Mower County transcript., 1893-03-22
=OUARTERL z RE VIE w.
LESSON XIII, FIRST QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERrs. h..ARCA s26.

.lGSOsiH \II1 FtNoI SS0FNN LII IN Cn-
NATIONAL sERlrs, h.sARcll 26.
Of tho Guarter-Gcldcn Text, Ps. cxix,
1O5-Commentary by the Rev. d. nj.
Stearns.
LESSON I.-Home from Babylon (Ez. i,
1-1D. Golden text (Deut. xxx, -, "The
Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and
have compassion upon thee" The gifts
and calling of God are without repentance
(Rom. XII, 29); whatsoever He purposes shall
in due time be accomplished, and every
thing shall come to pass exactly as He Says
Qsa. xiv, "a; Ps. xxxiii, 1D. He dc<th &C
cording to His will in heaven and on earth,
and finds willing servants, both among
men and angels Dan. iv, 35). The rebuild
ing of the temple is suggestive of the tenn
pie now being built, the church of God
(Eph. ii, 1929.
LESSON II.-Thc Temple Begun (Ez. iii,
1-13). Golden text (Ez. iii, 1D, "They
praised the Lord, because the foundation
of the house CT the Lord was laid" Re
member the key to the book of Ezra is
'"The house Of the Lord" a phrase used
fifty times in the book. The thoughts
of this lesson cluster around the work,
and the workmcn, and the offerings,
and the willing hearts. Jesus delight
ing to do the Fathers will and always
about His Fathers business Ps. XII, 8;
John viii, s9) is our pattern in all our
daily life.
LESSON III.-Encoura gements alag. ii,
1-9) Golden text (Ps. cxxvii, y, Except
the Lord build the house they labor in
vain that build it," Read the four books
of Naggai, Zechariah, Ezra and Nehemiah.
Ihose who are used of God must be strong
and Of good courage-strong to do-and
this will come only by knowledge of God
Josh. j, Z, 9; Dan. XII, 32). Israel, like the
ten spies, saw the discouragements, but
we must be like Caleb and Joshua, and see
concern of our lives. When we put our
affairs first, all will come to naught.
LESSON IV.-Joshua, the High Priest
Czech. iii, 1-1W Golden text Heb. iv, ~,
1--WE have great High Priest that is
passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of
God." One of satan's ways of discour-
aging people is to point them to their sin
fulness and tell them that God cannot use
such unworthy ones as they are. It is all
too true that we are sinful and unworthy,
but Jesus our High Priest, is our right
eousness QI Cor. v, 2D and our comeliness
(Ezek. xvi, 14), and having accepted Him
He stands for us against all accusers, and
will use just such as we are as vessels
through which He will accomplish His
pleasure (Phil ii, 18; Heb. xiii, 20, 21)
LESSON V.-The Spirit of the Lord (Zech.
iv, 1-10). Golden text (Zech. iv, g., "Not
by might, nor by power but by my Spirit,
saith the Lord Of Hosts" No work of God
can be done by human wisdom. Moses had
no say whatever in the design of the tab
ernacle, nor had David or Solomon in the
temple: the former was to be made accord
ing to the pattern shown him in the mount,
and the latter was given to David by the
Spirit of the Lord lex. XIV, 40; Chron
xviii, 19).
LESSON VI.-Dedicating the Temple Ez.
vi, 14-22). Golden text (Ps. cxxii, y, 81
was glad when they said unto me, Let US
go into the house of the Lord" Haggai
and Zechariah, the Lords messengers, be-
ing strengthened themselves by the words
and visions of the Lord, so encouraged the
people that the building was finished, and
with great joy dedicated unto the Lord.
LESSON VII.-Nehemiah' Prayer (Neh.
i, 1-1D. Golden text (Ps. Xxx, 1O), 'sIord,
be Thou my helper" Nehemiah, in the
kings palace at Babylon, hears of the des-
olations Of the Holy City, the wall broken
down and the people in great affliction and
reproach, and he is SO affected that he weeps
and mourns and fasts and prays for several
days. identifying himself with his people,
he confesses their sins and reminds Jeho-
vah of His promises. The result was that
the Lord inclined the king to let Nehemiah
go to Jerusalem with authority to rebuild
the walls Of the city.
LESSON NVIII.-Rebuilding the Wall (Neh.
iv, 9-2D. Golden text (Neh iv, 81, eve
made our prayer unto our God and set a
watch against them" Both men and
women of all occupations were ready and
Joined Nehemiah in the work of building
the wall, for the people had mind to
work (Neh. iv, 6). But when anything is
really being done in the Lords name the
adversary becomes very active, and the
opposition at this time was something
tremendous, both as to wiles and persist
ence. Let us consider we'll Nehemiah's
strength and be strong in the Lord.
LESSON IX.-Reading the Law Neh. viii,
1-12). Golden text Ps. cxix, 1S), "Open
thou mine eyes, that I may behold won
drous things out of thy law" The temple
and the walls may be built, but they may
be thrown down again. There is just one
thing on earth that can never pass away.
''The Word of our God shall stand forever''
Qsa. XII, s.. We are to read it, and believe
it, and thus understand it, and then do it.,
for "He that doeth the will of God abideth
forever Il John Ii, 1D.
LESSON X.--Keeping the Sabbath (Neh.
1:-C En16ar
member the Sabbath day to keep it holy.'
One-scventh Of our time and one-tenth of
our money should be cheerfully given
wholly up to God for His service as the
very least we can offer on those two lines.
1t we are redeemed. then we are all His,
all time, money, talents, everything; but it
is best to make Him sure Of the seventh
and tenth to begin with. Let us as in
d1viduals see that we conscientiously keep
the Lords day OH the lines of Isa. lviii,
Is, IA, and pray for our rulers that they