Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-10-13
Returning From Captivity
Sunday School Lesson for Oct. IA
e. F. WALKER d d

The book in which our lesson lies is
a simple historic record of the return
OF the Jews from Chaldea to Palestine
from Babylon to Jerusalem. The re-
turn was in two installments-the first
was under Zerubbabel, who was of the
royal line of Judah-in about B. c.
1888; the second was under Ezra the
scribe. about eighty years later.
EXPLANATORY.
Time: B. C. $685.
Place: From Babylon to Jerusalem
verse l. Now-in the first year Of
Cyrus king of Persia-that the word of
the Lord by the mouth of jeremiah
might be fulfilled.-There are two
prophesies of Jeremiah which find
fulfillment at that time: a. And
IL snail come to pass, when seventy
years are accomplished, that will pun
ish the king Of Babylon, and that ma
ton, saith the Lord, for their iniuuity.
and the land of the Chaldeans" etc.
Ger. 25: 12). (2) For thus saith the
Lord. afer seveny years be accom-
pllshed at Babylon l will visit you, and
perform my good word toward YOU. in
causing you to return to this place.
For / know the thoughts that / think
toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts
Of peace, and not of evil, to Civ, you an
expended end.
The Lord stirred up the spirit of
Cyrus king of Persia - Nearly two
hundred years before, through another
prophet, Jehovah had promised this
very thing-even naming the king
who should be used to accomplish His
gracious purpose to restore His peo-
pie. Thus saith the Lord thy Re-
deemer. that saith unto Jerusa-
lem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to
the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built,
and Will raise up the decayed places
thereof; that saith of Cyrus, He
Is my shepherd, and shall perform all
my pleasure: even saying to Jerusa-
lem, Thou shalt be built and to the
temple, Thy foundations shall be laid"
lisa. a.: 24-2S)-that he made a proc
lamation throughout all his kingdom
and put 1t also In writing, SAYING
The proclamation was made orally
messengers, and also was put
in writing, that the work might be ex-
pedited, and that there should be no
mistake in the plan.
2. Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia,
God OF Heaven-The supreme God. so
recognized as Jehovah, over all-hath
given me all the kingdoms of the earth;
Here is the recognition of Jehovah as
the God of providence, and as the KING
Of all Kings and Of all Kingdoms. It'll
may not be that a. this was In the
mind Of this heather monarch, and
that he personally was ready to crown
Jehovah as Lord of all.
And he hath charged me to build him
a house of Jerusalem, which Is In Ju-
dab. We are not told how the Lord de-
livered to Cyrus this charge. He may
have stirred up his mind indirectly
through the Word: or both. Jo-
sephus tells us that God made Cyrus
thus write Thus saith Cyrus, the
king, since God Almighty hath ap-
pointed me to be king Of the habit
able earth, I believe that he is that |
God which the nation of the Israel
ties worship; for indeed he fortold my
name by the prophets, and that ! !
should build Him an house in Jerusa- |
lem, in the country of Judea." Joseph
us declares that this was known to
Cyrus by his reading the book which |
Isaiah left behind him of his prophc- |
cies. Accordingly when Cyrus
read this, and admired the divine pow
or, an earnest desire and ambition |
seized him to fulfill what was 80 writ |
.en."
3. Who Is there among you of all |
his people?-He did not confine the
in application to Judah,
but widened 1t to include all the de-
pendants of Israel whose God Jeho-
Yah was; and this would include
hose of the ten tribes who had been
AIKEN into captivity by the Assyriana,
and who were scattered abroad-his
Sod be with him-and let him go up
20 Jerusalem, which is in Judah-Here
was authoritative permission given to
my Israelite to return to the holy
and"-and build the house of the
Lord God Of Israel-This was the
great purpose for which they were
given liberty; as this was the princi-
'al thing they should do in their own
and. 1t was not the order Of Jehovah
hat the Persian himself should build
he temple, or even oversee 1t; but that
lie was to see that 1t was done; and
or this purpose he made proclama-
ion to the children of Israel-(he Ia
he God)-That is, Jehovah is the