Middletown transcript., 1917-10-13

GOLDEN TEAI-InC LOfO udlH Ooio
great things for US; whereof we are giao.
Psalms 1858.
Israel went into captivity because OF
her sins. The time of her disciplinary
process was about to end, as its pur'
pose was now accomplished: namely,
the cure of Israel's idolatry. Ever
since the Babylonian captivity the He
brew people have been worshipers OF
the one God. Monotheism has stood
forth as q vital characteristic. Inc
main reason for the Jews maintenance
of racial identity in spite OF their ma
tional dislocation and the breaking up
of their social ties, is the unity OF their
faith, around the one God.
!. The Proclamation Of Cyrus wv.
(1) The Time Of (v. u. The hrst
year Of Cyrus; that is the first year
after his conquest of Babylon.
(2) How It Was Brought About w.
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 heathen
king to accomplish his purpose. lie
can find a way Of approach to any
heart. Likely Daniel was the agen!
used to bring the matter to the kings
attention. Daniel was still the ln1lu-
entail prime minister OF Babylon.
From his study of the prophecies OF
jeremiah (Jer. 70; Isa. 45:1; COM
pare Daniel 9:2), he knew that the
time was near for the return of the
pcople to their own land, so he likely
brodght the matter to the attention OF
the king and persuaded him to thus
favor his people.
(3) Its Contents wv. 2-4.
(a) A confession of the true God
(vv.e2, 81.
He acknowledges him to be the God
of heaven, the Most High, the Supreme
God. q God of goodness. He declared,
"He has given me all the Kingdoms OF
the EARTH" and that God had with au-
thority laid upon him the charge OF
building him a house at Jerusalem.
(b) A Generous Permission to Israel
". 81. All who desired to go up to
Jerusalem and build the Lords house
were permitted to go. He even COM
mandcd the blessing Of the Lord to be
upon them.
(cl A Positive Cooperation ". ~.
None were obliged to &c up, but pos
tive obligation was laid upon those
who did not go up to render assistance
to those who did. They were to aid
in the building of the house Of God by
| giving money, beasts and goods. 1t
was more than a free-will offering, an
obligation in addition thereto. The OBJ
legation was even wider than the peo-
| pie of Israel The heather were asked
| to render aid.
II. Response to the Proclamation Of
! Cyrus (vv. 5, g..
(1) By Israel (v. 81. Strange to say
the decree of Cyrus was not met with
great enthusiasm. Only small num-
Der, chiefly from Judah and Benjamin,
returned ". 81. For most of them it
meant giving up business interests, for
they had settled down to the regular
| callings of life. Besides the sacri-
| fee of business interests 1t involved
! great risks as to the future. The en-
tire company, including servants, was
about fifty thousand (2:64). Of this
company we note the following divi-
sions; first, chiefs Of the fathers OF
Judah and Benjamin, that is magis-
trates; second, priests and Levites,
leaders in religion; third, skillful ar
tifcers, head workmen.
(2) BY Their Neighbors w. g.. This
response was apparently more hearty
than that Of the Jews themselves.
Their neighbors gave freely Of gold, sill
vcr, beasts and goods. God had not
only graciously disposed the heart OF
Cyrus toward his people. but they
found peculiar favor from their neigh
bors, so that their wants were abund-
antly supplied.
III. Restoration of the Sacred Yes
sells wv. 7-11). These vessels had been
carried away to Babylon many years
before. Little did Nebuchadnezzar re-
alize that he would put into safe keep
ing the vessels which would be needed
at this time They were carefully num-
bered and turned over to the proper
officers. Except for their desecration
in Belshazzar's feast, they were none
the worst forhaving been carried away.
These were brought up to Jerusalem
from Babylon.