Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-29
REVIEW GODS REDEEMuNG
LOVE.
Reading Lesson: Psalms, 1913, 124.
Golden Text: With Jehovah there
is loving kindness. and with Him
is plenteous redemption. - Ps.
1901.
BY REV. HUGH t. STEVENSON,

The lessons of the quarter covered
approximately a century from the re-
turn of the exiles in 638 BIC to the sec
ond visit of Nehemiah, in 432 BIC. Dur
ing that period. which was one of the
greatest in human history, being the
age of Pericles. Aeschylus. Socrates,
Judah developed some of those traits
of character which nodded their life
as a people and made them the marvel
OF all history. An eminent editor. re-
ferring to the Zionist movement. which
is rapidly. through the success of the
British army in Palestine. drawing
near to the day Of its being realized.
pointed out how miraculously the ma
ton. driven from land to land and
from sea to sea. despoiled. chastened,
even slain in great numbers, yet like
through the centuries" deserved the
patriotic and loyal support of all lib
erty-loving Americans of every race
and faith, in their desire to regain the
promised land. The fall of Jerusalem
opens the door for the return OF the
muftitudes Of religious Jews. whose
race and religion have contributed so
much to the advancement Of civiliza-
ton. to their ancestral homes.
The hand Of Providence opened the
ship of Ezra, of a band Of men whose
hearts had been touched by the
spiritual revival of religion that re-
suited from the Christening experiences
of the exile. The miseries Of the cap
tivity, which was the result of the ma
tons departure from doing Gods viii,
through their willful sin and rebellion.
taught them the supremacy Of God and
the folly Of idolatry. SO that when they
returned from captivity they had
lac Of Of
psalms Of David. which they sang upon
the way, and which were the founda-
ton of the lessons for the opening and
closing studies Of the quarter. With
the parting OF the clouds their hearts
were full of song that marked the be-
ginning Of the restoration of the wor-
ship of the Lord in Jerusalem. through
the rebuilding Of the temple in &C
cordance with the decree Of Cyrus. The
success of Ezra was due to the pres
ence and. protection Of the Lord. whose
hand was upon him for good. Under
the guidance of Gods presence. the re-
building project of the temple was com
pleted. and with appropriate feasts was
dedicated to the worship of God. Ezra
attempted to institute and carry out
far-reaching social, civil and religious
reforms. which would perpetuate the
nation by keeping the Jews as sep
arate people.
The results of Ezra's efforts to pre-
people by the pagan neighbors aroused
the enmity Of the heather nations that
resulted In their making raids and
menacing the peace OF the capital city
They sent false reports concerning the
work being done by Ezra to the Persian
potentate that resulted in the king
issuing an edict which prevented fur
Their work upon the temple and the
rebuilding of the city walls. Jehovah
was not Indifferent to the needs Of His
distressed followers in Jerusalem, for
In the court of the emperor at the
Persian capital the patriotic Nehemiah
save the nation The cupbearer. who
pleaded with God to protect his CO.
religionists and countrymen. was dis
patched with the authority of the king,
whose edicts had hindered the work
projected by Ezra being completed, to
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, re-
establish the worship of Jehovah and
institute such reforms in the govern
ment as were found to be needed His
success in rebuilding the walls of the
city was of immense Importance both
from the standpoint of military STRAIT
egg and of religious service. 1t in