The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-11-14
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
THE RETURN FROM CAPTIVITY
ill., Prepared by Hight {. Moore

twas made in response to the roya
proclamation. SiX-sevenths OF the
captives, either because of the
hardships of the return or because
of business OF family ties, prefer,
red to remain in Babylonla. pun
there were about $4,000 including
tba chief of the fathers of judah
ond BENJAMIN with. numerous
nr;csts and Levites, and 200 sing
ers who we're divincly moved TO
respond to the summons OF Cyrus
As at the Exodus fro mEgypt,. 50
now from Babylonia the departlns
Jews were generously aided Dy
their heather friends. The con-
trihutions consisted of gold ana
/ silver vessels, Of valuable goods,
: of more than 5000 beasts and OF
r1anv other precious things. In
Darticular, the temple vessels
which ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS had taken
sway from Jerusalem and used In
his heather temple, were now
wrought forth by Cyrus and en-
trusted TO Shes bazaar, the Baby
Ionian name of Zerubbabel. There
we're 2499 large and costly YES
sells and many other smaller yes
sells, the whole number of gold
and silver vessels being $500.
More securely in Babylon than
was possible in Jerusalem. they
were thus kept till Israel was
ready to use them again.
THE PILGRIMS SONG
(Ssalm 1867
The Psalm of Return was the
oft-repeated pilgrims song. %
1t opened with praise. When from
the land of captivity Jehovah
brought back to jerusalem the re-
turning exiles, there were three
features of that remarkable prov
idence: the exiles were dazed by
the grandeur of their deliverance;
after the first shock of surprise
was over their joy broke into
laughter and their tongues were
Ioosed in song: and their Deliver
er was recognized by the heather
who spoke of the great things he
had done for them. Taking up the
strain thus started by their ma
tional neighbors the Jews relterat-
ed the statement as revealing the
ground for their intense joy (2)
It continued with prayer. The re-
turned captives craved freedom
for those who were still aliens IN
an alien land. So they of Jeru-
salem prayed for their kindred IN
Rabylonia and Persia, desiring
their release and return even as
the streams in the south during
wet seasons filled their banks
with rushing waters and covered
them with verdant foliage, while
during the dry season the bed was
marched and the banks devoid of
life. The psalmist cries out for
blessing comparable to the strong
rushing, beneficient streams
which transform a desert into an
Eden. (3) 1t closed with promise.
The present may be fearful but
the outlook is arched with the
rainbow of hope. Happy reaplng
comes after anxious showing. How
precious have these words been to
weeping saints in all ages! This
is the time of toiling and tears, of
encouragement and unmerited
luminosity, of shifting experiences
! and tantalizing delay; but re-
member that the harvest day is
coming and the time of JOY.
MAGNIFY DIVINE
PROVIDENCE
(D The Author of Providence.
"The Lord" He saw the sad
plight of the captive Jews. He
had permitted their defeat. 1t was
necessary to cleanse them from
their idolatry and prepare them
for spiritual service.
(2) The Agent of Providence
"Stirred up the spirit of Cyrus
king of Persia" God uses means
He kindles in some chosen soul the
fire that lights up the world.
l Cyrus was not a saint. But ne