Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-07-29
SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON
For July 80. Ezra I
BY DIR. MARION MICH. HULL

thousand, or to be exact 49,697, who
made the journey. They cared
enough for God, and for their home
land, and for the temple worship, to
undertake anything and had faith
enough in Gods promises to believe
that He would fulfill them. This
was Gods doing. They yielded to
His Spirit as He offered them His
gifts and reminded them of His
promises connected with the land of
Palestine.
Sheshbazzar-his full name was
Shamash- ban-zeri- Babili-usur was
the grandson of JeconDah, the last
king in the Davidic line. He was
also called Zerubbabel (for short?).
1t is gratifying to know that he
yielded to the stirring of Gods Spirit,
and led the expedition back to
Jerusalem.
With him was Joshua, of the
Aaronic line of priests. These two
were the leaders, but with them were
ten others-possibly one representa-
tive from each Of the twelve tribes.
These seemed to have formed the
cabinet, the real leaders of the $4,000
faithful ones.
Religious, Not Political
This exodus from Babylon re-
minds us Of the time when the
first exodus occurred, that from
Egypt; but the differences are very
marked. Then the king IS forced
to let them go, now he voluntarily
makes the proclamation. Then the
whole nation went out; now scarcely
SO 1000. Then it was to establish a
nation; now it is to build again q
temple. Then it was dealing with
the nation as a nation; now it is
only those individuals who yield to
the stirring of Gods Spirit. Then
it was national in purpose; now it is
ecclesiastical, for their object is not
only to build again temple but to
establish a church mot the church
Of God, for that was not known in
| the Old Testament at alb.
Cyrus was not trying to build an
outpost and thus strengthen his
kingdom. His whole purpose was to
give them opportunity to go back to
Jerusalem and worship the God OF
their fathers whom he was begin
ming to recognize as the God OF
| heaven and earth, in the way and
| in the place that best suited them.
They were too few in number and
| thoroughly unarmed to make their
venture q political one. It was pure.
ly religious, and purely voluntary.
| Gods promises have not failed
ever; and that one which refers to
the Jews and their land Is still eff
fective, Today we are beginning to
/ ~ %,v1GI ~ ~ Thnnn is
no country on the globe today with
out Jews; they have been scattered
amongst all nations as God said
And in spite of every effort to ex'
| terminate them they are still a dis
tinct people. There is no such other
instance in history.
But today they are going back
to Palestine. The Zionist movement
is Gods plan just as Cyrus procla
nation was. Not all will go back
the majority did not go back from
Babylon. Some are making toe
much money where they are to leave
their business; some do not care
but some are going back to build
again the temple and establish again
their old worship.
God is using this movement as
a step toward the complete fulfillment
VI Oil Ills W LILO 41otAOAl
that He has kept all these years, in
spite of their rejection of Him, and
because of His promises to them
When their king is accepted by them
they will be the people who will rule
the whole world. This may not be
very pleasant reading to Gentle
eyes, but it is the truth of God. He
set them aside for a while and is
now giving the Gentiles q chance
He will set the Gentiles aside an6
put His own people back in the
place leadership when they acknowl
edge their king.
WhOsOever
The great truth out of this story
however, is the wonderful wideness
of Gods mercy. Cyrus did not force
lany one Of the Jews to leave the LAND
Of their sojourn in captivity and &C
back home, but he made it possible
for any one to go back who would
Their willingness to accept his offer
was the only condition. And this is
the only condition God places on His
invitation to these who are captives
to sin to come back home. Whose
ever will may do so. Gods Spirit is
pleading with all. Will you yield tt
the stirring Of Gods Spirit and come
back home?