The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-08-15
Improved Uniform international
Su11ldaySchool
' Lesson '
(By REV. p. 3. FI'TZWATER. D. D., Dean
Moody Bible Institute OF Chicago.)
o. 1929 Western Newspaper Union)
Lesson for August Is
THE RETURN FROM CAPTIVITY

THE RETURN FROM CAPTIVITY
LESSON TEXT-Jeremiah 29:10-14;
Ezra 1:l-6; Ps. l26:1-6.
GOLDEN TEXT-The Lord hath done
great things for US. whereof we are
glad.
PRIMARY TOPIC-A Happy Home
Coming
JUNIOR TOPIC-A Second Chance.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Making Fresh Start.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Hstoric Significance Of the Re-
turn.
/. The Return Predicted Ger. % 10
1D.
False prophets were dourishing in
Babylon telling the people that they
would speedily be restored to their
own land. To counterfeit this the Lord
moved jeremiah to send q letter to
the captiyes in Babylon wv. S, 81 Ia
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, D..
l. The length of the captivity
". 10).
Their coming back was to be aft
er seventy years" From Daniel go
it is clear that seventy years means
a definite time. Ii dates from the time
when the first company, among which
Daniel was found, was taken captive
2. Recovered by God (vv,101D.
Gods purpose in the Captivity was
to cure them of their idoatrous prac-
tees. He assured them that when
His purpose was accomplished He
would visit them and convince them
of His good purpose toward them.
II. The Predicted Captivity Fulfilled
ezra 1:1-G).
l. The Proclamation of Cyrus wv.
1-4).
Cd This was not by accident. but
that the word of the Lord might be
fulfilled (v. y. What God has prom
Used He will do.
(2) BY divine initiation ". ~.
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. A :2S; Jer. 5:12).
CD The content of the kings proc
lamaton wv. 2-4).
(a) The Lord God of heaven hath
charged me to build Him a house in
Jerusalem" ". y. This makes clear
that he had some impression of Gods
hand upon him.
CD Appeal TO Jewish patriotism
". 81. He invOkeS upon such as pos
sess the national religious feeling. the
blessing of God, and commands them
to 90 and build the house of the
Lord God.
(c) To lend assistance ". ~.
Many of the Jews were established
in business and therefore We're not
free to 20. Many, no doubt, had lost
their national spirit and were not
anxious to 90. All such were to lend
friendly assistance with silver. gold
and beasts.
>. The response to Cyrus proclama-
ton wv. >, G).
The chief of the fathers of Judah
and Benjamin and the priests and
Leyitcs presented themselves as will
ing to 90. The company which re
turned was largely made up of repre-
sentatves of Judah and benjamin.
8. The royal favor wv 7-1D.
Cyrus returned 54O0 vessels of the
house of the Lord which Nebuchad-
nezzar had brought forth out of Jeru-
salem and put into the house of his
gods. This was a great encourage
ment to every loyal jew whose
heart had been grieved over the
| PROCLAMATION Of these sacred vessels.
Ill. The GIadness and Rejoicing Of
the Returning ExiIes Ups. 12G:1-G).
/. The proclamation of Cyrus as a
dream ". y.
They recognized that their going
back was through the favor of the
Lord.
.. Their laughter and singing wv.
2, 81.
They not only recognized the favor
of the Lord upon them, but testified
thereof in the hearing of the heather
round about them.
3. Their prayer for prosperity in the
land ". ~.