Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-10-19


for them to reject the apparently generous
offer OF the Samartans.
The rejection was disastrous in its results
however. ZerubbaJel does not seem to nave
been an unusually strong character, at least
at first, although he hau been appointed gov
CrnOr by Cyrus and was the leader oil tue
expedition The SamartanS began at once to
throw all KINDS of obstacles in their way. IN
stead of using the obstacles as stepping stones,
Zerubbabel and the people allowed them 10
stop all operations, at least so far as the
temple was concerned. After the close OF
Cyrus reign. letters were sent to his son.
Cambyses, and another to the Magl who sue
Ceeded INN, that the work was stopped by
imperial order.
There seems to have been no objection to
their building houses for themselves, Whlcn
they did with some degree Vi splendori Dul
the building of the temple and the wall Oh
Jerusalem had 10 be discontinued.
Not until Fifteen years had elapsed dld tue
work begin again, when under the influence
OF the stirring words of Haggi and Zecharlah,
| in the second year of the reign OF Darius h!s-
taspes, the work went forward again. Nhen
Governor Tatnai made inquiry as 10 thelr au-
thority do this work, their reply was quite
different and their attitude wholly changed
from what It had been at the first WIN
great holiness they told him they were the
| servants of the Most High, that they hau
come from Babylon, and were doing the work
under the authority of the decree issued Sy
Cyrus, the great king of Persia. Nor ulu tue
| inquiry of the governor stop them; they went
! right on with their work, while he wrote a
letter 20 Darius stating the Facts ana ashlns
|
| searched and found the decree by cyrus; tnen
ne issued decree instructing Governor tai-
mai, not only not to hinder the Work "n -,nii
was being done, but TO furnish all the nee
essary expense from the taxes when were
collected for the governor in t9at province
| FINALLY when the foundation of the house
was laid, and the superstructure was ABOUT 10
begin q great cOncOurse OF people was Sdth-
cred amidst the blare of trumpets anu re
singing of Psalms, and the cornerstone was
laid by Zerubbabel. 1t was scene Oh IRE RE
| irresistible gladness: there was nothing OF tne
sedate subdued in it at an. inose ,;, MoU
| regard these qualities essential TO relislon
| would have been very much shocked THESE
are the ones who criticise certain Servants Oh
melody in their hearts to the Lord, ana loon
askance at certain types of music USED III
evangclisic meetings. These people JUST coulu
not help giving expressions 10 men inr
| But amid the shouting and singing thert s
| was also those who were weeping sone W.
joy and some for sadness II was for
! TO distinguish those who were Meeplns -,
! UIaddness and those for sadness. Inc sauhesS
! came largely from those who wee Oluer aiu
| who had seen the glory OF solomon lclhple,
! ond Thought that this one could not compare
| with that They were dwelling IN tue past, ~
| them God sent a message through nassal .,.
| tbe glory of the former temple could not CON
| mare with this one, because this one was 10 ot
| glorified by the presence OF Goa hlnisell ~
| the person of Jesus Christ Ihese people WEI ~
| not necessarily old in years Dul tueE W. -.
! I'm feelings: for they were living III the past
! The secret of perpetual youth Is lhteLcst -
! the present and the future. A man Mno Pc BE-
| sesses this NAV be ninety years young IL he
| lacks it, he may be forty years Old nav 20.
! the most forward glance: rms deulCutiOn "
! the temple, when the foundation was lalu' wa,
! merely a surrender to God of what they pun
! for Him with the resources that lie hau sup
! plied It was made by people VINO had llIs
! given themselves TO Him, and TO any ono VIZ
! has made this gift of surrender, all othel
! gifts small. o,
The opposition which the Samarl W et tSer,
| dered was not necessarily harmful. where thert
| is life there are two opposing forces w hene1e 81
! YOU undertake anything that is reah! W.T.
while, you will meet opposition; but you snoulo
not allow the opposition to cause your ellors,
! to cease. Increasing opposition may De trough
/ with the greatest blessings. II was so III ini'
i case; for when these people tlnaly reSponu ~
| their answer to the governor showed that TUE
| trouble they had passed through had been mos
! illuminating. They had been able to see them
selves and their failures and see COO IN men ,,l
| future The trouble had humbled them' bul
| II was very much better for them to be aDie
| to see the way. low down, than to stumDlt
Increased until every door had been shut against
| them except the door of prayer. They were
| looking too largely to their own forces winch
| were too small, and forgetting That tney ns'
! the power of Cyrus behind them. Possibly
/ when obstacles have beset your way, you haN'
| made the same mistake, of looking al your Owl
| resources and not approaching That you are th'
| ambassador of the King of Kings VINO MAJ
| placed all of his unlimited resources AT you
disposal for the accomplishment OF lis mission !,
| When you are discouraged in any undertaking
| on which God has sent you, just hear Him spear
| to YOU as lie spoke to Zerubbabel through Zech
| ariah saving. Not by might nor by power
| but by MY Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts:
| As Zerubbabel had laid the foundation so NJ
| would also put the capstOne on with cries o.
| Grace, grace
| You are Luilding a temple which is to be th'
| place where God shall be manifest, where Zoo
| may be sought and found, where God may b'
| glorfied; for in you there may be manltes
| the life which is Christ, as He lives in blessed
| union with you. Let no obstacle therefore dls
| courage you, but depend upon the SPIRIT OF 900
| to build upon the foundation. Jesus Christ
| the super-structure which shall be glorious
| And when the capstone is put on you may bt
! able to say Paul said by the Grace of God
| am what I am,