T H E K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S feasing preachers and .teachers. God pity them! (2) THE PLEA OF THE PERSIAN KING, vs. 3, 4. Cyrus not only acknowledges the position given him by God’s grace, but acknowledges that he is still under au thority. (Matt. 8:9) Throughout his kingdom were these Israelites, many of whom were rich and prosperous, whom he is urging to re turn to their own land. In doing this, he is voluntarily relinquishing taxes for his own treasury, and men who had become desirable, loyal citizens. But, remem ber, he is being guided as Jehovah’s shepherd for Israel’s good. There is but one place for Israel, and that is Jerusalem. There is but one place of worship for Israel, and that is the temple. There has never been any rest for this people, and there never will be until they recognize the Messiah. Cyrus was a man after God’s own heart, seeking to do God’s will, in an unselfish manner. What God wanted for Israel,—he wanted. God’s will is that every creature should have the Gospel. Is that your' will? Have you the true spirit of this heathen king? Nebuchadnezzar had sought to bring the best of the Jews into his territory and use them for his own glory. Cyrus is adopting the opposite policy (Isa. 45: 1) “Thus salth the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him: and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates, and the gates shall not be shut.” Those who did not care to go up to Jerusalem were urged to sacrifice and give to those who went. There was to be co-operation upon the part of all the Jews in the fulfilling of God’s prom ise for their return- (3) THE PRINCES AND PEOPLE IN HEARTY RESPONSE, vs. 5-11. The response to the call is first by the laymen,— the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin. The head of the movement was Sheshbazzar, the prince
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of Judah (v. 8), better known as Zerub- babel. Zech. 4:9, 10. This is the old story. There must always be a leader, and how often has it been true in the history of the church that the laymen have taken the lead. First, Cyrus with his proclamation (2 Chron. 36:22, 23); then the laymen (the chief of the fathers); then the peo ple, then the priests, all working to gether for one object— the carrying out of God’s holy will. Cyrus did not ask the Jews to do what he was not willing to do himself for Jehovah. He set an example. He took the holy vessels which had been carried away by Nebuchadnezzar, and gave them to Sheshbazzar to be return ed to the rebuilt temple of Jehovah. God is not done with Israel, (Read the prophecies) and never have there been so many marked evidences of His purpose to fulfill His promise of their return as today. For instance: “ In 1917 Mr. Balfour promised Lord Roths child that the British Government would favor "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and that he would use his best endeav- : ors to facilitate the achievement of this object. The London Chronicle in re cording this message pertinently said: ‘One has to go back to Cyrus for a parallel.’ And another London paper, commenting on the same message said, ‘It ought to be apparent to everybody that the persistence of a people like the Jews during two thousand years— a fact unparalleled in history— despite every attempt to crush them, holds a mean ing far deeper than that which the secii- lar historian offers. The purposes of God are being worked out, and we can begin to see light. The war is one thing as expounded by the politicians; it may be quite another as seen by the Eternal God, who remains Master in His own world.” Today, in their’ own land, with a Jew as their governor, they are pre-
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