Oxford eagle., 1909-02-11

had pictured himself the future glory
Of the beloved Jerusalem. How the
temple would he rebuilt and the city
take on much Of the old life and actiy
ity which had marked It in the days
OF its former glory.
And now he contrasted the pictures
which his enthusiastic young hope
had drawn with the realities of the
present, after i5 years OF struggle and
waiting.
"Whs, has been Gods purpose in
bringing his people back to Zion II
the temple is not TO be rebuilt he
asked himself. as he reached his mod
est little room and sat down on the
low bench and watched with far.
away look the sun sink out Of sight In
the west
His frugal meal was forgotten. and
he was unconscious OF the gathering
darkness His whole thought cen
tered around the history Of the return
~ the Jews to Jerusalem and the evi
dent failure of the highest hopes OF
the movement. And he went on TO
catechise himself as to why such
things could BE-.
God has spoken Of great blessing
to his people at Jerusalem" mused
Zachariah Was Il not his promise
that after 20 years he would return
the captivity and establish his people
In Zion2 Had not Daniel searched ont
these promises given by the prophet
jeremiah and had not they found iul-
fillment In the return u years be
FORE Had not the return been with
gladness. and had not the manifest
blessing of God rested upon the
movement
with what JOY. he thought. had they
begun the rebuilding of the temple in
order that God might have a dwelling
place In their midst And the work
had progressed TO the point where the
ruins had been cleared and the
foundation walls again built ready to
begin the superstructure Then had
come the opposition Of the Samaritans
and the decree OF ArtaXerxes ordering
that the work be stopped. But now
the king Of Babylon was dead and
Darius had come to the throne, and
with the change had come the new in
spiration and hope that the work on
the temple would be resumed
Haggai had come with his stirring
message. and had reassured the peo-
pie with the promise that God was
with them. but now after two months
the work was tagging and gave indica-
tions Of ceasing again altogether.
What is the matter?" exclaimed
Zcchariah What can he done to
rouse the people and hold them TO
their tasks? II needs more than the
enthusiasm which first aroused the
people" he muttered to himself as
he leaned out OF the open easement
and watched the stars flashing out one
by one as the night grew darker.
What is Indifference to Gods work
but the forgetting Of God and God =
law" he demanded OF himself at
last Does not sin lie at the door.
then? All" he exclaimed. excitedly.
that is where the trosble lies We
need God"
As though by way OF response a
voice came floating down through the
night and instinctively Zechariah
knew ii was God speaking With up
lifted but reyerent gaze. Zechariah
whispered:
Speak. Lord. thy message"
Anagr .aVuo tho rnfaa
The Lord hath been sore dis
pleased with your fathers Therefore
say unto them. Thus saith the Lord OF
hosts: Turn ye unto me. saith the
Lord OF hosts. and | will turn unto
you. saith the Lord Of hosts. he ye
not as your fathers. unto whom the
former prophets have cried. saying
Thus saith the Lord Of Hosts. Turn
We now from your evil ways. and from
your evil doings: but they did not
hear. nor hearken unto me. saith the
Lord. But my words and my statutes.
which commanded my servants the
prophets. did they not take hold Of
your fathers? and they returned and
said. Like as the Lord of hosts thought
to do unto us. according to our ways.
and according TO our doings. SO hath
he dealt with us"
The Lord hath told me TO speak TO
his people. whispered Zechariah TO
himself after the voice had ceased.
Can II be-" he exclaimed in rapture.
that God is calling me as prophet
and priest to serve his people,"
And then by way OF response he
added. earnestly:
Il will speak All the Lord hath
said will tell the people. And. oh,
that they may indeed hear the voice
of God and turn to him. II Is only
thus that the work OF the rebuilding OF
the temple will prosper
So IL came to pass on the morrow
that Zechariah's place upon the tenn
pie walls was vacant. but Jerusalem
had a new prophet whose voice was
sounding throughout the city the call
TO repentance and urging the need OF
aw.rw ~