Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-06-09

Sunday. June Is. zech. a: LA.

Zechariah prophesled about 5z5 years
before Christ He was of the tribe of
Judah, and was probably priest.
The prophet opens his writings with
a reference to the displeasure of the Lord
against the fathers on account of their
sins. They had been warned, but had
not needed the warning. "Be ye not as
your fathers" is the lesson which the
prophet endeavors to impress upon his
generation. Next follow several visions
designed to take hold of the minds of
the people and incite them to take up
the work which they ought to do for God.
They are assured Of success in this I'M
dertaking. "Thus saith the Lord of hosts.
and line shall be stretched forth upon
Jerusalem. "-Zech. l 16. Our lesson
for to-day, which occupies all the fourth
chapter, is in the vein of the entire
prophecy, in that it touches SO directly
upon the building of the temple, and
does it in so symbolical a manner.
The lesson is entitled "The Need of
Gods Spirit" because it shows that the
work is to 60 forward not by worldly re-
sources, but by the aid of the Spirit of
the Lord.
1t is noticeable that Ezekiel, Daniel
and Zechariah-three prophets whose
writings employ symbols in marked
degree-were all associated with the
captivity, the two former having labored
wholly in foreign land. and the third
having been born and brought up there.
Perhaps their circumstances favored this
style of address in impressing the truth.
"The angel" a messenger from the
Lord. Some think it the Jehovah angel,
the form in which the lord himself ap-
peared to Abraham and others. Proba.
bly,, however, it was some subordinate
but glorious spirit. "Candlestick, the
most splendid object in the holy place Of
Moses tabernacle. AS light-bearer, il
may represent the church. ga bowl
upon the top of it." This was different
from the candlestick in the tabernacle
1.-TWO olive trees" because they produce
oil. The trees in this vision supernat
urally supply a flow of oil without human
labor. "Knowest thou not ?" The ques
ton would excite deeper meditation. He
was to understand the mystery, but mo-
without thinking upon it. "Not by
might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.
The lamps must have oil. but in the Wis
ion there was no natural means of sup
plying it. They were therefore sup
piled systematically. Zerubbabel hat
no worldly resources adequate to hi
great work. But the Spirit of God, VIII
controls the hearts of men, and in who's
hand are the hearts of kings, could sup
ply the means and make the work a sue
cess. 90 great mountain" The Lor,
now addresses the difficulties, under tn
figure of a mountain. "Headstone.
The stone which finishes the corner a
the top. Zerubbabel should finish tn
work. "Plummet." An instrumen
used by builders in determining levels
3 "Those seven" They are explained a
the eyes of the Lord. Reference is ha,
to chap. 8, verse 8, where seven eye
are said to be upon the stone befor
Joshua, the priest who assisted Zerubba
bel. In one place, Christ is called 18th
headstone of the corner and thong
that means the chief foundation stone
yet perhaps there is here some allusio
to his watchfulness over the whole world
Various figures are taken to represen
his Offices, and these figures are not al
ways kept distinct. "What be thes
two olive branches 2" This is probabl
but more definite statement of tn
question in verse /. 1.-The two annoini
ed ones" Some have taken this to refe
to the Jews and the Gentiles, but tina
would represent them as equally minis
tering to the kingdom of Gods truth
Some have taken Zerubbabel and Joshu
personally and strictly to be the annoint
ed ones. But two mortal men alone coul
,, hardly fill the meaning of so exalted
figure. We take it that the reference
, to them as embodying the kingly an
priestly dignities. The civil and tb
, spiritual leaders together have plac
in securing the grace of God. Minister
and magistrates are both meant to b
channels of the Spirit. Not that eithe
now perfectly fulflls It's trust. 1t is I
be observed further, that though the tw
supplied oil for the bowl, yet they wei
independent of each other.