The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-12
For October Il Is Returning From
Captivity. Ezra. CHI. l.
A Rebirth of Hebrew Nationalism.


study about Persian ruler known in
literature as the great king" Cyrus
the Great was one of the half dozen
world rulers of all history. The known
world then was in vasSalage to Per-
STA What descent to the weakness.
anarchy and misery of the Persia of
today! Yet this war-tOrn Persia, from
which we get occasional dispatches, is
one of the holy lands of history.
The other nation that figures IN
the story is the Jewish people; then,
DIS now, a nation. despite their lack of
king. capital and organized govern
ment. They were exiles in Babylonia
and Persia. An interesting analogy is
the present-day fact that while many
nations are even more eager than
Cyrus to get rid of the Jews they are
steadily increasing in Importance,
z over. solidarity and national con-
seriousness. Even the Jews who have
remained in Babylonia and Persia
unto this day-and they number hun
sdreds of thousands-are beginning to
lift up their heads in newness of hope
and self-confidence.
The prophesied exile of the Jews
was almost over. The promised re-
turn had been permitted by Cyrus
who had various reasons of policy for
wishing to possess the loyalty of the
Jews. and also to establish them once
more in the strategic outposts of his
Kingdom at Jerusalem. Back of the
Great King" of course, and moving
mysteriously upon his will, was the
King of kings The mightiest of
earth is only a servant to do the will
of the Most High. God shapes his
tory for His own sovereign purposes,
in the promotion of His kingdom.
Behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow,
Keeping watch above His own"
Taught by Trouble.
Experience is a school master who
always carries q rod. The Jews, I'M
willing to learn their lessons in any
softer school, had been sent into ex-
lie. The sole and avowed purpose
of the exile was to teach a yagrant-
minded and instable-h earted people
the lesson of loyalty to God. They
had continually wandered after the
heather gods of their neighbors.
Now the great question was, had
they learned the lesson designed for
them in their severe school? To
miss the meaning of adversely is like
refusing a precious letter because
one does not like the postman's looks
God sends no meaningless trials.
but it has made a preacher out of
you,' said close friend to a clergy
man, reviewing a deep sorrow thru
which the latter had passed, One of
the vital books of recent years is
early Letters of Marcus Dods."
which reveal the life of the great
scholar preacher during the
six long years when he was an un-
successful candidate for a first charge
a lesser soul would have been embit-
tered and spoiled by the ordeal: it
was the refining of the gold of Dod's
claracter'
Before l was afflicted went astray,
But now l observe Thy word
wrote the Psalmist That was Is
raefs experience. In exile it learned
that Jehovah alone is God Never
more did its heart wander after
idols. The bitterness of exile was
sweetened by this fruit: the Jews
learned to give God His rightful
place.
Teller and Door.
''Of which things also 1 was a part, J"
wrote Caesar in his account of his Gal
Tic wars. Ezra is the scribe whose
wiring we now study; he is the mar
rator of this record. A historian, he
probably compiled several of the sa-
cred books of the Jews; and in a large
| part OF his volume which bears his
name he~speaks in the first person
His is the testimony of an eyewitness
He was a participant in the scenes he
describes He was doer as well as
a teller.
Down along the Tigris river below
| Bagdad l saw a great shrine, which
was pointed out as Ezra's tomb. The
/ Jews believe that he returned to Baby
| lonia and was buried there. So great
is the esteem in which his memory
I is held that the Jews from a wide re-
gion make annual pflgrimages to this
shrine. Prayers for children espec-
! cially were supposed to be efficacious
when offered here. The descendants
| of the exiles who remained behind
| thus honored the memory of the lead
| er of those who lett.
! For many Jews did not go back
/ home when opportunity offered Only
about one out of six returned to Pal
! estine. The remainder had struck new
roots into this fertile soil, and had
| found prosperity: Business was good
in Babylonia. Besides, the exiles from
the northern kingdom had in this for
| eign land become assimilated with
/ their brethren from Judah. They
were doing well socially and CONNER
cially; and material considerations tri-
| umphed over sentimental and spir-
I itual ties
The Goers and the Senders.
The stay-at-homes helped the go
/ ers- forth. This is the universal rule.
! When 1 climbed the sacred mountain,
| Fuji-yama, with bands of japanese
I pllBT1IlS, lAldI IliCy NCAC "
representatives of their respective
communities: the whole neighborhood
| had united to pay the costsA Thus
Christian Endeavor delegates go to
j conventions. So also. it is with Zion
( ism today; Jews all over the earth pay
for the maintenance and succor of their
! FELLOW religionists who have returned
I to Palestine. The newly-Quickened
/ Zionist movement is not only a ques-
/ ton of Jews willing to return to the
l1oIy Land. but also of an entire peo-
ple aroused to IsraePs ancient hope
In this manner the more pious and
deV oted Of the Babylonian expatriates
/ were helped home. The immense sums
| necessary for the journey and for the
re-esta blishmept of life in the Prom
'sed Land. were provided by those
who. for various reasons, were unable
u. ~, tharnSalres SIMILARLY the great