The Arvada enterprise., 1922-07-27
LESSON FOR JULY 80
THE FIRST RETURN FROM EXILE

LESSON TEXT-Jer. 2s:l0-N; Ezra l:
Ill.
GOLDEN TEXT-we know that all
things work together for good to them
that love God.-Romans s:2S.
REFERENCE MATERlAI~Psalms S.:
$50; 13l; Jer. y.
PRIMARY ToPIC-God's People Re-
JUNIOR ToPIc-How God Kept .
Great Promise.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
How God Kept Great Promise.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Striking Manifestations OF Gods Provi-
dencs.
!. The Return From Captivity Pr.
dietsd co :1O-14).
1t seems that false prophets were
fiourshing In Babylon telling the peo-
pie that they would speedily be re-
stored to their own land. To counter
act this the Lord moved Jeremiah to
send this letter to the captives In
Babylon (vv. 8, 81. In this letter he
advised them to settle down and
quietly pursue their regular callings
Of life and not to be led astray by the
false prophets wv. 9. y.
l. The length Of the captivity
". 10Y. Their coming back was to be
"after seventy years." From Daniel
9:2 1t is clear that seventy years
means q definite time. 1t dates from
the time when the first company was
taken captive among which Daniel
was found.
pnnnrnroI h,,
Gods purpose In the captivity was
to cure them Of their idolatrous prac.
tices. He assured them that when His
purpose was accomplished he would
visit them and convince them of His
good purpose toward them. When once
this was done they would call upon
Him in sincerity and He would be
found of them. Their captivity He
would turn away; gather them from
all the nations and bring them into
their own land.
u. Prediction Of Captivity Full.
filled (Ezra 1:l.lD.
!. The proclamation of Cyrus
(vv. 1-4). U This was not by ac'
cident. but that the word OF the Lord
might be fulfilled ". ~. What God
has promised He will do: He never
fOrgets. Wherever We find promise
which He hath made we can rest upon
1t: He will make good. (2) By divine
initiation ". u. 1.-THE Lord stirred up
the spirit Of Cyrus" How this was
done we do not know. Possibly Daniel
brought to his attention the prophecy
Of Isaiah and Jeremiah lisa. Al :2S
Jer. 25 :12). Every impulse to do good
In all men Is caused by the Lord-eveu
heather king who may not have been
conscious OF doing His Will. at Gods
appointed time took the Initiative In
this matter. 1t may have been that
Cyrus only saw his own action as q
piece of statecraft-the creation Of q
buffer state nation between his king
dom and that Of Egypt. Be that us
1t may, God stirred him up to do His
will. (3) The content OF His prOclnma
tion wv. 2-H. (a) "The Lord God Of
heaven hath charged me to build Hin
u house In Jerusalem" ". y. This
makes clear that he had some impres
sion OF Gods hand upon him. (b) Ap
peai to Jewish patriotism ". -. lie
invOkes Gods blessing upon such al
possess the nationnl religious feeling
md commands them to go and build
the house OF the Lord God. (c) Lend
assistance ". ~. Many OF the Jewi
were established In business and there
fore were not free to go. Many, nc
doubt, hud lost their national spiri,
and therefore were not anxious to 20
All such were to lend friendly US
sistance In silver. gold and beasts
Those who cannot 20 to do Gods wOrl
should strengthen the hands OF thos,
who do go.
.. The respOnse Of Cyrus proclaim
alton wv. 8, 81. The cAief Of tn,
fathers Of Judah ind Benjamin ant
the priests and Levites presented them
selves Us willing and ready to 20
The company which returned WAS
largely mnde up Of representatives o.
Judah and Benjumin.
3. The royul favor wv. 7.ll
Cyrus brought forth the vessels OF III,
house Of the Lord which Nebuchadnez
Eur had brought forth out OF Jeru
salem and put Into the house OF hIl
gods. This was u great encourage
ment to every loyal Jew whose hear
hsd. been grieved over the Proclamation
VI these sacred vessels. Now TO huv,
6.4OO OF these vessels returned to thei
owners and sent buck to Jerusalem /,
be put to their original use. met 1
hearty Response by the Jews.
who knowsth the lsrd's Mind.