Sabbath, February 27, 2021
Lesson 9 – The Jewish People in the Medo-Persian Empire
“And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.” Ezra 6:14.
OPPOSITION
SUNDAY
1. What did the people who had returned begin to do with great zeal? What happened to the temple construction work because of the difficulties caused by their enemies?
Ezra 3:8, 10, 11 Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the Lord. 10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the.
Haggai 1:1, 2 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying, 2 Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.
“The opposition of their enemies was strong and determined, and grad- ually 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.” –Prophets and Kings, p. 572.
ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE LORD
MONDAY
2. Whom did the Lord raise up in this crisis? What message did the Lord issue through them?
Ezra 5:1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.
Haggai 1:3-11 Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? 5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. 6 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. 7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord. 9 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. 10 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.11 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 labour of the hands.
“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 prosper- ity 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 re- spect and courtesy, by making the building of His house their first work, they would have invited His presence and blessing.…
“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 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;…’” –Prophets and Kings, pp. 573, 574.
SUPPORT FROM THE GOVERNMENT
TUESDAY
3. Did this message have results? When was the prophecy of Haggai fulfilled?
Haggai 1:12-14; 2:6-9 Then Zerub- babel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the Lord. 13 Then spake Haggai the Lord’s messenger in the Lord’s message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the Lord.14 And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God, 2:6-9 For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts. 9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.
“For centuries the Jews had vainly endeavored to show wherein the promise of God given by Haggai had been fulfilled; yet pride and unbe- lief blinded their minds to the true meaning of the prophet’s words. The second temple was not honored with the cloud of Jehovah’s glory, but with the living presence of One in whom dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily–who was God Himself manifest in the flesh. The ‘Desire of all nations’ had indeed come to His temple when the Man of Nazareth taught and healed in the sacred courts. In the presence of Christ, and in this only, did the second temple exceed the first in glory.” –The Great Controversy, p. 24.
WEDNESDAY
4. By whom and when was the second decree given to continue the rebuilding of the temple?
Ezra 6:1-12 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. 2 And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written: 3 In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be build- ed, the place where they offered sac- rifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits; 4 With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house: 5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Bab- ylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God. 6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence: 7 Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place. 8 Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the el- ders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be giv- en unto these men, that they be not hindered. 9 And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offer- ings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the ap- pointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail: 10 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. 11 Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this. 12 And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.
“The king further decreed that severe penalties be meted out to those who should in any wise alter the decree…. Thus the Lord prepared the way for the completion of the temple.
“For months before this decree was made, the Israelites had kept on working by faith, the prophets of God still helping them by means of timely messages, through which the divine purpose for Israel was kept before the workers. Two months after Haggai’s last recorded message was delivered, Zechariah had a series of visions regarding the work of God in the earth. These messages, given in the form of parables and symbols, came at a time of great uncertainty and anxiety, and were of peculiar significance to the men who were advancing in the name of the God of Israel. It seemed to the leaders as if the permission granted the Jews to rebuild was about to be withdrawn; the future appeared very dark. God saw that His people were in need of being sustained and cheered by a revelation of His infinite compassion and love.” –Prophets and Kings, pp. 579, 580.
It was around the year B.C. 519 that Darius gave the decree that the Jews should continue building the temple. See Uriah Smith, The Proph- ecies of Daniel and the Revelation, p. 208.
ANOTHER TEST AND ITS RESULTS
THURSDAY
5. What challenge did the Lord send through the prophet to His people who still remained in Babylon? What happened to those who were still there for convenience’ sake in spite of the divine call and repeated royal decree?
Zechariah 2:7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
Esther 3:8-11 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain peo- ple scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are di- verse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them. 9 If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries. 10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy. 11 And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
“Meanwhile conditions in the Medo-Persian realm were rapidly chang- ing. Darius Hystaspes, under whose reign the Jews had been shown marked favor, was succeeded by Xerxes the Great. It was during his reign that those of the Jews who had failed of heeding the message to flee, were called upon to face a terrible crisis. Having refused to take advantage of the way of escape God had provided, now they were brought face to face with death….
“The Lord foresaw the troublous times that were to follow during the reign of Xerxes–the Ahasuerus of the book of Esther–and He not only wrought a change of feelings in the hearts of men in authority, but also inspired Zechariah to plead with the exiles to return.” –Prophets and Kings, pp. 600, 598, 599.
FRIDAY
6. Who issued the third and last decree? When? What written document did this ruler give to Ezra the priest?
Ezra 6:14; 7:7, 8, 11-26 And the el- ders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophe- sying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, accord- ing to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Dar- ius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. 7:7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethin- ims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. 8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Ar- taxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of his statutes to Israel. 12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time. 13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee. 14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand; 15 And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his coun- sellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, 16 And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the free- will offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem: 17 That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offer- ings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jeru- salem. 18 And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.19 The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.
20 And whatsoever more shall beneedful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king’s treasure house. 21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily, 22 Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. 23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligent- ly done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? 24 Also we cer- tify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them. 25 And thou, Ezra, af- ter the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not. 26 And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to impris- onment.
“About seventy years after the return of the first company of exiles under Zerubbabel and Joshua, Artaxerxes Longimanus came to the throne of Medo-Persia. The name of this king is connected with sacred history by a series of remarkable providences. It was during his reign that Ezra and Nehemiah lived and labored. He is the one who in 457 B.C. issued the third and final decree for the restoration of Jerusalem. His reign saw the return of a company of Jews under Ezra, the completion of the walls of Jerusalem by Nehemiah and his associates, the reorganization of the tem- ple services, and the great religious reformations instituted by Ezra and Nehemiah. During his long rule he often showed favor to God’s people, and in his trusted and well-beloved Jewish friends, Ezra and Nehemiah, he recognized men of God’s appointment, raised up for a special work.”–Prophets and Kings, p. 607.
DECLINE OF THE SECOND EMPIRE
SABBATH
7. What led to the fall of the Medo-Persian Empire?
Esther 1:1-9 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hun- dred and seven and twenty prov- inces:) 2 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, 3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him: 4 When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his ex- cellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days. 5 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace; 6 Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble. 7 And they gave them drink in ves- sels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the offi- cers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s plea- sure. 9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the roy- al house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
“Had the king maintained his royal dignity by practicing habits of temperance, he would never have made this command. But his mind was affected by the wine that he had used so freely, and he was not prepared to act wisely…. Occasions of indulgence such as are pictured in the first chapter of Esther, do not glorify God….
“Through the experience that brought Esther to the Medo-Persian throne, God was working for the accomplishment of His purposes for His people. That which was done under the influence of much wine worked out for good to Israel.” –(MS 39, 1910) Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 3, p. 1139. This world empire was in power from 538 to 331 B.C.
FOR PERSONAL STUDY
- Zechariah 4.
- Haggai chapters 1,
- Prophets and Kings, pp. 593-617.
MISSIONARY REPORT FROM VENEZUELA
To be read on Sabbath, February 27, 2021
The Special Sabbath School Offering will be gathered on Sabbath, March 6, 2021
Dear brothers, people of God and pilgrims from all over the world, wishing you the richest blessings, today we cry together with you: Maranata! (Christ is coming), hoping that soon we will be together and borders will no longer be barriers.
Venezuela officially Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, located in the northern part of South America, consisting of a continental part and a large number of small is- lands and islets in the Caribbean Sea, whose capital is the city of Caracas. The conti- nental territory limits the North with the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, the West with Colombia, the South with Brazil and the East with Guyana. The population of Venezuela is 32,778,230.
According to a 2017 survey (GIS XXI), 88% of the population is Christian, mainly Catholic 71%, and the remaining 17% Protestant. Venezuelans without religion are 4% (2% atheists and 2%, agnostic or indifferent), almost 8% of the population follows another religion (1% of them follow spiritualism).
The work in Venezuela began on May 22, 1947 when Sister Rita Camacho de Re- ina arrived in the city of San Cristóbal, in the state of Táchira, at the home of a sister who professed the evangelical faith, who was unable to host her since Her husband, pastor of the church, did not see Adventists favorably. Even so, she kept the books she brought for the canvassing. In addition, she informed her about an Adventist sister named Irene Chacón.
Sister Rita did not hesitate to go to Irene’s house, being very well received there. Rita would later relate: “This home was an oasis for me.” He had only a few minutes to be there when a sister’s son, where he had previously stayed, called her to let her know that his father had discovered the books and was so angry that he threatened to throw them out on the street if he didn’t get them out immediately. It was a mo- ment of anguish. But soon the Lord opened a door, because Sister Irene, in the face of that situation, offered gently to accompany her to remove the books and bring them home. They prayed and set out to find the books. At dusk they held the first family service in that home.
In the days that followed, Sister Rita met other Adventist brothers. On Saturday they went to church. They granted the Second Service to Rita, who spoke about the zeal that must be had in terms of food as a people that awaits the soon coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rita related: “Everyone liked my words, because they recognized that they were careless at this point, and some even said to me: sister, we were in need of revival. This first meeting was very encouraging for me. ”
A short time later, on September 11, 1947, Pastor José del Carmen León, leader of Colombia, arrived in Venezuela, and he rejoiced to find a group of 14 people who were very excited and eager to be baptized. Under his direction, the following day, the Venezuelan Association was organized. Subsequently, many brothers and sisters joined to spread this message.
The blessing and divine support accompanied these heralds of the gospel, the commitment was rewarded by the winning of souls, more than a thousand members were added to this Union. However, the crisis that the country is currently going through has resulted in poverty, hunger and therefore, an exodus of millions of Ven- ezuelans. Hundreds of members and sympathizers have also emigrated and mem- bership has decreased considerably, despite this, the work does not stop. According to the most recent report, the Venezuelan Union has 781 members, 320 sympathizers and 459 children.
The Lord’s work in Venezuela is no stranger to the ravages of this crisis. Unfortu- nately, many of our infrastructures over the years have deteriorated to such an extent that they are uninhabitable. One of the most serious cases is the mission church of Maracaibo, a city in northwestern Venezuela, where the infrastructure plaque has given way on some sides of the house and the part of the atrium is devoid of security, as part of it collapsed. of the fence wall. Due to the poor state of the mission, it has not been possible to send missionaries to this city, which is one of the most populous in Venezuela with a significant number of inhabitants, more than two million. In this number may be many of the faithful who have not known the triple message and will surely accept the divine invitation with pleasure. It is important to mention that most of the members of Venezuela with hearing disabilities, who require missionary attention and preparation, are there.
Similarly, there is the Church and mission of Catia la Mar, which is a parish of the State of La Guaira, located thirty kilometers from Caracas; the structure of the temple and the mission over time have been seriously affected, a reconstruction is needed to be able to send missionary personnel to work for the souls in that place, since it is not habitable; its population is approximately one hundred thousand, a very signifi- cant number for evangelization.
On the other hand, in the city of Guasdualito of the Apure State, there is another mission in the same conditions as the previous ones, in addition to this, in the rainy season the mission house is flooded, so drainage must be carried out, reinforce the walls since there is a gap, put a roof, raise windows, doors and reinforce the security of the property. The population of that place is equivalent to approximately one hundred and thirty thousand for evangelization.
The crisis that the country is going through has made it difficult for us to enable these missions and condition other properties, for which reason we have found our- selves in the sad need to refrain from moving personnel to these places. However, when it seems that the light is about to be extinguished, interested souls arise there. For this reason, we ask you to help us raise the banner of the International Missionary Society, which is being torn down in certain areas of our country. Support us in the Name of the Lord so that the light continues to shine in these places. We wish and pray that the Eternal will multiply his contribution for the advancement of the work in Venezuela seventy times seven.
–The Brothers in Christ from the Venezuelan Union