The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-01-11
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
JANUARY Is.
Lesson Text "Encouraging the
People," Haggai H., 1-9-GOiden
Text: Psalm cxxvii., l.
Commentary.

LtSSbu 1GAL lHc
People," Haggai H., 1-9-Goiden
Text: Psalm cxxvii., l.
Commentary.
The prophecies of Hsggai and 2 caariah
should be read IN connection with the his
torical books OF Ezra and Nehemiah, for
these prophets were specially commissioned
TO encourage the people to re 'uild the temple
and the city. A ter the foundation Of the
lesson, enemies hinderet the work, and 1t
ceased until the second year of Darius,
where our present lesson oegins (Ez. iv.,
4).
l. I'm the second year Of Darius the king,
in the sixth month, in the tirst day Of the
month, came the word Of thu Lord by
Haggai the prophet" Hsggai, ike every
true prophet, was simply the Lords messen-
ger with the Lords message (verss 49,.
2. "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 thirteen 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-eight verses
orthis prophecy at least thirty-four times.
80 we are not to see Haggai, whose name IS
mentioned but nine times land that Is an
unusual number for So short a prophecy,
spokesman. Notice that the Lord observes
what people say, and also what they think
tEzek. 1i.. 5. xxxiii., 30; Jer. H., IS, 19.
8. "Then came the Word Of the Lord by
Haggai the prophet, saying, The words os
the people are wrong WORDS" they indica-
ted q lack of sympathy with God in His
purposes. The house Of the Lord now being
built is the church. which is His body taeb.
ill.,, 6; Pet H., 5; Cor. ill.,, 9; Eph. it,,
1922, and there is much indifference to it
on the part OF the Lords people as there was
Word OF the Lord was sent to correct the
people and bring them into sympathy with
God and His purposes. See Isa. viii, 20, r.
v. margin.
4. 'ls it time for you, ye, to dwell in
your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste"
They were neglecting the temple, the house
of Jehovah, and attending to their own
houses. The church Is spiritual building
to be gathered out of all Nations and pre-
He may return with her to establish His
Kingdom on earth and I'LL the earth with
His glory; but the Lori might we'll say to
the various denominations which make up
the visible church: '.Is it time for you to b.,
so occupied with your own little company
instead Of working earnestly to complete My
body" us it time for you to be spending
hundreds OF thousands Of dollars upon
church buildings instead of sending the Cos
pei to the heathenW
j. snow, 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, SIS it nothing
to you all ye 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 this day of His ferce
anger" Lam.i., l2,. When we think Of
Jesus waiting and longing for the COM
pletion OF His CHURCH, that He may come
again for the conversion of His people Israel
ing, us it nothing to your Consider your
ways" and see that as the heavens are
higher than the earth, 80 are Ny ways than
your ways lisa. w., 81. ~. ~.
6. "Ye have sown much, and bring in lit
tie; ye eat, but ye have not enough"
Count the sevenfold disappointment in this
and the ninth verse. and compare lisa. w., 2,
Wherefore do ys spend money for that
which Is not bread and yodr labor for that
WHICH, SdLlSuebu uOlE n6u ldUOT III vain
and spend their strength tor naught lisa.
Xix, ~ when they are out OF harmony with
God; but when God is working e in US, though
it may sometimes seem that our LABOR is in
vain, it is never really 80. His word may
not accomplish what we please, but it will
accomplish what He Pleases lisa. w., 1l), and
our work Is not in vain in the Lori Il Cor.
xv.. 5Sl. Wages in bag with holes make
us think of the treasures on earth which the
Saviour contrasted with the treasure in
heaven luke xiii, 33. ..
er your ways" The Holy Spirit never re-
peats needlessly. The fifth verse was in
connection with the desolation and neglect
OF the Lords house, but this is in connection
with their own desolation or fruitless toll
In this an the next verse, with verses 4and
Of the next chapter, there is an interesting
ssvenfold command (Cousider. Go up.
Bring wood, Build the house. Be strong.
Work. Fear not) each part OF which we
may well take to ourselves in references to
our part in completing ths church. There
long as we neglect the Lords work, and
even though one shou Id amass the wealth Of
Babylon, in one hour it shall come to
naught (Rev. xviii, n.
8. ''Go up to the mountain, and bring
wood, and build the house, AMI will take
pleasure in it. land will be gloriaed, saith the
Lord" We have nothing to do with Difficult.
ties either real or apparent. 1t is ours to
obey; results are with God. His pleasure
and His glory are everything. Even Christ
pleased not Himself. and one Of His last joy
full testimonies was ~ have elorifed Thee on
the earth" from. 1v:. s, John xvii: A.. Let
us take as our daily notices, "For Thy
Pleasure" "For Jesus Sake" "'"Glorify Gol"
Rev, w., II: II Cor. iv., II: Cor, vi, 2O,
and live to build the house.
8. "Why? saith the Lord of Hosts. Because
Of mine house that is waste, and ye run every
man into his own house." If we seek first
the kingdom of God and His Righteousness we
have the promise that all else will be added
(Math. vi, 49,; whereas If we seek first our
own interests there is the probability that
whatever we may accumulate, God will
blow 1t away or suddenly take us away
from it.
This seems a strange place to close the
lesson. trust teachers will go on to con-
slider the threefold assn rance Of l., l3; IL, 4,
5, 8, concerning His presence, His Spirit and
His wealth. Note also thrice BE strong"
OF chapter H.. and compare Josh. 1, SO; II
Chron. xxxii., Z, g.; xv., {: but be warned by
ii Chron. XVI, Is, II. Fail not to note the
great shaking OF chapter il, 8. z, aud CO IL
pare Heb. xii, 25-29; <, 35-37. Ere that
great shaking comes the church will be gath
cred in and out OF the storm, and the elect
remnant OF Israel will also be safely hidden
tPs. l.. l-6; lsa. xvi, 1921; Luke xxi, 36;
Rev. ill.,, 10Y. Then will all thrones against
Christ be destroyed and He shall reign for
ever.-Lesson Helper.
Found In Coal.