The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-10-19
Returning from
Captivity
Sunday School Lesson Tor Oct. IS. 1905
Specisiy Prepared Tor This Paper.
lesson TExT.-Ezra ian. Memory
speeiany Prepared Tor This Paper.

"A, 20, ZJo %, 90 tel Oi the return TiUin CaptlV-
ity The return as recorded In Ezra and Me-
hemiah.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
INTRODUCTORY. Even before
the beginning OF the exile. when It
was only threatened, there was joined
with the warning promise of restora.
tion. See lisa. 10 and IL. Assyria the
oppressor should be destroyed like q
cedar. though 1t lowered like the huge
cedars Of Lebanon lisa. 10:12.19, "a.
33, "a; comp. Ezek 31:3.11. Isaiah
again and again prophesles the Return
(chapters 40.66) and even names
Cyrus as the one through whom 1t
should come. Through Ezekiel come
promises Of the new heart which |
would render the return morally pos |
sible (Ezek. II and 36). tie pictures
the valley OF dry bones. symbolizing
the condition of Israel in captivity.
again coming to life in the return
(Ezek. 81. See Eek 20. 33. "a. The
whole of Ezekiel, as Of Isaiah. is an
effort, through threats and denuncia-
tions OF sin. through appeals to do bet
ter. through promises and visions OF
hope, to make the people return spir-
itually to God, that they might return
in visible reality. And he foretells
how the nations were so controlled
that a restoration of the Jews would
be possible. jeremiah. making the
same appeals, goes farther and points
out the time when the return can be
made, 70 years after the captivity Ger.
25:12; 29:10).
| v. 1. I'm the first year Of Cyrus
king Of Persia" Not his first year
as king OF Persia (B. c. 546). but
either as conqueror Of Babylon (53s)
or the first year Of his personal rule
at Babylon after his other conquests
(536). "The word Of the Lord by
|. jeremiah" (25:12; 29:1O
promising that he would bring about
a return from captivity after 10 years.
1.-The Lord (Jehovah) stirred up the
spirit OF Cyrus" It is quite possi.
BILE, It is even implied in the narrative
here, that Daniel, or some prominent
Jew. called the attention Of Cyrus to
the prophecy in jeremiah, and espe-
cially the remarkable prophecy In lisa.
44:Z6-ZS; ADJ.
". 2. Thus saith Cyrus" 1t is
probable that the author here gives
the substance of the proclamation, and
not the full official document. HE
/ hath charged me-" He accepted the
| prophecies as charge from the God
} Of the Jews.
: v. 8. who Is there among you"
The return was to be a volunteer
movement which in all respects was
the best both for the purpose of Cyrus
and for the new Jewish settlement.
The "God OF Israel which is
in Jerusalem:" AS the chief seat of
his worship.
, v. L. "And whosoever remaineth," r.
w., sis left" Of the captives, survives.
: Connect in any place where he So
> journeth, without comma, with let
the men Of his place. his heathen
: neighbors, help him with silver. etc.
give him funds for his journey. and
the freewill Offering in aid of the TEN.
pie.
v. s. "Then rose up the chief Of
the fathers" The Return described
in to.day's lesson was under Zerub.
babel prince Of the royal line of
? David. called the Tirshatha. or Pasha
(Ezra 2:63). and under Joshua, the
hereditary high priest (Exra 3:S).
These were among the "chief Of the
fathers and the priests"
4, VS.. "And all they that were about
thsm:" Their heather neighbors and
friends, - In Egypt at the time Of the
exodus
VI. "Cyrus the king brought forth
the vessels OF the house Of the Lord"
"Nebuchadnezzar little thought that
he was unconsciously preserving the
sacred vessels OF Israel In . safe and
inviolabie stronghold. TIL the day
when Jehovah would bring about their
restoration to His people,"
VS. by the hand Of Mithredath"
(given by. or dedicated to Mithrs. the
sun.god). He had these treasures In
his charge ''Sheshbazzar" tire.
worshiper): The Persian name Of
Zerubbabel (born In Babylon).
, II. "All the vessels were
Ave thousand aud four hundred" f"
|, This Is more than double the sum of
the preceding numbers-2,499. It is
probable that only the larger or more
costly vessels were numbered In de.
tail, and the $500 includes q great
number Of smaller and less costly
ones. So they are reckoned by Jo.
sephus Cant. Jud. 1l:D.
Illustrative Points.
This Is a picture OF Gods discipline
Of His people. He does not love to
afiict His children. He gives bitter
medicines In order to bring back
health. His afiictions are to purify
the heart, to ennoble the character, to
break the power of sin.
| Note that It is . sign Of Gods "a
vor to have trials III ye endure
Christening. God dealeth with you as
with sons" (Heb. 1870: "The devil
desires to winnow Peter, not Judas.
The thief does not break into an empty
cottage, but into some furnished house
or full granary."-Adams