Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-01-12
ENCOURAGENIENI'S.
LESSON III, FIRST QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, JAN. IS.

Text OF the Lesson, HaR. II, i-9-N1em-
DRY Verses, 3, 9--Goiden Text, Ps.
cxxvii, documentary by the Rev.
ID. NJ. stoarns.
The prophecies of Haggai and zechariah
should be read in connection with the his
torical books of Ezra and Nehemiah for
these prophets were specially commits
houcd to encourage the people to rebuild
the temple and the city. After the foun
dation Of the temple was laid as we
learned in last lesson, enemies hindered
the work, and it ceased until the second
year of Darius, where our present lesson
begins QIz. Nv, 2f).
/. "ln the second year Of Darius the
king, in the sixth month, In the first day OF
the month, came the word Of the Lord by
Haggai the prophet" Haggai, like every
true prophet, was simply the Lords mes
senger with the Lords message Verse 49,.
.. Thus speaketh the Lord of Hosts,
saying, This people say, The time is not
come-the time that the Lords house
should be built" This phrase "speaketh
or saith the Lord Of Hosts" is found thir
teen times in this short prophecy and
saith the Lord" is found seven times,
while the name Lord" in capitals (Which
is always Jehovah) is found altogether in
the thirty ght verses OF this prophecy at
least thirty four times. So we are not to
see Haggai, whose name is mentioned but
nine times land that is an unusual mum
Der for SO short a prophecy, but only Je
hovah, and Ha9gai as His spokesman.
Notice that the Lord observes what people
say and also what they think Geek. ri, >
XXXiii. 80: Jer. xi, Is, 49,.
3. "Then came the Word Of the Lord by
1aggai the prophet saying The words
Of the people were wrong words; they in
dicated a lack of sympathy with God in
His purposes. The House of the Lord now
being built is the church. which is His
body (Hob. ill., 6; | Pet ii, 81 Cor iii, 8
Eph. ii, 1929, and there IL as much indif
ference to it on the part of the Lords PEG.
Ne as there was to the temple in the days
Of Ha0gai. The Word of the Lord was
sent to correct the people and bring them
into sympathy with God and His purposes
See lse- viii, 90, r. V. margin.
4, as 1t time for you, 0 We, to dwell in
your ceiled houses, and this house lie
wasteV They were neYlecting the temple,
the house of Jehovah, and attending to
their own houses. The church is spirit
ual building TO be gathered out OF all ma
tons and presented to Christ rs His Bride
III OlIcI CldJ re may GGIuGn WIN utr TO
establish His Kingdom on earth and fill
the earth with His glory; but the Lord
might well say to the various denomna-
tons, which make up the visible church:
SIS it time for you to be SO occupied with
your own little company instead of work
ing earnestly to complete my body?" as it
time for you to be spending hundreds of
thousands Of dollars upon church build
ings instead Of sending the Gospel to the
heather"
3. Nov therefore, thus saith the Lord
of hosts, Consider your ways" Because
of the neglected condition of His house He
would have them stop and consider. He
would have them look at things from His
| standpoint-like jeremiah when he said
rs it nothing to you all We that pass by
| Behold and see if there be any sorrow like
unto my sorrow which is done unto me,
wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in
the day of His fierce anger" QLam. i, l2).
/ When we think of Jesus waiting and long
ing for the completion of His church, that
| He may come again for the conversion OF
His people Israel and of the world. may
we not hear Him saying, as it nothing to
! youE" Consider your ways" and see that
rs the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways than your ways lisa. lv, q.
g. "Ne have sown much, and bring in
| little ye eat, but We have not enough
Count the sevehloId disappointment IN
inns ana the nlnth verse ana compare lisa.
~, = wv therefore, 90 ye spend money Tor
That when is not bread ana your labor Tor
that which satlsneth mott Men labor IN
VAN ana SPEND thelr strength tor hauBh'
| Osa. KIN ~ Wheh they are out or harmony
with ooo' puU When God Is working IN us
-
thouSh IL may sometimes seem that oui
labor Is IN Vain' II ID never really So Ills
word may not accomplish what we please
put II Will accomplish what lie Piease'
Qsa Nv, ~, and our work Is not IN vain II
the l-crd Il Cor. XIV, o6). Wages IN a bag
with holes MAKE us thlnK or the treasure,
on earth whlch the saviour contrasteC
with the treasure IN heaven Luke XII, 83)
7. Thus saith the Lord OF Hosts, Con
slider your ways" The Holy Spirit never
repeats needless!y. Inc htth verse was II
connection with the desolation and neglect
OF the Lords house, but this Is in connec
uon with their own oesolation or trultles'
| ton. In TINS and the next verse, With