11) Poverty was increasing, and the complaints of the populace multiplied. The restoration of the Temple failed to usher in the era of prosperity and glory that the people had expected would fol low its completion, and religious skepticism developed as this dream was shattered. As a re sult, a state of apathy evolved among all classes; and the sense* of moral duty sharply declined. Foremost in the minds of the people was the taunting ques tion, "What is to be gained by serving God?" Were they not paying their tithes and offering . animals for sacrifice? (1:6-9; 3: 7-10) Yet the most devout 1 among them were also the poorer and more unfortunate members of the community. On the other hand, persons who made no pre tense of serving God ? and even defrauded their neighbors every chance they got ? continued to prosper. (3:14-15) Tricky dealings were common place. (2:10) Divorce was wide spread. (2:14-16) Good and evil were confused. (2:17) Sorcery and perjury were widely prac ticed. (3:5) Yet defiance of God's low seemed to meet with re ward. Apparently, obedience led only to misery. The people were not alone in their attitude of complaint. The priests, too, were guilty of selling the Temple short by thinking slightingly of it. (2:1-2) The Covenant , To understand this situation we need to view it in the light of Israel's idea of the covenant. From the earliest times, the Hebrews were convinced that they had experienced with God a saving relationship that set them apart as his chosen people. Time and again, by his mighty acts, God had led the nation into new and promising experiences, as when he called Abraham to leave his home (Genesis 12; 15; 17) and inspired Moses to pro duce the book of the covenant (Exodus 24.) The dramatic Exo dus deliverance loomed particu larly large as an evidence of Israel's divine election, and the event left an indelible impres sion upon the mind and litera ture of the Hebrews. Both psal mists and prophets continually referred to it as the mark of God's redemptive purpose for a responsive people. Basically, the covenant repre sented Israel's acceptance of God's sovereign rule. Thus it was not a bargain made between two equals. Israel had not selected God. By his free grace God had se lected Israel. In doing so, he had imposed moral and ethical con ditions upon the nation. Through a free moral act of her own the nation had chosen to agree to these conditions. In return for this agreement God had prom ised, "My presence will go with you, and 1 will give you rest." (Exodus 33:14) The covenant thus established was no one-sided proposition by which God unconditionally com mitted himself to protect and guide the nation whatever hap pened. Instead, it constituted an exchange of vows between God and Israel. Accordingly, the covenant could be maintained only so long
The Future Outlook (Greensboro, N.C.)
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Dec. 15, 1967, edition 1
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