Middletown transcript., 1922-07-29
LESSON FOR JULY 80
THE FIRST RETURN FROM ExIL

ne Univ nSVt 6N'.@
LESSON TEXT-Jer. 2s:lO-l4; Ezra /:
I'LL
GOLDEN TEXT-we know that all
things work together for good to them
that love God.-Romans S:2S.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Psalms S6;
l30: 131; Jer 20.
PRIMARY TOPIC-God's People Re-
JUNIOR ToPIC-How God Kept a
Great Promise.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
How God Kept a Great Promise.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Striking Manifestations of Gods Provi-
dence
!. The Return From Captivity Pre-
dicted co :10-1H.
1t seems that false prophets We're
iiourshing 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 wv. s, 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. 6, 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 u definite time. 1t dates from
The time when the first company was
taken captive among which Daniel
was found
,. Recovered by God wv. 1910.
Gods purpose In the captivity was
TO cure them of their idolatrOus prac-
tees. He assured them that when His
purpose was accomplished he would
visit them and convince them of His
GOOD purpose toward them. When once
| his was done they would call upon
lin i'll sincerity and He would be
ound of them. Their captivity He
'ould turn away; gather them from
al the nations and bring them into
neir own land.
II. Prediction Of Captivity Full
lied (Ezra lid.
|. The proclamation of Cyrus
wv. LIZ. Q This was not by nc
| 'ident, but that the word of the Lord
hlAht be fulfilled w. ~. What God
as promised He will do; He never
orgets. Wherever We find promise
'lich He hath made we can rest upon
| I; He will make good. (2) BY divine
nitiatiOn ". -. THE Lord stirred up
| lie spirit of Cyrus HoW this was
zone we do not know. Possibly Daniel
'rought to his attention the prophecy
i Isaiah and jeremiah elsa. II :2S ;
,er. 70 :l2). Every impulse to do good
| all men is caused by the Lord--evep
heathen king who may not have been
'onscious of doing His will, at Gods
ppuinted time took the initiative In
mis- matter. 1t nay have been thai
Arus only saw his own action as
'.cCe of Statecrait-the creation of Il
uller state nation between his king
."m and that of Egypt. BE that as
may, God stirred him up to do His
i'll. (3) The content of His proclama-
.on wv. 2-4). (a) The Lord God of
,earen hath charged me to build Him
house in Jerusalem" ". 2) This
makes clear that he had some impress
,ion of Gods hand upon him. (b) Ap-
.eal to Jewish patriotism ". 3). He
nvokes Gods blessing upon such as
assess the national religious feeling.
nd commands them to go and build
ne house of the Lord God (c) Lend
=aSIstance (v. -. Many of the Jews
,ere established in business and there
ore We're not free to go. Many, no
spubt, had lost their national spirit
nj therefore were not anxious to go.
All such were to lend friendly as
stance in silver, gold and beasts.
nose who cannot 90 to do Gods work
Mould strengthen the hands of those
no do go.
>. The response of Cyrus proclaim
! tion Wv. D, %. The csief of the
.thers of Judah and Benjamin and
e priests and Levites presented them
ewes as willing and ready to 90.
.ne company which returned was
orgely made up of representatives OF
udah and Benjamin.
3. The royal favor wv. I'D
yrus brought forth the vessels Of the
touse of the Lord which NebuchadneZ.
Ir had brought forth out of Jeru.
A!em and put into the house of his
@ds. This was Il great encourage
Ient to every loyal jew whose heart
.dd been grieved over the PROCLAMATION
these sacred vessels. Now to have
400 Of these vessels returned to their
'Wners and sent back to Jerusalem to
Z put TO their original use, met u
.earty response by the Jews.
Think It Over.