The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-09-14
POWER THROUGH THE SPIRIT.
international Sunday school Lesson
for September IL, 1SG0--Text, Zcch-
nriah 4,I-t4AMc cmory vs.. $40.

| power but by my Spirit saith the Lord Of
| hosts Zech. 46.
READ the chapter, and compare Ezra
i:14-:2
LlGuT FROM OTHER SCRIPTURES
The Golden Candles tick.-Ex. :Sl-37: Rev.
! 1:12, 10. y; liza; Matt. 514-l6. The Holy
| Spirit.-John 16:S-11,l3; Rom. SIG, 26; Acts
21-4. 42-47; Gal 5:16. %, %.
| PLACE IN THE HISTORY.-The his
| torical circumstances in which Zechariah
prophesied are found In Ezra, Chaps and 8.
TIME.-Zechariah began to prophesy Mo-
| vember, B. c. $40, between the second and
third prophecies Of Haggai. The prophecy
Of the lesson was spoken on the morning
Of the twenty-fourth day Of the eleventh
month, therefore some time in March, $40,
five months after the people began anew
| their work on the temple.
PLACE.-Jerusalem.
PROPHETS.-Zecharia and Haggai.
RULERS.-Darius Hystaspes, king of
| Persia; Zerubbabel, governor of Judea.
| EXPLANATORY.
/. The Prophet Zechariah and His
Mission.-Zechariah ('the Lord re-
members") was the son of Barachiah
| and grandson of lido, who was one of
the heads of the l2 courses of priests
(Neh. 1874, y, ana whose successor
Zechariah became (Neh. 1870. He
was probably born in Babylon, and
went to Jerusalem when quite young,
with Zerubbabel and Joshua. He be-
gan to prophesy about two months
after Haggai Czech. III; Ezra ST.; 6:
IA; Hag. 1:D, in the second year of
Darius Hystaspes, and continued the
prophecy for two years 7:1). Zech-
ariah's mission was to awaken and en-
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 to the people by the assurance
that they, feeble and poor as they were,
were yet like Gods precious golden
candlestick, whose work was to IL
lumine the world with the Divine light
and life. .-.-.-'.-"
v. /. '"rhe angel" who had ex-
planned the other visions, just as Dante
represents himself as accompanied by
the spirit of Virgil and of Beatrice.
And walked me-" He had slept after
the first series of visions. This was the
beginning of new series, during the
same eventful night.
v. 2. Behold candlestick all of
gold:" Like the seven branched candle
stick of Solomon's temple (Ex. 25:31-
81. with bowl upon the tops" For
a reservoir of oil to supply the lamps.
v. 3. "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 60 out.
v. S. "Knowest thou not?" This i'm
plies surprise that the prophet did not
see through these plain symbols. The
meaning was written all over them.
First. The Jewish nation was Gods
candlestick, which should uphold the
light for the whole world. Its business
was to shed abroad the light of God.
The Christian church is Christ's golden
candlestick (Rev. 1:2O). Second. The
Holy Spirit is,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 valor. And
not "by power:" as contrasted with
might not by physical or bodily
strength. But by my Spirit" "As
that candlestick gave forth its light in
silent, ceaseless splendor, unfed and un-
tended by human agencies, so the work
in which he was engaged would be ac-
complished by the Spirit of God."-
Cambridge Bible.
V. Z. who art thou, 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 a plain:"
Be wholly removed. At that very time
God was influencing Darius to refuse
the desires of the Samaritans, and give
his favor to Jerusalem Ezra g.. He
inspired the people with patriotism and
zeal and energy. 1t has been well said
that lit is great deal better to have
the faith that shall remove mountains
than to keep an expensEe corps of en-
gineers to tunnel them. ."N"And he shall
bring forth the headstone' of the tenn
pie: The crowning grace that COM
pleted the building. His work should
succeed. with shoutings, crying:
Grace, grace unto it," With great re-
joicing and acclamations should the
temple be completed.
V. 8. ''Zerubbabel his hands
shall also finish it," 1t is quite proba-
BILE that the people were dissatisfied
with Zerubbabel in some way. He be-
longed to the day of small things. He
did not appear like Solomon in all his
glory. He appeared like a common man
rather than like great ruler.
V. 10. For who hath despised the
day of small things?" Small begin
nings, small people, small kingdom,
small wealth. "They shall
see the plummet:" The symbol of the
architect or head builder. He shall
complete the building, for with him
are those seven; they are the eyes of
the Lord" Referring back to $40. The