Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-28

unto children's children-Psalm
ciii.17.
During the last six months we have
been studying a series of lessons taken
from the history and prophecy of the
Old Testament. The course of studies
covered the prophetic teaching and
leadership of Judah, from the COM
mencement of ISaiah'S ministry to the
message of Malachi. The last quarters
lessons have been focused upon the
exile and restoration, covering a period
of over $50 years Of Judahs history.
Our lessons call for us to consider the
significance of the events of the exile
and restoration. We have seen in our
studies not only the fall of Jerusalem
and the scattering of Judah through
their captivity and exile, losing its place
among the nations of the earth, but
also witnessed the frequent changing
of the map of the world through the
waning of Egyptian rule, the rise and
fall of Babylon, that passed away in
the zenith of Its power, to be succeeded
by the Modes and Persians, whose
European invasion was halted by the
Greeks.
We saw Judah crushed by conquest,
dismembered, and carried into captiv-
ity by two great nations, that disap-
peared, yet Judah lived on and was
restored to Palestine to occupy a
prominent place between the old and
new civilization, and to become the
center of influence between the East
and West. The preservation of the
Jewish people and their faith through
out the war cyclones that totally
wrecked the greatest empires of the
world makes the period we have studied
one OF the miracles of the worlds his
tory. Judah possessed a vitality that
no earthly prince or king could destroy
because Gods providence protected
them and taught them lessons that
have been blessing to all nations. The
approaching captivity and the period
of their exile had all been predicted
by the prophets, the patriotic preach
ers who sought to save the nation.
The ExiIe's Significance.
Prophets had warned Judah of their
approaching danger. IsraelS overthrow
made hardly any impression upon the
southern kingdom, for the same sins
that had brought an end to the north
ern kingdom were practiced by the
which was process, came to an end
with the complete destruction of Jeru-
salem, many a patriotic and devout
Jew saw in the events the apparent
triumph of heatheniSm and the disap-
pearance of Judah as a nation. They
thought that Jehovah had forgotten
His people, when God was using the
experience of the exile to teach the
nation that He was more powerful
than the gods of the heather. When
ASSyria, Babylon and Egypt fell, their
gods died, but Judah learned in the
exile experiences the supremacy of
Jehovah and strength of their religion,
which they thought had persisted with
the temples destruction. During the
darkest hours of their captivity the
Jews came to have a more intimate
knowledge of Jehovah than they ever
had before. They came to worship
Him with greater fervor and SINGLE
ness of heart because through the
Christening experiences of the exile they
had learned His supremacy and their
spiritual fellowship with Him. In their
synagogueS, which grew up out of a
necessity at that time, they met for
the worship of Jehovah, to sing His
praises and read his law. They came
to understand His holiness and love
Tor them. They saw their sin as the
cause OF their exile and learned their
individual responsibility. They were
completely cured of their idolatry and
desire to worship false gods.
Jehovah used prominent persons to
reveal His purpose, power and program
OF blessing Judah. Five foreign Kings
who ruled over Judah were used as in
Struments to help carry out His divine
plan to save Judah, restore them to
Palestine, help them rebuild the temple
and resume His worship in accordance
with His deyine law. He placed Daniel,
Esther and Nebuchadnezzar in the
courts of Babylon and Persia to help
m be-
favorable decision on matters that af-
fected His people. Largely due to the
influence of Ezekiel, "the most mysteri-
Gus, yet one of the most enhancing of
the Hebrew Seers," we must give the
human credit of preserving the nation
and its faith. Naturally, they would
have been assinilated with the other
citizens of Babylon, who shared with
them the enjoyment of its fertile fields.
He responded to Gods call that he be
His prophet, and through his presenta-
ton of Gods word, that assured the
people of their return and the possibili-
ties of their future glory. filled the ma
ton with hope during the dark hours
of the exile, and Judah was saved.
The Reservations Message.
Today, as we review the exile and
restoration of Judah to Palestine and
in the worlds history that 1t has
shaped, we can realize much better
than those who were called upon to
take part in the events of those days
its true significance. We can see how
God probably used Daniel to influence
Cyrus to permit Zerubbabel, the prince
and descendant of David, to head the
first company of religious and patriotic
Jews who made the pilgrimage OF faith
to Jerusalem. He was supported by
Joshua, the high priest, who took a
Jealous part in resuming the worship
of Jehovah by restoring the altar ana
offering the sacrifices in accordance
with Gods law. Although Zerubbabel
was supported by the words OF Haggal
and Zechariah, the temple was not re-
built or Jerusalem protected from her
enemies.
Ezra, the priest, was assigned the task
of finishing the work that Zerubbabel
had started. but he failed. Ezra's strict
enforcement of the requirements OF the
law resulted in perpetuating Judah as
separate and distinct people. His zeal
for the law, united with the efforts OF
Nehemiah, who responded to Gods call.
under the blessings of Jehovah. sue
ceeded in rebuilding the citys wall and
starting Judah upon its new mission,
where, although separate people, they
were to bless all the world. Malachi
came to them in one of their dark
hours, called them to repent and to pay
all their tithes and assured them OF the
coming of the messenger Of God, who
would prepare the way for the coming
of the Messiah.
Israel ceased to be a kingdom, but
under the dominion of another nation
exercised the functions of government
They were united by race and religion:
They taught the world the revelation OF
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