The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1917-10-12
INTERNATIONAL
SUNNAYSCI1O0L
LESSON
(By REV, r. b. FITZWATER, u; =:
Teacher of English Bible IN the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago)
downright, 1917, Western Newspaper ohloh.l
LESSON FOR OCTOBER IA.
RETURNING FROM CAPTIVITY.


great things for us; whereof we are glad.
Psalms 1858.
Israel went into captivity because OF
her sins. The time of her disciplinary
process was about to end, as It's pur-
nose was now accomplished Namely
the cure of Israers idolatry. Ever
since the Babylonian captivity the he
brew people have been worshipers Oh
tho one God. MonotheiSm has stoou
forth as a vital characteristic. LIE
main reason for the Jews maintenance
of racial identity in spite of their ma
tional dislocation and the breaking ul'
of their social ties, is the unity or theil
faith, around the one God.
I. The Proclamation OF cyrus WV
1-4). 49,.
az The Time of ~. y. The first
wear of Cyrus; that is the first year
after his conquest Of Babylon.
(2) How 1t Was Brought About w.
~. The Lord stirred up his spirit
The Lord often uses very unllkeiy
agents in the accomplishment OF MS
nurnoses, There is nothing too haru
for him. He can readily use heathen
king to accomplish his purpose. he
ran find a way of approach to any
heart Likely Daniel was the agent
used to bring the matter to the KING
attention. Daniel was still the lh1iu-
entail prime minister of Babylon.
From his study of the prophecies OF
Jeremiah (Jer 25 ~; lisa. 40 L; COM
mare Daniel 9:2), he knew that tlie
time was near for the return OF tne
neonle TO their own land, so he likely
hronght the matter to the attention OF
the king and persuaded him to thus
favor his people.
(3) It's Contents wv. "a.
(a> confession of the true Goo
wv. 2, 81.
He acknowledges him to be the Goa
Of heaven, the Most High, the supreme
Cod q God of goodness. He declared,
"He has given me all the Kingdoms OIL
: tho earth" and that God had with au-
; thority laid upon him the charge o1
building him q house at Jerusalem.
(b) A Generous Permission to israei
". 81. All who desired to go up u
Jerusalem and build the Lords mousse
, were permitted to go. He even COM
{ nondnd the blessing of the Lord to be
upon them. N
(c) A Positive Cooperation w. a.
None were obliged to go up, but pos
? tive obligation was laid upon those
= who did not go up to render assistance
5 to those who did. They were to alo
, in the building of the house of God py
. giving money, beasts and goods' II
| was more than a free-will offering al
,. ohligation in addition thereto. the op
s legation was even wider than the PEG
: ple of Israel. The heather were askeo
S to render aid.
r II Resnonse to the Proclamation Of
r. Cyrus wv. 5, g..
~ By Israel ". 81. Strange TO sa!
the decree of Cyrus was not met VIII
J., great enthusiasm. Only small mum
n her, chiefly from Judah and Benjamin
e returned (v. 81. For most OF thehl
o maont giving up business interests, To-
p +bav had settled down to the regula
@ coIIings of life Besides the Sacrl
J, fee of business interests 1t lnVolVe'
n oreat risks as to the future. Ihe Ell
e fire company, including servants, wa
e about fifty Thousand (2:6). Or TN
v comnanv we note the following dlVl
+ sions. first chiefs of the fathers o
q Judah and Benjamin. that is magiS
r trates; second, priests and LeVlteS
leaders in religion; third skillful ai
tificers. head workmen.
a. 10y BY Their NeighbOrs ". %. I'M
T. RESPONSE was apparently more hear'
II than that of the Jews themselVe'
D. Tbeir neighbors gave freely of gold 81
n. yer. beasts and goods. God had nc
r. only graciously disposed the heart
r. CYRUS toward his people, but the
h found peculiar favor from their nelgi
N bors 81 that their wants were abun'
a. antly supplied.
~ mi. Restoration of the Sacred Ve'
Of sells wv. 7-11). These vessels had pee
st carried away to Babylon many yehi
N before. Little did Nebuchadnezzar r.
"a alize that he would put into safe keel
ling the vessels which would be neeue
ot This time. They. were carefully nun
borad and turned over to the prop'
"a officers. Except for their desecrauo
&c IN Relshazzar's feast, they were moi
"a tho worst for having been carried ava
NJ Tbese were brought up to Jerusaie
j