The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-10-27

~, and whose successor Zechariah be-
came tNeh. l2:1G) He was therefore
priest as well as a prophet, the head
OF one OF the Davidic courses of
priests He was probably borr in
Babylon, and went 10 Jerusalem when
quite young. with zerubbabel and
Joshua. He began to prophesy about
two months after Haggai began Czech.
IL; Ezra 5:1; 6:14; Hag. I'D, in the
second year of Darius Hystaspes, and
continued TO prophesy for two years
tZech 7;D.
The people had just been awakened
from their iethargy. and had begun
anew 70 build the temple, amid the
ruins OF the old They were few.
Most OF them were poor. They were
discouraged. Their enemies we're per
sistent and cruel They were trying
TO bring the whole power Of the empire
against these few people and their
feeble enterprise. Drought and mildew
had ruined their crops. Even God
seemed 10 be against them.
The aged Haggal had aroused en-
tEusiasm and the work on the temple
had begun. It had been going on but
few weeks when the younger prophet
Zeehariah came TO his aid
II. zechariahs Eight Visions and
Their Messages. -Zech 1:7-6:s. All
through the history Of literature as
well as In the Bible. we find visions,
and dreams, and ideal pictures. God
sometimes uses this power ~hich he
has conferred on man, to convey his
zssages to men.
One night In the winter following
the new movement to build the tenn
pie. God revealed his encouraging
lrg.h 10 his prophet zechariah. who
knew and felt all the doubts and dis
couragements which assailed and al
most parslyzed the people.
First Vision l. The Doubt. It
seemed as ii God had forgotten the
world. which was left to the wild po
litical disorders. and to the selfish In
difference Of the nations to what was
needed in Jerusalem.
2 The Answering Vision. Then
came the answering vision OF horses
OF various eolors. among the fragrant
myrtle-trees with their starry bios
sons, Gods messengers from all parts
OF the earth, showing that God knew
all that was going on, he had not for
gotten them
Second Vision J. The Doubt But
the world powers. the great nations Of
vast extent. Of enormous strength. OF
mighty military organization. which
had gored torn and destroyed Jeru-
salem. were still arrayed against her.
What could the poor weak Jews, in
a ruined and desolate city with not
even a temple. do against these pow
ers?
3 In The Answering Vision first
appeared four great horns. symbols Of
power. representing the great nations
which had scattered Jerusalem Then
there appeared unseen BY the nations.
four spectral forms silently fling 81
these horns. They represent Gods
mighty moral forces. Righteousness.
justice, conscience, providence. which
are undermining the great world pow
ers Sor their fall God with all his
universe is on the side of his people,
and on the side Of right whatever the
appearances to the contrary.
Third Vision l. The Discourage
ment The city was 80 small. the
ruins 50 desolate, the work TO be done
SO vast. the people SO poor the work
ers so few
?. The Answering Vision. The
prophet sees man with measuring
line such as was used in laying streets
and walls, rs II preparing to build up
the city Then he sees an angel sent
10 bid the man to stop the useless sur /
yeying, for no measuring line is long
enough to express the extent Of the
future city Of God.
Fourth Vision The Doubt Can
the past sins be removed. the sins
which led to the present desolatlon?
Poverty. blasting mildew, drought,
poor crops. hunger, desolation. still
continue. The people are still suffer
ing for the sins of the nation. Can
she sins be forgiven Can the bitter
fruits Of sin be removed?
2. In the Answering Vision Satan,
the accuser. stands by the high priest,
as If presenting the list Of Judah's
sins as an Indictment But the Lord
rebukes him. for lis not this brand
plucked out of the iire?" The branch,
The new shoot. shall take the place Of
the decayed stump which represented
Israel during the exile
Fifth Vision is our especial lesson
for to-day. and will be taken up later
in detail
sixth Vision. l. The Discourage
ment sin continued in ;ne fact thar
ther were so many wicked men,
thieves. perjurers, criminals. In and
around the city.
. The Answering Vision was
gre2e flying open scroll 80 feet long
and is feet broad on which was writ
ten the crime OF the land and the
curse that was its twin-birth, going
forth over the face Of tie whole earth;
and it entered the house Of the thief
,,,a tho nprfurpr and consumed ID