The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-09
Sunday-SchOOI Lesson for September no.
Encouraging the Builders.
HAG n: 10.
BY j. e. GILBERT D. D., IL. D.,
Secretary of American Society of Religious Education

tacle of half-nnished temple was dis
heartening good reason for weeping
EZRA, iii:l2D. II, after sixteen years had
passed since the return, this was all that
could be shown, who could hope for the
completion of the task that had been as
signed them? ezra, i;3). The fathers,
eighty-siX years distant from the capture
of NebuchadneZzar, probably then at
least five score years old, were ready TO
go the way of all the earth, and the
young men had less reason than they
to believe the undertaking possible, in
view of all the disCouragcments. Some
word of comfort must be spoken and
Haggai was appointed to be the spokes-
man. II am with you" was Gods mes.
sage through him to the depressed peo-
pie. What more did they need to know?
The presence that had guided the Israeli
ties in their wanderings, protected them
against evil, and led them to the land
of promise ZEN, iii:lD, was with these,
the fragment of the nation, gathered in
Jerusalem, and on that account leaders
and people were hidden to be strong and
to work.
THE PROMISE (verse 5).-The presence
of God with His people is always n
source of joy and strength. So the He
brew children felt in the fiery furnace
Dan., iii:25). David desired nothing more
than to know that God was near psalm
xXXviii:2D. 1t was this that sustained
the apostles as they went forth to preach
the gospel (Matt., XViii:20. But in this
case God reminded the returned Jews
that His presence was ocCOrding to prom
Use CEX., XXiX45), made at the opening
of the history of these people a thous-
and years before. 1t was one of the
items i'm the covenant or agreement into
which at that time He entered when He
took Israel out of Egypt to make them
His own chosen nation, separate from all
other nations. This was a most comfort
ing statement. The spirit that had been
given to the prophets and all the holy
men in centuries gone by still fingered.
Neh., iX:20). No one, however dark the
outlook, need to suppose that the cov>
enant was annulled, or that God had
departed. Wherefore fear not" was the
wholesome counsel.
THE PURPOSE oversees and O.-Why
this faithfulness of God to His promise
why does He hold to this company Of
the posterity of Abraham numbering only
few thousands? GGzra., ii:64). What
end has He in view? The purpose is
made known by the prophet. He intends
through these restored people TO bring in
the desire of all nations Without ques-
tion that was the Messiah, the Shiloh
whom Jacob foresaw in the line of Ju-
dah (Gen., xix: :10), of whom all the
prophets wrote (Mal., HID. Indeed, the
covenant with Abraham had respect to
this Wonderful Person Gen, Xvii:O, and
all the institutions established under
Moses were intendedto educate people
to receive Him and prepare the world
for Him. The Lord declares that His
advent is not far distant in point Of
time, that the convusons which shall
occur in the earth. political and relig-
ious. are all preparatory and necessary
(Ezek.. xxi:2O. People ought not to COM
plain if trouble prepares for the coming
of Christ