Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-10-12

GOLDEN TEXT-The LORD hath uone
great things for us; whereof we are glad.
Psalms 1858
Israel went into captivity because OF
her sins. The time of her disciplinary
process was about to end ms Its pur-
pose was now accomplished namely,
the cure OF Israels dolatry, Ever
since the Babylonian captivity the He
brew people have been worshlpers OF
the one God. Monothelsm has stood
forth as vital characteristic The
main reason for the Jews maintenance
OF racial identity In spite OF their ma
tlonal dlslocatlon and the breaking up
Of their social ties, is the unity Of their
faith. around the one God,
|. The Proclamation Of Cyrus wv.
I.I).
~ The Time of ". y, The first
year of Cyrus; that Is the first year
after his conquest Of Babylon.
(2) How 1t Was Brought About ".
y. The Lord stirred up his spirit.
The Lord often uses very unlikely
agents In the accomplishment OF his
purposes. There is nothing too hard
for him. He can READILY use heather
king to accomplish his purpose. lie
can find n way of approach to any
heart. Likely Daniel was the agent
used TO bring the matter to the kings
attention. Daniel was still the lnflu-
entail prime minister Of Babylon.
From his study OF the prophecies OF
jeremiah der. 25:l2; Isa. 45:l; com
pare Daniel 9:2), he knew that the
time was near for thr return OF the
people TO their own land, so he likely
brought the matter to the attention OF
the king and persuaded him TO thus
favor his people,
(3) Its Contents wv. 20.
(a) A confession CT the true Goo
wv ., ~.
He acknowledges him to be the God
OF heaven. the Most II gh, the Supreme
God, God Of goodness. lie declared
"IIe has given me all the kingdoms OF
the earth" and that Cod had with nu
thority laid upon him the charge OF
building him n house at Jerusalem.
% A Generous Permission to Israe
| ". 81. All who desired to 90 up to
Jerusalem and build the Lords houst
were permitted to go He even com
handed the blessing az the Lord to b'
upon them.
(c) A Positive Cooperation ". ~
None were obliged to 20 up, but pos
tive obligation was laid upon thos'
who did not 20 up to render assistance
to those who did. They were to ait
In the building of the house of God b,
giving money, beasts and goods. i
was more than free-will offering, al
obligation in addition thereto. The OBJ
legation was even wider than the pee
pie of Israel. The esther were aske'
10 render aid.
II. Response TO the Proclamation o
Cyrus wv. 5. O..
~ BY Israel ". -. Strange to sa.
the decree of Cyrus was not met Will
great enthusiasm. Only n small nun
Der, chiefly from Judah and Benjamin
returned ". 81. For most of them !
meant giving up business interests, 70
they had settled down to the regua
callings of life. Besides the sacri
fee OF business interests 1t involves
great risks rs TO the future. The en-
tire company. including servants, wa
about fifty thousand e. 64). or thl
company we note the following div
slons; first, chiefs Of the fathers o
Judah and Benjamin, that Is magi'
trates; second, priests and Levite'
leaders In religion; third, sklllful Al
tlfcers. head workmen.
ICY BY Their Nelghbors ". O.. TIL
response was apparently more heart
than that of the Jews themselves
Their neighbors gave freely of gold 81
YER beasts and goods. God had nc
only graciously disposed the heart
Cyrus toward his people, but the
found peculiar favor from their neigl
bors, so that their wants were abunt
antly supplied.
~. Restoration Of the Sacred We
sells wv. 7-1D. These vessels had bee
carried away to Babylon many veal
before. Little did Nebuchadnezzar r.
alize that he would put into safe keel
Ing the vessels which would be neede
at this time. They were carefully nun
bered and turned over to the props
officers. Except for their desecratic
, in Belshazzar's feast, they were nor
the worst for having been carried ava
, These were brought up to Jerusale
from Babylon.