The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-09-14
POWER THROUGH THE SPIRIT.
International Sunday school Lesson
sor septensber II. 1sS0.sTcxt, Icch-
ariah %a.I1MsmOrS Va s-lO.

Especially Arranged from Peicueet's Notes!
GOLDEN TExr.-Not by might, nor by
power, but by my Spirit. saith tho Lord OF
hosts.-Zech a.
READ the otapsss. and compare Ezra
hls-A
L,I0HT FROM OTRER sSNIrTURES.-
Ne Golden CandiesticS.-E1. D:a-sI Rev
ia l3. 20; 1l4: Matt Sa%-N The HOY
Sprit.-John ls:su.l2: Rom. Sl6, - Acts
2:1-+. 42-.7: Gal. $40. r. g.
PLACE IN THE HISTORY.-Thc his
torical circumstances In which Zecharian
rrophes sled are found IN Ezra, Chaps and o.
TiME.-Zechar,ah began to prophesy NO.
vember. b. c. 80, between the second ano
third prophec!es OF HaggaL The prophecy
OF the lesson was spoken on the mcrnlhs
OF the twenty y-fourth day of the eleventh
month, therefore some time In March, DIV,
five moxths after the people began anew
their work on the temple.
PLACE.-JCrusalem
PHO?HETS-Zecharia and HaggaL
RCLTRS.-Darius Hystasres, king OF
Persia; ZerubbabeL governor Of Judea'
EXPLANATORY.
1. The Prophet Zechariah and His
Nission.-Zechariah c'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, and whose successor
Zcchariah became (Neh. 1910. lie
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 IEaggai (Zech. ii; Ezra 5;li .;
il; lag. l.1), in the second year OF
Darius uystaspes. and continued the
prophecy for two years (7:l. 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.
III. 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 we're,
we're vet Ike Gods precious golden
candlestick, whose work was ~ IL
mnire the wopld with the Divine Hight
and life.
V. /. "The angel:- who had ex-
nlainel 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 a 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. 2S:5l-
3T). with bowl upon the top For
a reservoir Of oil to supply the lamps.
V. J. "And two olive treest" 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; 50 that the lamps would
never go out.
V. 5. "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
candiestick, 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 (Rcv. 1920. 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 ao-
complished by the Spirit OF Cod
Cambridge Bible.
V. Z. who art thou, o great noun
tain?" A figure representing the vast
ness of the work to be done, the Inn
mense difficulties in the way-Satan OF
the previous vision, the Persian empire,
the bitter opposition of tho Samari-
tans- Thou shalt become plain"
lie 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 q great deal better to have
the faith that shall remove mountains
than to keep an expensive corps OF en-
gineers to tunnel them" "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 acclamatioDs should the
temple be completed.
". "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
glcry. He appeared like common man
rather than like a great ruler.
V. 10. For who hath despised the
day of small things?" Small begin
nings, small people, small kingdom
small wealth '"rhey shall
see the plummet: The symbol of the