The Green Forest tribune., 1917-10-12
LESSON FOR OCTOBER IA.
RETURNING FROM CAPTIVITY.


 LESSON TEXT-Ezra 1.
 GOLDEN TEXT-The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Psalms 1263.
 Israel went into captivity because of her sins. The time of her disciplinary process was about to end, as It's 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 a vital characteristic. The main reason for the Jews maintenance of racial identity In spite of their na- tiOnal dislocation and the breaking up of their social ties. is the unity of their faith, around the one God.
 |. The Proclamation of Cyrus (vv. 1-4).
 G) The Time of (v. 1). The first year of Cyrus; that Is the first year after his conquest of Babylon.
 (2) How It Was Brought About (v. D. 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. He can find way of approach to any heart. Likely Daniel was the agent used to bring the matter to the kings attention. Daniel was still the infiu- Dpttol rfy mini of Rohvlnn From his study of the prophecies of Jeremiah (Jer. 25 :12; Isa. 45 I; com pare Daniel 9:2), he knew that the time was near for the return of the people to their own land. so he likely brought the matter to the attention of the king and persuaded hin' to thus favor his people.
 (3) Its Contents (vv. 2-4).
 (a) A confession of the true God tvv. 2, 3.
 He acknowledges him to be the God of heaven, the Most High, the Supreme God, 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 q house at Jerusalem.
 (b) A Generous Permission to Israel {v. 3. All who desired to go up to Jerusalem and build the Lords house were permitted to go. He even com handed the blessing of the Lord to be upon them.
 (c) A Positive Cooperation tv. Al. None were obliged to go up, but pos itive 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. It was more than a free-will offering, an obligation in addition thereto. The ob- ligation was even wider than the peo- pie of Israel. The heather were asked to render aid.
 n. Response to the Proclamation of Cyrus (vv. 5, g.
 CD By Israel tv. 5. Strange to say the decree of Cyrus was not met with great enthusiasm. Only a small num- Der. chiefly from Judah and Benjamin, returned tv. 5. For most of them It meant giving up business interests, for they had settled down to the regular callings of life. Besides the sacri- flee 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- tiflcers, head workmen.
 (2) By Their Neighbors (v. 6). This response was apparently more hearty than that of the Jews themselves. Their neighbors gave freely of gold, sil- yer. 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 (vv. 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 dissertation in Belshazzar's feast, they were none the worst for having been carried away. These were brought up to Jerusalem from Babylon.