The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-10-27

LESSON TEXT -Zceharlah i:i-io Mem
ory Verses iN 3D.
GOLDEN TEXT Not by might, nor
by power. bui by Sly Spirit saith the
Lord "-Lcch. ib
TIME Tho lesson ls the NTH Of a series
OF c.stt visions which came TO the pIopHe'
n January OF February ols
PLACE Jerusalem
scHlpTLgE REFERENCEs-Others
,.r, bsv, h. visions. TO Abraham Gen
fsl-l0. toaac0b (Gen q .io-l0; TO Moses
DDS. a.2.lD: to isaiah lsa 6l-9; 10 Ezekle'
Hgek 1854. etc). 20 Daniel tDah.
-r-fg. 90 Amos amos 91-l0; 20 FauI
tacts $50. 90 Cornelius (Acis 1889. 10
Potter lAcis l09-lI. 20 John (Rey ll0-I"
e,c). e,,,,.
Passages ou Holy Spirit lsa. Dit-ls'
John lfT-l5. Acts 21-4. 1921; Rom. 6.ll-4f'
Cor f2.1-l5. Gal 5.le-l1.
Comment and Suggestive Thought
INTRODUCTORY. - Zechariah (the
Lord remembers) was the son OF Bara-
chlah and grandson Of lido. who was
one OF the heads Of the twelve
courses Of priests (Neh. 1874, y, and
whose successor Zechariah became
Cyeh. 12l6. He was therefore priest
as well as a prophet, the head OF one OF
The Davidic courses Of priests. He was
probably born in Babylon, and went TO
Jerusalem when quite young, with
Zsrubbabol and Joshua He began TO
prophesy about two months after Hag-
sal began Czech III; Ezra. 81; 6:l4;
Iag. I'D. in the second year Of Darius
Hystaspes. and continued to prophecy
for two years (Zech I'D. The circum-
stances were those described In our last
lesson. The people had just been awak-
ened from their lethargy, and begun
anew 20 build the temple, amid the ru-
ms Of the Old They were few. Most
OF them were poor. They were discour-
AGED Their enemies were persistent
and cruel. They were trying TO bring
the whole power Of the empire against
these few people and their feeble enter
prise. Drought and mildew had ruined
their CROPS Even God seemed 10 be
AGAINST them. The aged Haggai had
aroused enthusiasm and the work on
the temple had begun. It had been go
ing on but a few weeks when the young
or prophet Zechariah came TO his aid.
HIS first brief address was spoken In
November 500. after the second proph-
ecy OF Haggah who followed with two
more messages from Cod Then Zecha-
riah came again upon the scene. three
months after his first prophecy, in Jan
nary. OF February, $40, when one mem
orable night God sent to Zechariah 4
series of eight visions-living pictures
object lessons-which the prophet re
hearsed 10 the people the next morning
Two years later as the work was pro
crossing he brought another message
from the Lord. The Jews. We are told
"prospered through the prophesying"
Ezra GID. and IN about four years
the temple was finished.
vi "The angel" who had explained
the other visions. Just as Dante repre-
sents himself as accompanied by the
spirits Of Virgil and Beatrice. "And
walked me-" He had slept after the
first series Of visions This was the be.
ginning Of q new series, during the same
eventful night.
" 2. Behold a candlestiok all Of
qold:" Like The seven-branched candle
stick Of the tabernacle and the later
temple. for holding oil lamps, not can
dies with a bowl upon the top:" For
IA reservoir Of oil to supply the lamps.
V. 3. "And two olive trees" The oil
usually burned I'm the lamps was olive
.oil. pressed from the fruit Of the olive
tree
V. 8. The angel wondered that the
prophet did not understand these plain
symbols. The prophet then asked the
angel to explain not only for himself
but to give authority 20 the message &c
The people The candlestick with it,
branches represented the Jewish ma
ton as the representative Of the king
dom OF Cod. It's business was to uphold
The light Of God before the whole
world. The olive oil which fed the
lamps represented the Holy Spirit Of
God
V. G. This IS the word Of the Lord
unto Zerubbabel:" The governor
Not by might, nor by power" Not by
armies, nor wealth. nor numbers, noi
the material greatness Of nations. can
Ithe work be done. But by My spirit"
The source Of help is in God
VI. who art thou. o great noun.
l,ain?" The difficulties. the opposition
of the world power Of Persia, the pov.
Tty, the ruins, the sins, and indiffer.
ance Of some of the Jews, the hatred
of the samaritans, all rose up before
he prophet like a huge range Of noun
tains proud, overbearing, seemingly in.
lvineible. But who are your Do you
think you can stop this work when the
Lord sends His spirit to see that It IS
done? Thou shalt become a plain
Be wholly removed.
v 10. For who hath despised the day
Of small things7" Small beginnings. a
small people. a small kingdom. small
wealth. They . shall see the plum
met" The symbol Of the architect OF
head builder. Those seven; they are
the eyes Of the Lord" Referring back
10 Zech. S:9 The people should rejoice.
because the providence Of God, reaching
everywhere In the world. is with their
leader
Application.
When we look at outward things. as
did the Jews Of that day, we are often
discouraged The imperfections OF
good men, the evils IN government, in
business, in society. the decline IN
church attendance wars, crimes, igno-
'rance-au seem % show how slowly
the kingdom Of God Is coming.
But the power for building the king
dom Of God does not lie In such things
but In the power OF the Spirit Of God. the
spirit that made the early church. when
1t was despised as the day Of small
things" victorious over the Roman en-
lpire With all It's might and power.
War Veteran Physician Dead.
PUTNAM. Conn. oct. 17.-Dr. Low