The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-02-01
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
FEBRUARY s.
Lesson Text. sDedicating the Tenn.
pie" Ezra vi. 14-22-Golden
Text: Psalm cxxii., l.
Commentary.


and they prospered through the prophecy
ing of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah.
the son of Iddo.n Our last lesson in this
book was In the third chapter, where we
read Of the laying of the foundation of the
Lords house and of the Joy Of the people.
Then follows an account Of how the adver-
saries hindered the work and caused it to
cease iv., 4, 8. 24). In chapter ", l, we are
introduced to the two prophets named in
this first verse Of our lesson, and in the
rest of chapter v. and the next chapter
down to this verse We are told Of the src-
cess OF the work. Observe the secret Of
their success in chapter ", 5, 1.-THE eye of
their God was upon the elders Of the Jews"
Compare this with the encouraging words
of Hag. H., 4, S: 'Be strong, be strong, be
strong and work, for 7 am with you, saith
the Lord Of Hosts. My Spirit remaineth
among you. Fear ye not"
15. "And this house was finished The
God Of Israel had commanded it and lad
moved upon the hearts Of these kings to
assist His people in the work. previous
verse, last clause.) HE doeth according to
His will in the army of heaven and among
the inhabitants of the earth, and none can
stay His hand. or say unto Him, What
doesth Thou" tOan. iv., 35): Any servant
Of such Master had no occasion ever to
and He cannot fail lisa. xiii, 4; Math. xvi,
49,. Our place Of rest is to remember that
I'VE are laborers together with God" II Cor.
ill.,, 81, but He is the employer.
, 49, 'tAnd the children OF Israel, the
priests and the Lsvites, and the rest Of the
children of the captivity, kept the dedica-
tion Of this house Of God with joy" The
temple finished meant the presence OF God in
their midst, and consequently peace and
prosperity and victory over all enemies.
LET them make Me sanctuary, that I may
dwell among them" Ex. XIV, 8),were Gods
words to Moses when he was commanded to
build the tabernacle. II have hallowed this
house which thou hast built to put My name
shall be there perpetually" Il Kings TX, 81,
were Gods words to Solomon on the dedica-
tion Of the temple, and had Israel only
walked with God in humility and obedience
she would have continued head among all
Nations, because OF the presence OF the Lord,
until this day. The building Of this temple
Of Zerubbabel indicates another opportunity
to have it so, and they are full Of JOY.
, II. "And for sin Offering for all Israel,
twelve he goats, according to the number OF
the tribes Of Israel" Bullocks, rams and
lambs were the burnt offering, which also
included an accompanying meat Offering,
but the goat was the sin Offering. See the
full statement repeated at least eight times
in Num-. xix. The sin Offering, typifying
Christ bearing our sins in His own body on
we can worship God or do anything pleasing
in His sight we must obtain the forgiveness
Of sins through the merits Of Bis one great
sacrifice LEV. xvii, IL; Heb. X, IL II:
Acts xiii, 3S, 39). The burnt Offering also
typiies the same great sacrifice Of Christ,
but rather that aspect Of It in which we see
Him as an Offering and sacrifice to Col for
q sweet smelling SAVIOR (Eph. ", p. The
meat Offering is suggestive of His holy and
spotless life. Being forgiven by His blood,
we are to present our bodies living sacr1-
ace, that Hemay live His life In US. On the
phrase '.All Israep see II Chron. Xxx, 1;
Rom. H., 90; Eek xxxvii, %.
10. sAnd they set the priests in their di-
visions and the Lavites in their courses for
the service Of Goi which Is at Jerusalem, as
it Is written In the book of Moses" The Le-
vites were gift for the Lord to do the SER
vice for the tabernacle and temple. They
were chosen to stand before Him, to serve
Him, to minister unto Him and offer sacrl-
fee tNum. xviii, s; II Chron. XIX, 11).
The priests lips snould keep knowledge. and
the people should seek the law at his mouth,
for be is the messenger Of the Lord OF Hosts
(MaL. ii. q.
10. "And the children Of the captivity
kept the passover upon the fourteenth day
Of the first month" "By faith Moses kept
the passover and the sprinkling OF blood,
lest He that destroyed the firstoorn should
touch them" Heb. 1i., 2S. These "sons OF
the transportation" (verse Ii. margin old
Egypt, but there is now drawing nigh de-
nd Nations
that shall far outdo the dellverancs at the
institution Of the passover lJer. xiii, so.
Then shall we understand the words OF the
Lord Jesus in reference to His last passover,
Il will not any more eat thereof until 1t be
fulfilled in the kingdom Of God luke XIII,
49,.
20 For the priests and the Lsvites were
purified together, all of them were pure"
There was ceremonial publication necas.
sary to the keeping Of the passover. and 10
the days of Hezekiah We read that they Kept
it on the second instead Of the first monGn
because the priests were not sumclentiy
sancti6ed III Chron. Xxx, q 3; compare
Mum: IL, 10, III. 1t we would enjoy christ,
our Passover, who has been sacrificed LOT US,
wemust cleanse ourselves from all hlthlness
OF the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness 10
the fear of God II Cor. ", :; IL Cor. vii. u.
unto them from the hlthlness OF the heather
of the land to seek the Lord God Of Israel
did eat" It would seam that many Of those
who had been living In the land when they
saw the temple builded and the worship OF
the true God established Joined themselves
to Israel. So shall it be in the days that arc
coming, when nj. e all Languages shall say
to the Jews, We will go with YOU. for God
Is with you tzech. viii, 23. So it is now,
when Christ Is seen in us and not SELF people
will be drawn away from the follies and
filthiness Of this present evil world to the re-
alities of lie of faith in the Son Of God,
and God will be glorifei in us lGai. IL, 2A:
22 'And kept the feast OF unleavened
bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had
made them joyful aud turned the neart OF
the king of Assyria unto them." When He
giveth quietness, who then can make trou.
Bic Job xxxiv., 29j? II Gou be with us, who
can be against US Rom. viii, 81: The
kings heart is in the hands OF the Lord, az
the rivers OF water; He turneth it whittier
soever He will prov xxi, y. II, as HIS
people, we are only willing and obedlent, Hs
will make US eat the goot o. the land and
drink Of the river Of His pleasures lisa. L.,
10; Ps xxxvi., 81. It is the pleasure OF the
Lord to have US full Of joy (Jonn xvi, 2i;
xvii, 13,, but it must be His joy. and that
was to do the will Of Go5.-Lesson Helper.
In these days or progress In the
arts, sciences, manufacturing, and
general industry, farmers should not