The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1899-09-13
POWER THROUGH THE SPIRIT.
international sunday school Lesso.
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power, but ny my spirit, salth the Loru OF
| iosts.-Zech. 90.
READ the chapter. and compare Ezra
I.It-22
LIuHT FROM OTHER SCRIPTURES
rhe Golden CRndlestick -EN. 25:al-3I; Rev
ti2. 10, ~: iI. Matt 5Ii-iG The Holy
Spirit John i6S-ii.i3. Rom. SIG. 20; Acts
2i-L ca. UaL 5:i6. %. "a.
PLACE IN THE HIsToRY.-The his
torical circumstances IN which Zecharlah
prophesied are found IN Ezra, Chaps and 6
TIME -Zcchariah began 20 prophecy Mo-
vembcr, II. c. go. between tho second and
third prophecies Of IIaggaL The prophecy
OF the lesson was spoken on the morning
OF tho twenty-fourth day OF the eleventh
month, therefore some time In March. tl9,
Ave morths after the people began anew
their work on the temple.
pLACE.-Jerusalem
PROPHETS. -Zechariah and fIagEaL
RULERS Hystaspes. king OF
Persia; Zerubbabel. governor Of Judea.
EXPLANATORY.
1. The Prophet Zechnriah and His
ssion.-Zechariah C'the Lord re
membcrs") was the son Of Barachinh
and grandson OF lido. who was one OF
the heads OF the 70 courses OF priests
(Neh. 1874, ~, and whose successor
Zccharinh became (Neh. 1870. lie
was probably born In Babylon, and
went TO Jerusalem when quite young,
with Zerubbabel and Joshua. lie be-
gan 90 prophesy about two months
after Uaggni Czech. i:i, Ezra 5:i; 6;
u; Hag. l:i), in the second year OF
Darius IIystaspes, md continued the
prophecy for two years CAD. Iech-
-. tn a. n
courage the Jews In their great work
Of rebuilding the temple and renewing
the religious life Of the people.
II. The Vision OF the Golden Candle
stick.-This vision was TO give courage
and hope 10 the people by the assurance
that they, feeble and poor rs they were,
we're yet like Gods precious golden
candlestisk. whose work was TO IL
lumine the world with the Divine light
and life.
V. /. "The angel" who had ex-
planned the other visions, just Ms Dante
represents himself Ms accompanied by
the spirit OF Virgil and Of Beatrice.
"Aud walked me-" lie had slept after
the first series of visions. This was the
beginning OF n new series, during the
same cvcntful night.
V. q Behold cnndlcstick all of
gold:" Like the seven branched candle
stick OF Solomon's temple zen. 2j:3l-
~. with n bowl upon the tops" For
n reservoir Of oil to supply the lamps.
V. }. And two olive trees" The oil
usually burned In the lamps was olive
oil, pressed from the fruit of the olive
tree. These were the living. perennial
sources of oil: so that the lamps would
never go out.
V. 5. "Knowest thou not" This i'm
plies surprise that the prophet did not
meaning was written all over them.
First. The Jewish nation was Gods
candlcstick. which should uphold the
light for the whole world. Its business
was 90 shed abroad the light OF God.
The Christian church In Christ's golden
candlestick (Rev. l:2O). Second. The
Holy Spirit In symbolized by the sacred
oil which keeps the lamps burning
and shining. Not by might" Not by
any governmental power. or power Of
numbers. or of wealth. or ynlor. And
not by power:" as contrasted with
might" not by physical or bodily
strength. "I,ut by my Spirit" AS
that cnndlestick gave forth its light in
silent, ceaseless splendor. unfcd and un-
tended by human agencies, so the work
in which he was engaged would be ac-
complished by the Spirit OF Cod
Cambridge Bible.
V. I. who art thou. o great noun
tain?" A figure representing the vast
ness OF the work TO be done, the i'm
mense difficulties in the way-Satan OF
the previous vision, the Persian empire,
the bitter opposition OF the Samari-
tans. Thou shalt become plnin:"
he wholly removed. Al that very time
God was influencing Darius TO refuse
the desires OF the Samaritans, and give
his favor 10 Jerusalem ezra %. lie
Inspired the people with patriotism and
real and energy. IL has been well said
that 1t Is n great deal better Ia have
the faith that shall remove mountains
than TO keep an expensive corps Of en-
gineers to tunnel them" "And he shall
bring forth the headstone" OF the tenn
pie: The browning grace that COM
pleted the building. His work should
succeed. with shoutings, crying:
Grace. grace unto IL" With great re-
joicing and Rcclamations should the
temple he completed.
shall nlso finish it," II is quite proha-
BILE that the people were dissatisfied
with Zerubbabel in some way. He be-
longed TO the day OF small things. lie
did not appear like Solomon in all his
glory. Heappeared like common man
rather than like a great ruler.
V. 10. For who hath despised the
day OF small things?" Small begin
nings, a small people, a small kingdom,
small wealth. "They shall
see the plummet:" The symbol Of the
architect or head builder. lie shall
complete the building, for with him
are "those seen; they are the eyes OF
the Lord" lettering back 10 $50. The
people should rejoice, because the prov
idence OF God, reaching everywhere In
the world, IL with their leader.
LESSONS FROM THE CANDLEsTICK.