The Elbert County tribune., 1917-10-12
LESSON FOR OCTOBER IA.
RETURNING FROM CAPTIVITY.

LESSON TExT-Ezra L
GOLDEN TExT-The Lord hath done
great things for us. whereof we are glad
Psalms 1853
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 Isrnel'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 ma
tional dislocation and the breaking up
of their social ties. is the unity of their
faith, around the one God.
l. The Proclamation of Cyrus wv.
1-4).
"a The Time of ". ~. The first
year of Cyrus; that is the first year
after his conquest of Babylon.
(2) How It Was Brought About ".
~. 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 influ-
entail prime minister of Babylon.
From his study of the prophecies of
Jeremiah (Jer. 25 10; Isa. As Il; 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 him to thus
favor his people.
(3) Its Contents wv. 2-4).
(a) A confession of the true God
wv. 2, 81.
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 house at Jerusalem.
(b) A Generous Permission to Israel
". BY. All who desired to go up to
Jerusalem and build the Lords house
were permitted to go. He even COM
manded the blessing of the Lord to be
upon them.
(c) A Positive Cooperation ". ~.
None were obliged to go 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 q free-will offering, an
obligation in addition thereto. The OBJ
legation was even wider than the peo-
pie of Israel. The heather were asked
70 render aid.
II. Response to the Proclamation Of
Cyrus wv. 8, 81.
Q) By Israel ". 81. Strange to say
the decree of Cyrus was not met with
great enthusiasm. Only a small num-
ber. chiefly from Judah and Benjamin,
returned ". 81. For most of them 1t
meant giving up business interests, for
they had settled down to the regular
callings of life. Besides the sacri-
fee of business interests it 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
tificers, head workmen.
(2) By Their Neighbors ". 81. This
response was apparently more hearty
than that Of the Jews themselves.
Their neighbors gave freely of gold, sill
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 ves-
sells wv. 7-11). These vessels had been
carried away to Babylon many years
hefore. 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 wese none
the worst for having been carried away.
These were brought up to Jerusalem
from Babylon.