Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-11-02
Sunday School Lesson
Blu DR.. Marion McH. Hull

done, until i'm the second year of Darius,
3. c. $50, in the sixth month and the
first day of the month. Haggai appeared
as spokesman for God. The voice of
prophecy which had been silent for
nearly a century became resonant again.
During these sixteen years the people
had not been idle; they had been grad
ually building up the wall or the city
and had built handsome homes of their
own; the Samaritans had not opposed
this. They had forgotten God in their
thought of themselves. Then HagSai APP
pesred and SAID, why don't you build
the house of the Lord?' He repeated the
answer they had been giving him, This
is not the time 10 build the house of
the Lord" Haggai arraignCd them Sc
verely for their selhshness in looking
after their own interests to the neglect
Of Gods. He called their attention
to the fact that they Rad sowed much
and reaped little they ate and did not
have enough; they drank and were not
satisfied; they clothed themselves and
were not warm: they earned much in
wages. but found that the Gag they put
it in was full of holes: they had great
expectations, but small rea!lZations; ana
finally, when they had gathered their
harvest God blew it away, so that they
had nothing left. In other words, their
efforts, although energetic and Volumin-
Gus, were without avail. Why, said
he? and answered as the messenger of
God-because they had neglected the
house of God.
This stirred up Zerubbabel and Joshua and
the people that they obeyed the voice OF
Gods messenger and then the %eS" age e Srs,
indication on their part that they were ready
to put first things first, brought about an en-
tire change in Gods attitude to them. COO
absence was the cause Of their defeat; now
Gods presence comes because OF their obedience
In twenty-three days they had the material TO-
gether and beginning to bnild
1t was at this time that Governor Iatnal
tried to stop them but could not; 80 wrote TO
Darius, who gave a decree, after searching the
records and finding the action OF cyrus before
him, that they go ahead with the work. we
studied this two weeks ago. ,r .o
GREATER GLORY. CHAPT. Ia
One month and three weeks later, Haggal
spoke again. Some of the older men who had
seen the first house and all of its-glory, were
building. Gods messenger spoke TO them, BE
strong, l am with you; yet little while and
| will shake the nations. and the desires Of all
nations shall come. The silver and the gold
are mine" saith the Lord. land the desirable
things of all nations shall be brought to this
house."
Do you notice that as Gods presence had
been the promise and pledge of the blessing
upon their efforts in the first sermon, so now
Gods presence is the for encouragement
and the promise of greater glory for this
house than for that which had been destroyed:
This house lacked the sacred fire, the she
kinah glory, the ark and the cherubims above
the Mercy seat, the urim and thummim, which
had been the glOries of SolOmon's temple, even
glorious than all the magnificent mate
rails which had entered into its construction.
But also notice that while the temple of Ze
rubbabeI lacked these things, Ii had the pres
ence OF Jesus Christ Himself who was the
Antitype of all these things: for truly but
faNy or Cod ER fhn
He who was the "Desire of all nations, came
into that very house which had been restored
promised peace between God and man. peace
between man and God, peace between man and
man, for He is our peace.
A NOTABLE DAY-Chap. 2:10-19.
Two months and three days later, the
oath day Of the ninth month OF the second
year of Darius $40 B. c.. something was done
ecies. On that day the foundation of the
temple was laid. Read those, and see
what special emphasis is laid on this day"
It was notable day in the history of the
question Of the priests, which We can better
understand, probably, if another fig
ure: win many drops of pure water make a
bucket Of foul water clean? No, How many
drops of foul water will ii take to make
bucket of clean water impure? Just one.
With figures something like this or with the
same meaning as this, Haggia brought TO their
attention the fact that all of their zeal and
sacrifices could not Cleanse them; but that
pressed home the truth that nothing that they
could do would bring the blessing.
Blasting and mildew had followed their eff
forts but they could be sure Of this thing:
although the seed not in the barn, ii would
he there, although the olive oil was not in
their store houses, they could count on it alb
solutely: although they had evidences of II
at that time: for God was with them and Gods
presence would bring them the blessing that
they desired. From this day forth. the day
on which they had laid the foundation of the
house Of God they could count on Gods pres
ence and Gods blessing.
GODS 'SIGNET RING-Chap. 2:20-23.
1t was later in that day, the day on
which the foundation OF the house of the Lord
was laid that Haggai came TO Zerubbabel and
told him that God had chosen him to be His
signet ring, the blessing which had been for
feited by the Levites, because Of their dis
obedience. The signet ring on the hand
Of that one, and constantly before his eyes
i was a picturesque way of telling him thai
even though they had been carried into cap
tivity, thew still Gods chosen people
He had His eve constantly upon them: they
would eventually resume their place of leader
ship, for to he Gods signet ring was to I've
cCntantly in His presence and constantly before
His eyes Gods presence was 70. be their
greatest reward.
Summing up the messages of Haggai in