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THE KING’S BUSINESS
What was the burden of their song? v. 11. What Psalm most magnificently develops this theme? Ps. 136. When the song reached its climax, what did the people do? v. 11, (2 ) The Lamentation of the Elders, ▼. 12. Did they all feel like shouting? v. 12. Why did some weep? Did this house probably contrast disad- vantageously with the former one? Kings 6:1-36. What greatest things were wanting? Ex. 40:3; 1 Kings 8:11. What encouraging word did Jehovah say? Hag. 2:1-7. What greater glory should this house“ have ? Hag. 2 :9. (3 ) The Dedication of the Temple, vs. 15-18. Why was this dedication so long delayed ? Ezra 4:1-23. Did the people grow lax during the long lagging of the Work? Hag. 1 :9-ll. Did chastisement fall on them ? Hag. 2:7-11. How did Jehovah encourage them? Hag. 2 :4-8. 'What secular event helped at this time? 6:1-5. What periods of Daniel’s prophecy closed and opened with this third day of Adar? Dan. 9 :25. In what mood did Israel now proceed to the dedication? v. 16. Was their religion a ^religion of joy or of fear? Ps. 32:1; Deut. 12:7. Were they ever forbidden to rejoice? Lev. 23:26-32.
Is the Christian ever forbidden? Phil. 4:4. Did God find pleasure in all those sacri fices? Heb. 10:4-7. What has done away with them? Heb. 9:11-14. PRACTICAL POINTS (1) Be patient,—captivity will not last for ever. (2) Zerubbabel born in Babylon was, hap pily, born again. (3) Joshua (i. e., Jesus) laid the founda tion; the real Jesus is the Founda tion itself. (4) To “set forward the work,” don’t wait twenty years. (5) The Lord’s workmen wear fine clothes. (Rev. 3:5). (6) The overseers see not only that they lay the foundation right, but that they lay the right foundation, (1 Cor. 3:11). (7) Shout—if you - feel like it, and you ought to feel like it. (8) Don’t weep over the past—thank God for the present. (9) Always some shout and some—howl. (10) If you must weep don’t disturb other people’s joy. (11) The word of prophecy brings pros perity. (12) They built and finished; the Lord help us to do that. “Not all the blood of beasts On Jewish altars slain, Could give the guilty conscience peace Or take away the stain.”
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