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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；