The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-08-31
REBUILDING THE TEMPLE.
International sunday school LeasoA
for September 3, lSD0-Text, Ezra
S,lO-A .5-Memory Verses, 10, IL.

Tor september ASDO-AeAss
3,lO-A,5-M-mory Verses. 10. II.
Especially Arranged from Peloubet's Notes.l
GOLDEN TEXT.-The temple OF God II
holy, which temple ye are.-l Cor. 3l7.
READ Chapters Sand 4.
LIGHT FROM OTHER SCRIPTURES
The Temple OF Solomon.-I Kings. Chaps.
6. is The Temple Repaired.-2 Kings "a
The Spiritual Temple.-l Cor. S:l6 II: SAB;
2 Cor. GIG: Eph. 2:2l: Thes. "a; Rev. 3:l2
PSALMS 81, log, lO7. lis, lls and 1885, ac-
cording to Geikie. were composed for this
occasion.
TIME.-Journey Of return. spring. B. c.
$50; temple planned, altar set up October,
$50; foundations Of temple begun. May. $50;
building ceased, Is years; work on temple
renewed, $50: temple completed. dls.
PLACE.-Jerusalem
RULERs.-Cyrus. king of Babylonia and
the east tin 529; Darius Hystaspes (522-+s5)'
at completion of temple; TarQuin the
Proud, king Of Rome.
PROPHETS.-Danie an old man. at
time Of return dan. l0:D, In Babylon.
Haggai ard Zechariah were both living In
Jerusalem. but did not begin to prophesy
'"' EXPLANATORY.
Introductory.-lf the 10000 return
ing exiles left Babylonia in March (B.
G. 536), they could not well reach Jeru-
salem. .ufter a journey of 500 to 700
I miles, before some time In July. II
took Ezra four months to make the
Journey ezra 7:0). They found the
city in ruins, as it had lain for so years
since its complete destruction by Nebu-
chadnczzar. THE list of towns" says
Geikie, named by Ezra and Nehemiah
(Ezra 1923, 2S, "a; Nch. 7:25-26) as the
first homes of their brethren includes
only bethlehem on the south, while on
the north their territory did not extend
beyond the narrow limits Of Benja-
min" In October, two or three months
after their arrival, they proceeded to re-
new the worship of God by rebuilding
the altar on its old foundation.
|. The Foundations of the Temple
Laid.-Vs. 1913. VS.. 10. THE build
ers, /. G., Joshua and Zerubbabel, who
were at the head Of affairs. (See Ezra
3:2.) "Priests in their apparel:" The
elegant and beautiful official robes used
by the priests in their celebrations, es-
pecially the blue and scarlet purple
robes, with gold and gems. (See Ex.
1910, 39:21, etc.) with trumpets:"
Not for music; but, like our church
bells, for summoning assemblies and
joyful announcements. THE sons of
Asaph:" One of the great choir lead
ers of Davids time. These were his de-
ccndants or their Successors in this
choir, as those in training in the schools
of the prophets were called sons of the
prophets. "Cymbals:" These were mu-
steal Instruments very much like those
which are in use among us under the
same name. after the ordinance Tor
der) of David" (See / Chron. 1916,
2l.) David first organized choirs and
music for the temple services. VS.. IL.
Sang together by course, II. ", one TO
another, responsively. Compare Ex.
1920, 2l.)-Cambridge Bible. "lie is
good" etc: These words first appear
as the doxology at the close of the
psalm written by David, and sung at
the bringing of the ark to Jerusalem
q Chron. 16:3D. They are found sub
stantially in Psa. 1O6, 1o7, 11s. VS.. IL.
Ancient men, that had seen the first
house." which was destroyed B. c. $50
81 years before.
IT, Opposition and Delay.-Ns. 10
/. 1.-The adversaries of Judah:" The
mixed race of the Samaritans. Those
opposed in race, in religion, and in pur'
pose. They did not call themselves ad.
versaries, but were So in reality. ".
"Let us build with you" Let us join in
your work, and hence in the use and di'
rection of the temple. "For we seek
your God and we do sacrifice
unto Him." But they did it in very
different way, partially in connection
with other things which would destroy
the perfection and power of the Jewish
worship. V. 4. weakened the hands,: y
The refusal of the Jews TO unite with
the Samaritans made them bitter enc
; mics, and they did everything In thcil
power to stop the progress Of the tenn
pie building. Q) AS in Nehemiah's
: time (Neh. 4:l-l2), by sneers, SANDERS
: and threatening attacks. (2) BY writ.
| ing slanderous letters to the govern
ment and hiring (v. 81 "counselors
against them:" probably in Baylonia
5 This continued "all the days Of Cyrus
+ who died in 629, until the reign OF
q Darius who began to reign b. &. 522
and it took two years more to get the
desired permission so that for about
Is years nothing was done on the TEN.
pie.
III. The Temple Completed.-Early
n the reign of Darius Hystaspes the
e Jews obtained permission to build the
t temple. The prophets Haggai and
e Zechariah urged the people forward
( The new movement began B. G. 500, and
y in four years, just 70 years after the de-
, struction of Solomon's temple, $50, the
, new temple was completed and dedi'
Gated, b. c. SIG.
. TYPE OF SPIRITUAL TEMPLE
The temple was the symbol and type
of Gods spiritual temple, both the indi
. vidual Christian and the whole people
t of God q. Cor. 3:1O-16). C) Rich and
costly preparations have been made by
others. We are heirs Of all the ages