Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-09-02
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON x. THIRD QUARTER. INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES. SEPTEMBER s

Comments by VIM. K. Tisher-Snhiecs:
Rebuilding the Temple, Ezra 81 10 50 AS
Golden Text, The Temple Of God -
Holy. Cor. 5. IL.
.eThe temple Of solomon. I Kings,
chapter s. ard s; THE temple re-
pair I III. Kings, 70; and The Spirit
ual temple" Cor. 3;l6, II. 6:l9; l.
Cor. SIG; Eph 2:21: H. Thes. "a;
Rev. S:12. are given as Light from
others Scriptures" on this lesson.
with the return and settlement OF
the exiles came the establishment or
religious services, and the building OF
the altar Ii is supposed that the ex-
lies left Babylon in March. and, AFTER
a Journey OF between i've and seven
hundred miles. reached Jerusalem some
time In July, as, according 70 Ezra ~
IL took Ezra four months 20 make the
tourney. Prof. Adeney says, The al
tar was to Judaism what the cross is
Ia Christianity Before q stone or
the temple was laid, the smoke OF sac
rificial fires might be seen ascending 10
heaven from the highest crag OF NO
riah. For fifty years all sacrifiees nad
ceased, 'sIn the centre OF the mosque
known as the Dome Of the Rock there
is a crag with the we'll worn remains
of stems leading UP to the top OF 1t,
and with channels cut in its surface.
This has been identified by recent ex-
the site OF the inmost shrine OF
burnt offerings 1t Is on the very crest
OF Mount Moriah. Formerly II was
that ii was the site of the inmost shrine
the temple, known as The Holy OF
Holies.' but the new view, which seems
to be fairly established, gives an IN
expected prominence to the altar. I'his
rude, square structure of nnhewn stone
was the most elevated and conspicuous
object in the temple"
In inaugurating the feast or taber-
nacles, the great national Thanksg1v-
ing service. again in the old religious
capital OF their nation, says Peloubet,
they thrilled with JOY in remembering
The past and hoping for the future.
This was the festival Of JOY. IL was
celebrated with waving torches, with
bands Of music, With singing of hymns
and songs of praise The rejoicing was
SO great that the Rabbits used to say
he who had never been present at the
ceremonies by which this feast was
distinguished did not know what re-
joicing meant.
verse Of the third chapter Of Ezra:
TO- And when the builders laid the
foundation of the temple of the Lord,
they set the priests in their apparel
with trumpets, and the Levites the sons
of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the
Lord after the ordinance of David king
Of Israel
sarhe builders" referred to are Joshua
and Zerubbabel, who were at the head
of affairs. lSee Ezra 3:2) For a de-
scription of the apparel of the Priests
see Elk. 31:10 and 1927. The trumpets
we are told, were not for music, but
to summon assemblies and for joyful
announcements, the same as our
church bells are used. The cymbols
used we're much the same as cymbals
used at the present time. Instead OF
latter the ordinance" the revised YER
sion reads, "after the order of David.
II. "And they sang together by
course in praising and giving thanks
unto the Lord; because he is good, for
his mercy endureth for ever toward Is
rael And all the people shouted with
great shout. when they praised the
Lord, because the foundation OF the
house of the Lord was laid.
The weeping of the old men, who
mad seen the first house, which had
been destroyed half century before,
Is explained as being caused by the
fact that the returning captives had but
little to spend upon the new temple
in comparison to the wealth of Solo
mon. In Haggai. 2:3, this temple is
spoken of as nothing in comparison to
the temple in her first glory, and still
in the 4th verse we read that the Lord
said. "yet now be strong for
am with you" and so these old men
may have been moved to tears by the
remembrance of former days and the
thoughts of the goodness of God, even
more than because the old temple was
more attractive than the new
The first verse of the fourth chapter
reads:
Now when the adversaries of Judah
and Benjamin heard that the children
of the captivity builded the temple I'M
to the Lord God of Israel.
Instead of 'the temple" the revised
version reads "a temple unto the Lord
Peloubet says the advarsaries of Jli-
dab were 4'the mixed race of the Sa-
maritans. Those opposed in race, in
religion. and in purpose. They did not
call themselves adversaries. but were
so in reality"
2. "Then they came to Zerubbabel;
and to the chief Of the fathers, and
said unto them, Let us build with you:
for we seek your God, as We do; and we
do sacrifice unto him since the days OF
Esar-haddon king OF Assur, which
brought us up hither.''
They sought God according to the
profession of their lips, but their ac-
tons showed that they did not serve
him. "They feared the Lord, and serv-
ed their own Gods" III. Kings IT.
34)
3. But Zerubbabel and Joshua, and
the rest of the chief of the fathers OF
Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing
to do with us to build an house unto
cur God; but we ourselves together will
build unto the Lord God of Israel, as
King Cyrus the king of Persia hath
commanded u.s."
Those who not only feared the Lord.
but also served him, We're not deceived
by those who professed to be friends,
l. l.. l.