The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-12-04


Babylon with high hopes, and tri
umphant songs of JOY. But the jour
ney was long. tedious and full Of hard
ships. There were 42,360 Of them, ac'
cording to each of the three versions
extant. But the detailed numbers all
come short Of this sum, and it is sup
posed that the 1000 or 12OOO mol
ranked in the list under any place or
family name we're lsraelites OF the
northern tribes. If these left Babylonia
in March (Apoc. Esdras s 81, they
could not well reach Jerusalem, after
Journey of nearly eight hundred
niles. before some time in July. II
took Ezra four months to make the
Journey EZRA Z: 81. They found the
city in ruins, as it had lain for fifty
years since its complete destruction
by Nebuchadnezzar The first busi-
ness of the returned exiles was, OF
course, to provide some kind Of dwell
ings for themselves and their families.
They accordingly settled in the small
cities surrounding Jerusalem, perhaps
repairing the houses and walls that
had been ruined by the besieging arm
les years before, or contenting them
selves with huts or tents.
II Revival of Religious Services
VS.. 1T. Seventh month, October, 535.
Within two or three months after
their arrival, they arranged for The re-
ligious life which was the very heart
Of the nations existence, and the cen
trail motive and inspiration Of the Re-
turn. 1t would require years to build
the Temple. 1t was not wise to wait
for that. 1t was essential that all
needful helps to devotion and religion
and righteousness should be provided
Immediately, to sustain them in the
work to be done amid opposition and
temptations which were to try their
souls as gold is tried in the fire.
Therefore the religious life was
strengthened and cultured
An altar Of burnt sacrifices was
built on the old foundations, the high
est crag Of Mount Moriah, the central
height of the Temple, over which, to-
Gay, stands the well-known Dome Of
the Rock"
Henceforth morning and evening the
sacrifcial fires ascended before all the
people, an aid to worship, to conse-
Grafton, to the assurance Of forgive
ness, to prayer and communion with
God.
They began to celebrate the great
annual religious festivals, which uni
fed the nation, and were an essential
element Of the national life.
The other religious service was the
free will Offering of money and mate
rial for the Temple and its services
Modern Applications. Build your
new affairs on the old foundations,
your new forms on the old principles.
The family altar should be set up at
the first in every family, and the serv-
ice of worship be regular day by day.
III The Foundations Of the Tenn
pie Laid.-Vs. S-11. Begun in May,
535, the second year of their coming.
In six months the site had been
cleared, SO that in May the builders
were ready to lay the foundations
10. Builders laid the foundation"
The cornerstone, or the first course.
This was made the occasion of a great
ceremonial Priests in their appar-
el." The elegant and beautiful off,
cial robes used by the priests in their
especially the blue and
scarlet and purple robes, with gold
and gems, of the high priests and 9th
srs. described in Exod 49,. with
Not for music; but, like
'ur church bells, for summonlng as
,emblies and joyful announcements
Sons of Asaph.' A guild of singers
famed after the famous singer and
eader in the time of David. After
he ordinance (order) of David" (See
Chron Is: 16-21) David first or
;anized choirs and music for the tenn
lie services.
The Young Men Rejoicing. "They
PRAISED the Lord" The joy of the |
-ounger people who remembered the |
exile, but had no memory Of the Tenn |
lie of Solomon, was very great.
The Old Men Weeping. 12 Ancient |
men, that had seen the first house." |
which was destroyed, B. C. $50, fifty
ne years before. They must have
zen sixty or seventy years old. |
Wept with loud voice" The weep
ng was not because the new temple
yas smaller than the first, for It was
arger comp. Ezra G: 9 Kings 6;
; 2 Chron. 9: 3, a.. They wept be-
ause Of the contrast between the
eauty, the magnifcence, the gold and
ems Of the old temple, and the sim
licity and poverty Of the new struc-
lre (Hag. 2: 8; Zech. 4: 10). Be
ause Of the absence Of the old asso-
lations, the ark of the covenant. the
acred fire, and all that came to Israel
trough the former temple.
Nv. Discouragements and Delays
IRA 4: IL. Fifteen years B. C. 5S5-
20. When the adyersaries Of Ju-
ah" The Samaritans, and the for
ign colonists from Babylonia, Persia
nd Elan Tvs. 8, 10), which "Esar-
addon king Of Assur" (Assyria)
Y. y, (B. c. 7aO-715) and also sargon
nd Asshur-banipal (B. G. 665) had
ent to Samaria q Kings 17:24).
h,,c tha,, h,S fft,od q, co,,,.t 80