Middletown transcript., 1899-09-02
H0Onf,s Pills
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON x, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, SEPT. 8.

tNSNtNGtSNh 0ERIGSy 0EE I+ u
Text OF the Lesson, Ez. iii, 10. to iv.
5-Memory Verses, 10. 11-GoIden
Text, Cor. iii, 1T Commentary
Prepared by the Rev. ID. NJ. stearns.
Copyright, 1899, by D. II. stearns.l
10. "And when the builders laid the
foundation of the temple of the Lord they
set the priests in their apparel with trum-
pets and the Leyites, the sons ofAAsaph,
with cymbals to praise the Lord, after the
ordinance of David, king of Israel. =" That
God should dwell in the midst of Israel
was His purpose from the first, and so He
said to Moses concerning the tabernacle,
"Let them make me sanctuary that may
dwell among them" (Ex. XIV, 81, and when
the tabernacle was finished He filed it
with His glory, as He did also the temple
(Ex. II, S3, "a; Kings viii, 10, ~. He
would fill the church with His glory now
If she was wholly given up to Him, and SO
He would every individual believer, and He
would be glorifed in us II we were willing.
II. "And all the people shouted with
great shout when they praised the Lord,
because the foundation of the house of the
Lord was laid" In each of the 26 verses
Of the one hundred and thirty sixth psalm
the refrain is, "For His mercy endureth
forever" and the first verse is oh, give
thanks unto the Lord, for He is good 4"
1t is probable that this was one of the
songs they sang. We would do we'll to
make at least the first verse our daily song.
God is good and God is love in all that He
docs Righteous also is He in all His
ways, and it becometh us ever to praise
Him The foundation of the house Of the
Lord makes us think Of the silver sockets
on which the boards of the tabernacle
stood, the silver being the ransom money
which the numbered ones paid as an atone
ment for their souls (Ex. Xxx, 10, 16;
xxxviii, 25-27).
IL. but many Of the priests and Levites
and chief of the fathers, who were ancient
men that had seen the first house, when
the foundation OF this house was laid be-
fore their eyes, wept with loud voice,
and many shouted aloud for joy" In
Hags ii, 3, It is said that this seemed as
nothing in comparison vita the first
house. The old people. looking back and
thinking of the past glory. wept as they
remembered that which Lad been, while
the younger people probably rcjoiccd in
VI COILfi'lC lCE Lie SlO.y VI
God Ezekiel had said that God would do
better unto them than at their beginnings
(Ezek xxxvi, III, and it E.ay have been
faith in God that led to the shouting aloud
for joy.
IS. $50 that tho people could not dis
Germ the noise of the shout of joy from the
noise of the weeping Of the people, for the
people shouted with loud shout, and the
Co.. <H.f
much noise, and it was heard at great
distance, but 1t was very confused. Mis-
sionaries have gone into all lands, but
there Is often confused testimony just as
1t is in what we call the homo lands.
There is great need of clear, joyful tes-
timony that Christ died for our sins; that
He is risen from the dead and alive forever
more, ready to receive all who will come
to Him, and that He is coming again to
reign in righteousness and subdue all
things unto Himself.
l. "Now when the Gdversaries Of Ju-
dah and Benjamin heard that the children
of the captivity buildcd the temple unto the
Lord God Of Israel" Tkegrcat adversary,
the devil, is ever going about as roaring
Hon, seeking whom he may devour Il Pet.
v, 81, and he has had long practice, for he
to tempt Eve, but our Lord Jesus has
taught us that he may be overcome by
the sword of the Spirit, which is the word
Of God. In Rev. xii, II, we read Of some
who ovcrcame by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word OF their testimony and
who loy Ell not their lives unto the death.
2. "Thcn they ca,.:c to Zerubbabel and
to tho chief of tie fathers and said unto
them, Let lis build with you, for we seek
your GCl rs ye do, and we do sacrifice
unto H.l1 Since the days of Esar-haddon,
king Of .h.s;Ir, which brought US up hith-
er.'f a Z; king is mentioned by name in
II kim ! xix, 81, and the people are men
toned "a III Kings xvii, "a. AS to their
WORSHIP it is said that they feared not the
Lord, b;.b While they had a kind of fear
they Still wCrshiped their own gods (1
Kings xvii, 33, S4, 41) They talked fair
ly. and their request sounded well, but
their hearts were not right with God.
They were the adversarics of God and OF
His people. Cain worshipcd God in his
own WY, bu5 he was really an adversary
of God iad Of his brother who worshiped
God in truth.
g. aye have nothing to do with ussto
build Eouse unto our God, but we our
selves together will build unto the Lord
God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of
Persia, hath commanded us. Although
this seemed unkind, it was not so butw
on tie fart of Zerubbabel and Joshua real
faithfu.aess to God. A great difficulty
and disgrace and dishonor to God in the
church today is her conformity to the
world and the way in which she seeks the
favor of the enemies of God in what she
calls the Lord s work. Because she is in
partnership with Sodom she cannot know
the blessing of the Most High God, pos
SCISSOR of heaven and earth.
4. "Then the people Of the land weak
ened the hands of the people of Judah and
troubled them in building" People can
say and do very hard and cruel and wicked
things when satan gets control Of them,
and the most wicked and cutting and kill
ing things are not always said by the un-
Rodly, but by those who profess to be the
Lords people and perhaps are. have
known those who have been much used Of
God allow themselves to be used Of the
devil to try and hinder the Lords work
by misjudging, and saying unkind and
untrue things Of the Lords servants.
Our Lord has told us that we shall have
tribuiation and shall suffer persecution,
and He has said, t'Woe unto you when all
men shall speak well Of you
8. Sand hired counselors against them
TO frustrate their purpose all the days OF
Cyrus, king of Persia, even until the reign
OF Darius, king of Persia" So did they
with Stephen and Paul and even with our
Lord Himself, and Stephen and our Lord
were slain by their enemies, yet God was
glorified in them. In the case before us
the enemies were successful In causing the
work to cease by force and power, but 1t
s.as only for tirne for the work was re-
sumed and the building was finished and
dedicated to God with great joy (chapter
vi, 14-16l. Let Us never be discouraged
because of our enemies, for IL God be for
us who can be against usf The work may
seen to be hindered. but when God says,
aI win work, and who shall hinder IL"
| Qsa. xliii, 1s) how can we be discouraged
The Lord will perfect that which concern