Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-10-19
INTERNATIONAL
SUND6SOOOL
LESSON
[By REV. P. B. FITzWATER, D. D.,
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago.)
(CopYright. 1917 Western NeMsna ner IInion.l
LESSON FOR OCTOBER Fl
THE TEMPLE REBUILT AND DEDl-
GATED.

LESSON TEXT-Ezra 3:S-13; 6:14-1S. y
GOLDEN TEXT-Enter into his gates
with Thanksgiving, and into his courts
with praise.-Psalms 100:4.
The remnant which returned had
now become settled in their new homes
AS it would be a considerable time be-
fore the temple could be rebuilt, ar
rangement was made for the religious
life as early as possible, as religion
was the very heart of the nations life.
They first set up the altar of the God
Of Israel (3:1-3) and offered burnt Of
ferings thereon. They next revived
the annual festivals CAD which had
a powerful, unifying influence upon
them.
|. The Appointment of officers to
Set Forward the Work of the Lords
House ". s, 81. Overseers were need
ed to direct this great work. Rubbish
needed to be cleared away so the build
ing operations could begin; timber
needed to be cut in the Lebanon forests
and f1oated down to Joppa; stones
needed to be cut from the quarries; in
telligent and consecrated men were
needed to direct this work, as it was
needful that 1t be done with the utmost
expedition. The Lords house demands
the most systematic adjustment of its
labors. Mere zeal will not make up for
lack of intelligence
II. The Foundation of the Temple
Laid e 1913. This was done amid
great rejoicing. The consciousness that
! the Lords house was taking shape,
even though the mere foundations
| could be seen, provoked great enthu-
siasm on the part of the people. Mu-
sicianS were appointed to furnish mu-
| sic while the work was being DONE I'm
der the influence of music men will do
better work, armies will march and
| fight better when bands are playing.
While there was great joy, there was
also, mingled sorrow. This was on the
part of the elders who had seen the
former temple. The meanness of the
present temple in comparison with
Solomon's temple caused their praise
to be drowned with their sorrow.
These people belonged to that class
who think that nothing now is so good
as in the former days. So completely
were these voices commingled that the
people could not discern the one from
the other.
Ill. The Building of the Temple De-
Iayed by Opposition. (Chapters 4 and
81. For time matters went smoothly
with them, but as soon as the work
had taken such shape as to show that
there was some prospect of success,
the half-heathen Samaritans began to
oppose them. No vital work of God
will be allowed to go on without oppo.
sition. Satan resents and bitterly op.
poses all inroads upon his kingdom
These Samaritans sought to frustrate
this work of God by:
ID An Alliance With the Jews
a: 2, -. They wanted to bring the worF
in harmony with their own religion:
practices, as Gods pure worship woul(
be constant rebuke to them. This i
ever the way Of the world, to seek t
effect q compromise with Gods chill
,dren; but Gods call is separation
, Come out from among them" e Coz
+ 6:14-18). Nothing so weakens Cod
, cause as worldly alliance and compro
+ mise. There is but one answer to b
given to such an offer of compromise
y 'sYe have nothing to do with US i
building house unto our God" W
are in the world, but not of the world.
I (2) Weakening the Hands of tn
People (4:4). Doubtless this include
bo of S11nn1ioc ho c,1rao
q ing Of dissension among the workmel
4 and the employment of counselor
4 against them.
e (3) Letters Of Accusation to the Pc
e sian King a: :6, y. So severe was thi
n opposition that the building was d.
:. layed for term Of years. These coul
= selors succeeded in creating doubt 6
Ii to whether Cyrus had ever issued d
l. cree for their return. This wicked o.
e position resulted in the undoing of tt
n opposers, for search was made and
n copy was found. Darius confirmed tn
by his own decree, and directed tn,
aid be given from the royal taxes s
% that the house Of God might be built
o ~. The Temple Completed and Deo
Gated (6:14-19). The Prophets Hagg
10 and Zachariah now appear, and
n warnings, exortations and entreati
% stir up the people so that the wol
q goes forward to successful compl
Is ton. without their aid probably Il
d, work would never have been complete
t. Human nature at times needs to
1t cheered and urged forward. The
.r prophets did not themselves work
le the building of the walls, yet the
d. work was Of even greater impoFtant
10 1t is generally found that th
is so with the religious leaders toda
W The words of cheer and encourageme
!" of the Christian minister are need,
daily for those who labor in the bull
ing of the Lords house. Were it n
for them many would give up the stru
D. gle. When the building was finished
n was dedicated to God with great jo
I'D This was possible because they hi
it builded and finished their task accor
il. ing to the commandment of the God
err Israel. The service of dedication w
If much after the order of that Of Sol
be mons temple, only on a less magni
/" cent scale.