International S. S. Lessons.
"So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading." —Neh. 8:8 LESSON III.—SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 1893.
[NOTE.—The questions which follow are merely suggestive for the student on the leading points of the lesson; it is presumed that the thorough student will think of many more as he studies the subject. References, where verses alone are given, always refer to the lesson scripture printed above. All other references are given in book, chapter, and verse. The text printed is that of the Revised Version, not because it is especially preferred, but because it is not found in every family, as is the common version.] - In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying.
- Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying,
- Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes as nothing?
- Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work; for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts,
- According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, and my Spirit abode among you; fear ye not.
- For thus saith the Lord of hosts: Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;
- And I will shake all nations, and the desirable things of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.
- The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.
- The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, saith the Lord of hosts; and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.
Golden Text.—"Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it." Ps. 127:1.
- Who desired to assist the Jews in the work of building the temple? Note 1.
- What reply was made to them? Ezra 4:3.
- How did the Samaritans revenge themselves? and what was the effect of their work? Note 2.
- Who reproved and encouraged the people of God to proceed?
"Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem; in the name of the God of Israel prophesied they unto them." Ezra 5:1.- Give the substance of Haggai's first message. Note 3.
- What response did the Jews make to this stirring message?
"Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him; and the people did fear before the Lord." Haggai 1:12. See Ezra 4:2.- When did the next message come from the prophet? Verse 1.
- How did he reprove them? Verses 2, 3. Note 4.
- How did he encourage them? Verses 4, 5.
- What terrible and glorious things did he promise? Verses 6, 7. Note 5.
- What assurance did he give that plenty would be furnished for building the house? Verse 8. Note 6.
- What did he promise concerning the latter glory of this temple? Verse 9.
1. UNDESIRABLE ALLIES.—Immediately after the foundation of the temple was laid, which was 535 B. C., the Samaritans, or mixed races of Palestine, came and desired to assist in the building of the temple. Evidently their motive was not good, for they are characterized by Ezra as "adversaries." Ezra 4:1. To this the leaders of the Jews responded that the Samaritans had naught to do with this building. The policy of Zerubbabel and his associates has been considered shortsighted by some worldly-wise men, but it was not a matter of policy with him, but a matter of principle. These people were really adversaries to the work of God, as their subsequent course proved, and God could not have wrought with them. The leaders of God's people did nobly in not compromising. The worship of those who wished to help is described in 2 Kings 17:21. It is safe to heed the instructions of the Lord. See 2 Cor. 6:14-16. 2. Then the people of the land weakened the hands, etc. (Ezra 4:24).—The whole of the above chapter should be carefully read. When the Samaritans could not prevail upon the Jews to compromise, they began their opposition. They hired counselors and wrote to Cambyses, the Ahasueras of Esther, slandering the Jews, who became discouraged, easily it seems, in the work of building. Beginning again, the Samaritans wrote a formal letter to Gomátes, the usurper, the false Smerdis, called, in Ezra, Artaxerxes, who absolutely forbade the prosecution of the work. "Then ceased the work" till the second year of Darius. From the time the foundation was laid till the time of the present lesson was fifteen years. 3. Is it not the time, etc.—The reproof of the prophet shows that the Jews had turned aside from their first love to their own selfish pursuits. They said that it was not time to build, and yet they were living in ceiled houses. But they were not prospered. They sought their own selfish ends, and the Lord left them. They sowed much and reaped little; the heaven was stayed from dew, and the earth from fruit. Why?—Because God's house was left unbuilded. They sought their own glory, and God withheld his blessings, that they might realize for their own best good that he should be first of all. Read Haggai 1:2-11. 4. How do ye see it now?—The time of this prophecy was the last day of the feast of the tabernacles. The prophet draws the contrast between the temple before the captivity and its present half-built, desolate condition. If the former was not worthy of Him whom the heaven of heavens could not contain (1 Kings 8:27), how much less was the present condition of the temple worthy of God! It was in a more wretched condition than the temple just before Israel came to that place in their iniquity that God removed them. This was as nothing. Yet the message of the prophet is most encouraging. The Lord of hosts was with them. The same God that led them out of Egypt would help them build. The reproof of God is always that we may do better. He reproves that we may be corrected. 5. I will shake the heavens, etc.—The shaking of the nations refers probably to the revolutions in the affairs of nations, which would take place, and the shaking of the heavens and earth at the second coming of Christ. See Heb. 12:25, 26; Rev. 16:17, 18; Matt. 24:29, 30. The God who could and would do all things, would help them in the building of the temple. The Desire of all nations.—Jesus Christ, the deliverer, what all nations longed for in some way, whether knowing the true God or not. Christ Jesus, in whom was all fullness, has all that is needed to satisfy every true desire of everyone of every nation. He personally would come to this house. Although it lacked the tables of the law, the ark, the shekinah, it would be blessed by the glorious presence of the Son of God. In this respect its latter glory, realize though they did not, was greater than its former glory. The Revised Version has it "the desirable things of all nations," including the blessings of the gospel. 6. The silver is mine, etc.—What precious assurance the prophet gave to the Jews! All power was God's; all nations were under his control; all the wealth of the world was his; and all would be brought if necessary to complete the work which God had given them to do, if they would trust him. Saith God this altogether for their sakes?—Nay, but for ours also. He is ever the same. All heaven is at the call of him who prosecutes with all the heart the work God has given him.