Evening star., 1905-10-21

Context-Last lesson gave an account OF
the proclamation of Cyrus and the prepara-
ton of the Jews for return from captivity.
The heads of the families who went forth
on that expedition are recorded by Ezra in
his second chapter. The congregation made
a very brief stay in Jerusalem, and then
distributed themselves In the old cities from
which they or their fathers came. Ezra.
ii:70) Several months after there was
general assemblage at Jerusalem for the
purpose of observing the feast of taber-
nacles, national festival that continued
seven days at the close of the harvest. dur
ing which the people dwelt in booths or In
huts made of the boughs of trees. Deut.,
xvi:13) The old altar that had been so
long in ruins was builded and sacrifices
were offered according to the law of Moses.
The occasion one of public rejoicing,
not unlike our Thanksgiving season. only
more protracted and more generally OBJ
served.
! Beginning (verse 1W-Two years passed
away before the returned Jews (verse 81
undertook to do what Cyrus had required
of them in his proclamation. The inter-
vening time was well employed. The great
body of the people were engaged In erect
ing dwellings and in providing the comforts
of home, matter of the utmost Importance
in land that had been wasted by war and
had been desolation for nearly century.
Meanwhile, the officials. both civil and re-
ligious, might have been busy with prepa-
rations. The debris of the old temple must
be removed, materials for the new house
must be gathered, and men must be
cured some of them skilled workmen. At
length, in a very brief time, considering
the obstacles, all was ready, for the for
NAL beginning. Zerubbabel, the governor
alag, ii:2) assembled the priests and
Levites, who gathered about the trenches
to witness the laying of the foundation.
Praising oversees 10 and 11)-That was
a glad hour. Prophecies were to be full
filled and hopes revived. A people. long in
bondage, brought back to their native land,
deprived Of all things except their religion,
yet cherishing memories of Gods favor in
the centuries gone by, were now to begin,
by grace Of the ruling monarch, a new
career 1t was eminaAtly proper that there
should be public expressions of Joy. APP
pointments had been made to that end
Arranged in order We're the priests, clad In
their holy garments. bearing trumpets q
Chr, xvi:5-6), and the sons of Asaph with
cymbals, forming an immense choir, after
the style of David and Solomon in the old
temple. q Chr, vi:31) Then broke forth
the song of praise to God, rendered In parts,
the different sections of the choir respond
ing to each other. That glad refrain, BE
cause He is good, for His mercy endureth
forever psalm cxxxvi:D, echoed and re-
echoed through the city, expressing the sem
timent of every heart
shouting ((verse 11)-The singing was
formal and official, as much so as to the
appointed musical renderings in our
churches. However appropriate It failed
to express all that was In the heart Cere-
monials have their proper places but at
times they seem cold and unworthy, and
then the emotional nature seeks its own
method OF expression, without restraint of
rule or regulation Of leader So 1t came
TO pass In Jerusalem when the foundations
OF the temple were being laid. The trum-
pets or the priests and the cymbals of the
Levites awakened joy that could not be
confined In the hearts of the people who
were assembled Like waters that burst
Iortn from fountains, the gladness over
nowed. With shouting and other demon
strations of a physical sort the multitude
spontaneously told each to the other and
all TO their God the sense of gratitude and
OF hopefuiness as the foundation Of the
temple was laid "
!. Weeping Oversees IL and 13)-All this re-
1oiclng was ccasioned by look into the
ruture The building of the tempIe sig
nifed the restoration of religious privileees
with all the benefit to be derived therefrom
tFsaim cxxii1. Despite the waywardness
OF some, religion Is the largest element in
human society. and a house of worship
stands for more than any other one struc-
ture. They who looked forward, therefore.
sang and shouted. But others looked back
ward Ihe old men, crowned with nearly
d nunored years OF experience, remembered
the FORMER mouse (Hag., M:3) and the asso-
ciatlons connected with 1t: remembered also
the men OF the former day now sleenine
the long sleep, and they wept So II came
70 pass that with shouts and songs bv soma
ana with tears and sobs by Others the
stones were laid in the trenches.
proposing oversees 1 and 2)-The captivity