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International S. S. Lessons

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 26, 1892

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 8.

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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 2.—SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 1893.

REBUILDING THE TEMPLE.

[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.]

Lesson Scripture.—Ezra 3:1-13.

1. And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.
2. Then stood up Joshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
3. And they set the altar upon its base; for fear was upon them because of the people of the countries; and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the Lord, even burnt offerings morning and evening.
4. And they kept the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the ordinance, as the duty of every day required;
5. And afterward the continual burnt offering, and the offerings of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the Lord that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the Lord.
6. From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the Lord; but the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid.
7. They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, unto Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
8. Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of the house of the Lord.
9. Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to have the oversight of the workmen in the house of God; the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.
10. And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the order of David king of Israel.
11. And they sang one to another in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord, saying, For he is good, for his mercy endureth forever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
12. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, the old men that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy;
13. So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
Golden Text.—"They praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid." Ezra 3:11.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

  1. What did the children of Israel do on the seventh month? Verse 1. Note 1.
  2. For what three great events was this month noted? Note 2.
  3. What would naturally be the first work they would do while surrounded by enemies?
  4. But how did these people show faith in God? Verses 2, 3. Note 3.
  5. What did they then do, and after what manner? Verses 4, 5. Note 4.
  6. How long did they wait? Verse 6. Note 5.
  7. What was done for those who worked? Verse 7. Note 6.
  8. What was done on the second month of the next year? Verse 8.
  9. Who were appointed head over the work? Verse 9.
  10. What did the priests do while the foundation was being laid? Verse 10.
  11. What was the grand chorus of that song? Verse 11. See Psalm 106.
  12. How did the people respond? Verse 11.
  13. What other emotion than that of joy was expressed, and why? Verses 12, 13. Note 7.
  14. In what foundation may we rejoice? Note 8.

NOTES.

1. In the seventh month.—That is, the seventh month of the first year of Cyrus, of the year in which the Jews left Babylon for Jerusalem.
2. Events.—Lev. 23:23-36 gives three feasts,—the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and Feast of Tabernacles. The blowing of trumpets called all the people together, preparatory to the building of the altar.
3. Builded the altar.—The hostile Edomites were on the southeast, the semi-idolatrous Samaritans and mixed races were on the north. 2 Kings 17:24-28; Ezra 4:9, 10. But they did not fortify themselves nor make a covenant with the people about them. They first "builded the altar of the God of Israel." They put God first. They had no new fashion; they built it as God directed. Young man and woman, first of all in life build an altar unto God. He is blessing and health within, and a wall round about.
4. According to the custom.—When one is in a position to know his weakness, he does not try experiments with God. Israel had to a great extent learned this. What confidence and joy it gives to know that we have chosen without reserve God's way, God's word, God's law, in all details. We can then praise God, not at the close of our work, but in the doing of it, as did they.
5. From the first day.—Do not wait till you are rich, or better, or circumstances are better; offer to God first. When you can do no better, God accepts what you have. If you have no temple, worship with the best you have. Consecrate that all to God. See Ps. 119:59, 60; Gal. 1:15, 16.
6. Them of Zidon and them of Tyre.—They seemed to have hired men of Tyre and Zidon, as did Solomon, to bring timber for the temple. See 2 Chron. 2:3-16. The amount of money given for the work on the temple in free-will offerings is estimated at $400,000. See Ezra 2:69.
7. Shout of joy . . . noise of weeping.—Some weeping no doubt over the sins of the past, and of the departed glory of the Urim and Thummim and the ark of God, others joyous because of God's goodness in prospering them and giving them the privilege of again building a house to God's glory.
8. THE TRUE FOUNDATION.—God's great spiritual temple is being builded. Humanity regenerated by God's grace forms the materials of which it is built. Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:5; 1 Cor. 3:16. The foundation of it all is Jesus Christ and his truth. 1 Cor. 3:11; Matt. 7:23, 24. We are built up in that temple by the word of God. Acts 20:32. Rejecting this, however bright our way may seem, however secure or beautiful our foundation, the storms and tempests of the future will prove our foundation to be sand, our way a snare, our light but the dead sparks of our own kindling. Choose Christ and his word; build on the true foundation. In that we may rejoice now, "with joy unspeakable and full of glory."