The Tupelo journal., 1905-10-13
Returning from
Captivity
Sunday School Lesson Tor Oct. Is. 1905
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

great tnlngS Tor u.s. WhereoI we are eido'
Psalm 1868
TIME According to Prof. Bcecher It
| was in B. c 53s. soon after the conquest OF
Babylon by Cyrus. Compare Daniel 81
with 1911 1t was 70 years after the first
deportation of exies by Nebuchadnezzar.
PLACE.-Capital OF the Persian King
dom-either Babylon or Ecbatana, and also
Jerusalem to which the exiles returned.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES.-Isai
chaps. 4o-66; Ezekiel and jeremiah chaps.
"a, 25, 29-33 so tell of the return from captiv-
ity. The return as recorded in Ezra and Ne
fIemlah.
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 a
cedar, though it lowered like the huge
cedars Of Lebanon Elsa. 10:12-19, "a,
33. "a; comp. Ezck. 31:3-11. Isaiah
again and again prophesies the Return
(chapters 1866 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. IL and 36). He pictures
the valley of dry bones, symbolizing
the condition of Israel in captivity.
again coming to life in the return
tEzek. 37). See Eek. 90. 33. "a. The
whole of Ezekiel, as of Isaiah, is an
effort, through threats and denuncia-
| 4; c;,, tIr lc fr( dn
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 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:l0D.
V. l. in 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
$500. "The word of the Lord by
jeremiah (25:12; 29:1O)
promising that he would bring about
a return from captivity after 70 years.
The Lord (Jehovah) stirred up the
spirit OF Cyrus" 1t is quite posi-.
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.
44.2G28: 45:l.
v. 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 a charge from the God
of the Jews.
v. g. who is there among you"
The return was TO be 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. a. And whosoever remaineth," r.
", sis left" of the captives. survives.
Connect in any place where he So
journeth. without comma, with let
the men of his place. his hcathen
neighbors. help him with silver. etc.
give him funds for his journey. and
the freewill offering in aid of the tenn
pie.
v. 5. 'Then rose up the chief of
the fathers" The Return described
in to-day's lesson was under Zerub
babel a prince of the royal line OF
David, called the Tirshatha. or Pasha
ezra 2:63). and under Joshua, the
hereditary high priest ezra 3:8).>
These were among the "chief of the
fathers and the priests
v.G. And all they that were about
them" Their heather neighbors and
friends, as in Egypt at the time of the
exodus.
VI. Cyrus tire king brought forth
the vessels of the house Of the Lord"
"Nebuchadnezzar little thought that
he was unconscously preserving the
sacred vessels of Israel in a safe and
inviolable stronghold. till the day
when Jehovah would bring about their
restoration to His people,
VS.. by the hand of Mithredath"
(given by. or dedicated to Mithra. the
sun-god). He had these treasures in
his charge. "Sheshbazzar" (fire-
worshiper): The Persian name OF
Zerubbabel (born in Babylon).
II. .All the vessels were
five thousand and four huEdred:"
This is more than double the sum of
the preceding mbers-2.499. 1t Is
probable that only the larger or more
costly vessels were numbered in de-
tail. and the 5,400 includes a great
number of smaller and less costly
ones. So they are reckoned by Jo-
sephus can't. Jud. 11:1).
Illustrative Points.
This is a picture Of Gods discipline
OF His people He does not love to
aflict His children. He gives bitter
medicines in order to bring back
health. His aflictions are to purify
the heart, to ennoble the character. to
break the power Of sin.
Note that 1t Is sign Of Gods T..
vor to have trials. III We endure
Christening, God dealeth with you as
with sons" (TIcb. 1910: The devil
desires to winnow Peter, not Judas.
The thief does not break into an empty |