Evening star., 1922-08-05
Sunday School Lesson
to distinguish the weepers from the
singers.

to distinguish the weepers from the
singers.
Satanic Oppositi0n.
Satan can always be counted upon
to start some form of opposition
whenever Gods people take hold of
a work with earnestness and enthusi.
asm. One of his most successful
methods of hindering the Masters
work Is to offer his service. If ac-
cepted 1t gives him the opportunity
of hindering the work by boring in,"
creating dissension and discord with
in the ranks of the workers. 1t was
loyalty to Jehovah that caused them
to refuse the proferped aid Of the
Samaritans, who claimed that they
also were worshipers of Jehovah.
The exile had taught them the needed
lesson. SO they rejected the of1er OF
assistance from the mixed race. whose
religion was one form. based on fear.
and was a compromise between false
faiths and the teachings of Moses
They did not wish the temple worship
to be tainted by polytheism. so they
sought to avoid all entangling al
liances.
The refusal Of the Samaritan aid
brought bitter opposition and perse-
cution. which interfered with the
progress of their building enterprise
By false reports and plots the
Samaritans brought the whole work
to standstill. The Jews placed
principle above policy. when they re-
them keeping themselves a separate
people. No man ever takes a stand
for conscience without being required
to pay the cost. The soul that tries
to glorify God by the life of self-de-
NAL and sacrificial service will. II II
row. trust 1t with Jesus. and do the
next thing should be the motto of
every child of God. Opposition will
try the patience OF the sincere serv-
ant Of Jesus. The hour will come
! when looking back upon trials and
tribulations of life we will learn the
meaning of our tears and sufferings.
An unexpected turn of affairs in
the home government between the
death of Cyrus and the reorganiza-
tion of the kingdom under Darius
enabled them to resume activities.
the edict issued by his predecessor
he Immediately ordered an end to the
opposition which had been started by
the Samaritan influence. Although
the permission to continue the build
ing was given by Darius. the Hebrews
forts. Haggaia and Zechariah united
, in arousing the spirit of the Jewish
people, so they resumed the task and
, finished the building without sacri-
ficing any of their principles or re-
ligious ideals.
threw themselves with all their heart
into the work of rebuilding the
temple. rejoiced when the day OF
dedication arrived. SO that the temple
was consecrated for the worship OF
Jehovah and service of humanity.
We have been hearing the calls that
have come to US from nations over
,, seas that summon US to help reclaim
the farms that have been consecrated
by the blood Of millions of the world s
noblest men-they ask us to aid them
to restore the lands SO that they
may be titled and help feed the
starving multitudes: so that ruined
cities and communities can be rebuilt
and cathedrals restored--but we will
fail in the greatest work ever given
to a nation unless We as a people are
united in our love and devotion to
the Lord 1t was the individual Jews.
who had suffered tn emost In the exile.
who could. and did. do the most for
the rebuilding of the temple and re-
storing the worship Of Jehovah. Neg
lect of God and disobedience Of His
commands brought on the exile. The
same cause. in the Judgment of many
scholars. filled the world with the
horrors of world war. Let America
heed the lessons. as the Jews did on
their return from exile. and help. aid
and assist the other nations OF the
earth to rebuild the family affairs OF
prayer and dedicate a restored temple
and serve humanity. SO that freedom
and democracy may be preserved for
ever among men and all nations and
classes be united in the bonds of
neace through their love for the Lord.
who died to save us all.