prophets and kings-第89节

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　check　all　the　days　of　Cyrus；　and　all　the　days　of　his　son　Cambyses；　who　reigned　about　seven　and　a　half　years。

This　was　a　time　of　wonderful　opportunity　for　the　Jews。　The　highest　agencies　of　heaven　were　working　on　the　hearts　of　kings；　and　it　was　for　the　people　of　God　to　labor　with　the　utmost　activity　to　carry　out　the　decree　of　Cyrus。　They　should　have　spared　no　effort　to　restore　the　temple　and　its　services；　and　to　re…establish　themselves　in　their　Judean　homes。　But　in　the　day　of　God's　power　many　proved　unwilling。　The　opposition　of　their　enemies　was　strong　and　determined；　and　gradually　the　builders　lost　heart。　Some　could　not　forget　the　scene　at　the　laying　of　the　cornerstone；　when　many　had　given　expression　to　their　lack　of　confidence　in　the　enterprise。　And　as　the　Samaritans　grew　more　bold；　many　of　the　Jews　questioned　whether；　after　all；　the　time　had　come　to　rebuild。　The　feeling　soon　became　widespread。　Many　of　the　workmen；　discouraged　and　disheartened；　returned　to　their　homes　to　take　up　the　ordinary　pursuits　of　life。

During　the　reign　of　Cambyses　the　work　on　the　temple　progressed　slowly。　And　during　the　reign　of　the　false　Smerdis

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（called　Artaxerxes　in　Ezra　4：7）　the　Samaritans　induced　the　unscrupulous　impostor　to　issue　a　decree　forbidding　the　Jews　to　rebuild　their　temple　and　city。

For　over　a　year　the　temple　was　neglected　and　well…nigh　forsaken。　The　people　dwelt　in　their　homes　and　strove　to　attain　temporal　prosperity；　but　their　situation　was　deplorable。　Work　as　they　might　they　did　not　prosper。　The　very　elements　of　nature　seemed　to　conspire　against　them。　Because　they　had　let　the　temple　lie　waste；　the　Lord　sent　upon　their　substance　a　wasting　drought。　God　had　bestowed　upon　them　the　fruits　of　field　and　garden；　the　corn　and　the　wine　and　the　oil；　as　a　token　of　His　favor；　but　because　they　had　used　these　bountiful　gifts　so　selfishly；　the　blessings　were　removed。

Such　were　the　conditions　existing　during　the　early　part　of　the　reign　of　Darius　Hystaspes。　Spiritually　as　well　as　temporally；　the　Israelites　were　in　a　pitiable　state。　So　long　had　they　murmured　and　doubted；　so　long　had　they　chosen　to　make　personal　interests　first；　while　viewing　with　apathy　the　Lord's　temple　in　ruins；　that　many　had　lost　sight　of　God's　purpose　in　restoring　them　to　Judea；　and　these　were　saying；　〃The　time　is　not　come；　the　time　that　the　Lord's　house　should　be　built。〃　Haggai　1：2。

But　even　this　dark　hour　was　not　without　hope　for　those　whose　trust　was　in　God。　The　prophets　Haggai　and　Zechariah　were　raised　up　to　meet　the　crisis。　In　stirring　testimonies　these　appointed　messengers　revealed　to　the　people　the　cause　of　their　troubles。　The　lack　of　temporal　prosperity　was　the　result　of　a　neglect　to　put　God's　interests　first；　the　prophets　declared。　Had　the　Israelites　honored　God；　had　they　shown　Him　due　respect　and　courtesy；　by　making　the　building　of

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His　house　their　first　work；　they　would　have　invited　His　presence　and　blessing。

To　those　who　had　become　discouraged；　Haggai　addressed　the　searching　inquiry；　〃Is　it　time　for　you；　O　ye；　to　dwell　in　your　ceiled　houses；　and　this　house　lie　waste？　Now　therefore　thus　saith　the　Lord　of　hosts；　Consider　your　ways。〃　Why　have　you　done　so　little？　Why　do　you　feel　concern　for　your　own　buildings　and　unconcern　for　the　Lord's　building？　Where　is　the　zeal　you　once　felt　for　the　restoration　of　the　Lord's　house？　What　have　you　gained　by　serving　self？　The　desire　to　escape　poverty　has　led　you　to　neglect　the　temple；　but　this　neglect　has　brought　upon　you　that　which　you　feared。　〃Ye　have　sown　much；　and　bring　in　little；　ye　eat；　but　ye　have　not　enough；　ye　drink；　but　ye　are　not　filled　with　drink；　ye　clothe　you；　but　there　is　none　warm；　and　he　that　earneth　wages　earneth　wages　to　put　it　into　a　bag　with　holes。〃　Verses　4…6。

And　then；　in　words　that　they　could　not　fail　to　understand；　the　Lord　revealed　the　cause　that　had　brought　them　to　want：　〃Ye　looked　for　much；　and；　lo；　it　came　to　little；　and　when　ye　brought　it　home；　I　did　blow　upon　it。　Why？　saith　the　Lord　of　hosts。　Because　of　Mine　house　that　is　waste；　and　ye　run　every　man　unto　his　own　house。　Therefore　the　heaven　over　you　is　stayed　from　dew；　and　the　earth　is　stayed　from　her　fruit。　And　I　called　for　a　drought　upon　the　land；　and　upon　the　mountains；　and　upon　the　corn；　and　upon　the　new　wine；　and　upon　the　oil；　and　upon　that　which　the　ground　bringeth　forth；　and　upon　men；　and　upon　cattle；　and　upon　all　the　labor　of　the　hands。〃　Verses　9…11。

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〃Consider　your　ways；〃　the　Lord　urged。　〃Go　up　to　the　mountain；　and　bring　wood；　and　build　the　house；　and　I　will　take　pleasure　in　it；　and　I　will　be　glorified。〃　Verses　7；　8。

The　message　of　counsel　and　reproof　given　through　Haggai　was　taken　to　heart　by　the　leaders　and　people　of　Israel。　They　felt　that　God　was　in　earnest　with　them。　They　dared　not　disregard　the　repeated　instruction　sent　themthat　their　prosperity；　both　temporal　and　spiritual；　was　dependent　on　faithful　obedience　to　God's　commands。　Aroused　by　the　warnings　of　the　prophet；　Zerubbabel　and　Joshua；　〃with　all　the　remnant　of　the　people；　obeyed　the　voice　of　the　Lord　their　God；　and　the　words　of　Haggai　the　prophet。〃　Verse　12。

As　soon　as　Israel　decided　to　obey；　the　words　of　reproof　were　followed　by　a　message　of　encouragement。　〃Then　spake　Haggai　。　。　。　unto　the　people；　saying；　I　am　with　you；　saith　the　Lord。　And　the　Lord　stirred　up　the　spirit　of　Zerubbabel〃　and　of　Joshua；　and　〃of　all　the　remnant　of　the　people；　and　they　came　and　did　work　in　the　house　of　the　Lord　of　hosts；　their　God。〃　Verses　13；　14。

In　less　than　a　month　after　the　work　on　the　temple　was　resumed；　the　builders　received　another　comforting　message。　〃Be　strong；　O　Zerubbabel；〃　the　Lord　Himself　urged　through　His　prophet；　〃be　strong；　O　Joshua；　。　。　。　and　be　strong；　all　ye　people　of　the　land；　saith　the　Lord；　and　work：　for　I　am　with　you；　saith　the　Lord　of　hosts。〃　Haggai　2：4。

To　Israel　encamped　before　Mount　Sinai　the　Lord　had　declared：　〃I　will　dwell　among　the　children　of　Israel；　and　will　be　their　God。　And　they　shall　know　that　I　am　the　Lord

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their　God；　that　brought　them　forth　out　of　the　land　of　Egypt；　that　I　may　dwell　among　them：　I　am　the　Lord　their　God。〃　Exodus　29：45；　46。　And　now；　notwithstanding　the　fact　that　they　had　repeatedly　〃rebelled；　and　vexed　His　Holy　Spirit〃　（Isaiah　63：10）；　God　once　more；　through　the　messages　of　His　prophet；　was　stretching　out　His　hand　to　save。　As　a　recognition　of　their　co…operation　with　His　purpose；　He　was　renewing　His　covenant　that　His　Spirit　should　remain　among　them；　and　He　bade　them；　〃Fear　not。〃

To　His　children　today　the　Lord　declares；　〃Be　strong；　。　。　。　and　work：　for　I　am　with　you。〃　The　Christian　always　has　a　strong　helper　in　the　Lord。　The　way　of　the　Lord's　helping　we　may　not　know；　but　this　we　do　know：　He　will　never　fail　those　who　put　their　trust　in　Him。　Could　Christians　realize　how　many　times　the　Lord　has　ordered　their　way；　that　the　purposes　of　the　enemy　concerning　them　might　not　be　accomplished；　they　would　not　stumble　along　complainingly。　Their　faith　would　be　stayed　on　God；　and　no　trial　would　have　power　to　move　them。　They　would　acknowledge　Him　as　their　wisdom　and　efficiency；　and　He　would　bring　to　pass　that　which　He　desires　to　work　out　through　them。

The　earnest　pleadings　and　the　encouragements　given　through　Haggai　were　emphasized　and　added　to　by　Zechariah；　whom　God　raised　up　to　stand　by　his　side　in　urging　Israel　to　carry　out　the　command　to　arise　and　build。　Zechariah's　first　message　was　an　assurance　that　God's　word　never　fails　and　a　promise　of　blessing　to　those　who　would　hearken　to　the　sure　word　of　prophecy。

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With　fields　lying　waste；　with　their　scant　store　of　provisions　rapidly　failing；　and　surrounded　as　they　were　by　unfriendly　peoples；　the　Israelites　nevertheless　moved　forward　by　faith　in　response　to　the　call　of　God's　messengers；　and　labored　diligently　to　restore　the　ruined　temple。　It　was　a　work　requiring　firm　reliance　upon　God。　As　the　people　endeavored　to　do　their　part；　and　sought　for　a　renewal　of　God's　grace　in　heart　and　life；　message　after　message　was　given　them　through　Haggai　and　Zechariah；　with　assurances　that　their　faith　would　be　richly　rewarded　and　that　the　word　of　God　concerning　the　future　glory　of　the　temple　whose　walls　they　were　rearing　would　not　fail。　In　this　very　building　would　appear；　in　the　fullness　of　time；　the　Desire　of　all　nations　as　the　Teacher　and　Saviour　of　mankind。

Thus　the　builders　were　not　left　to　struggle　alone；　〃with　them　were　the　prophets　of　God　helping　them；〃　and　the　Lord　of　hosts　Himself　had　declared；　〃Be　strong；　。　。　。　and　work：　for　I　am　with　you。〃　Ezra　5：2；　Haggai　2：4。

With　heartfelt　repentance　and　a　willingness　to　advance　by　faith；　came　the　promise　of　temporal　prosperity。　〃From　this　day；〃　the　Lord　declared；　〃will　I　bless　you。〃　Verse　19。

To　Zerubbabel　their　leaderhe　who；　through　all　the　years　since　their　return　from　Babylon；　had　been　so　sorely　triedwas　given　a　most　precious　message。　The　day　was　coming；　the　Lord　declared；　when　all　the　enemies　of　His　chosen　people　would　be　cast　down。　〃In　that　day；　saith　the　Lord　of　hosts；　will　I　take　thee；　O　Zerubbabel；　My　servant；