ery child of God is called \to be a servant in this sense and anointed of Him. The Manner of the New Start Ezra 1:1-7 In this section there is the fulfillment of that which. was presented in the for mer passage. Cyrus was now on his throne and was constrained by the Lord to issue a proclamation for the restoration of the temple and the return of God’s peo ple to Palestine. In it he exemplified a commendable spirit of obedience to the Lord’s will (v. 2). He acted like Christians ought to act. The plan that Cyrus sug gested was, that some should return to Palestine to build the temple. Others should stay where they were and provide the materials for the building (v. 4). The plan met with ready response and the leaders of the people and those who gath ered about them for the good work pro ceeded to make plans for the homeward trek. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah tell the rest of the story. When a people have a mind to work under proper leader ship wonderful things can be accom plished. Helps For the Children Returning to the Homeland Ezra 1 MEMORY VERSE: " . . . I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts" (Hag. 2:4). For 70 years God’s people, the Jews, had been in captivity in a strange land. At last, some of the captives were allowed to return to their beloved land of Pales tine. The king told the Jews that all who desired might return to Jerusalem to re build the house of God which had been tom down there. He provided money, animals and any needed supplies for the journey of the Jews back to their own land. Their hearts were filled with joy and with gratitude to God for allowing them to at last return to their homeland. Many of the Jews had been married and built homes in the strange land. They did not want to go to Jerusalem, for that would have been a foreign land to their children. The first group to return to Jerusalem rebuilt the temple. Those who returned later rebuilt the walls of the city which had been torn down by their enemies. Sometimes they became discour aged and even had to fight so that their tvork might continue. God’s prophets re minded them of His promise, “ I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts.” Do you sometimes think of the bless ings that God has given to you because you know the Lord Jesus as your personal Saviour from sin? Boys and girls often hurry through each day without taking time to thank God for all of His wonder ful gifts. Each time that you pray, re member to thank Him for something as well as ask Him for the things that you want or need. END. P1« >as<* Note Because of the special nature of the August issue (see p. 4) many of the regular columns will be omitted. If you would like a copy of the Sunday School Lesson Helps for that month please write The Editors, King's Busi ness, 558 So. Hope St., Los Angeles 17, Calif.
Sunday School continued and subsequent blessings is not a hard thing. It is as simple as eating or hearing. The result of accepting God’s invitation is suggested by the two phrases, “your soul shall live” and “ the sure mercies of David” (v. 3). Supreme Attraction in the invitation vv. 4, 5 “ Behold, I have given him.” The Mes siah is the one referred to in this passage. The Lord, the Saviour is the one to whom men are invited to come for salvation and the mercies of God. He bore witness unto death for God’s law, His claims and His plan of redeeming love. (See John 18:37, Rev. 1:5.) Urgency of Responding vv. 6, 7 “ Seek ye the Lord while he may be found” (v. 6). God will not always deal with men in grace. Now is the time to find Him ready to forgive sin and to justi fy' the ungodly on the basis of Christ’s redemption. Judgment is coming. The door of grace will be closed. Man has a responsibility to do something about what God has already done for him. God seeks men by leading them to seek Him. (See John 6:37.) High Origin of the Invitation vv. 8-11 “M y ways . . . higher than your ways” (v. 9). Man himself would never have thought of such a salvation as we have presented to us in the gospel. Salvation is of divine origin. It comes down from heaven. No man by his own earthly efforts ever worked out a plan of salva tion. Man cannot lift himself to God by his own bootstraps. Humanism puts en tirely too much stock in man’s efforts. One needs again and again to remember Eph. 2:8, 9. The Invitation's Complete Fulfillment vv. 12, 13 There is a day coming in the millennial kingdom when we will joyfully realize what it means to be a child of the King. Helps For the Children When We Love God Jer. 31 MEMORY VERSE: "Ye shall be my people and I will be your God" (Jer. 30:22). There are two reasons why boys and girls obey rules and laws. The first reason is that they are afraid of punishment if they disobey. They obey only because they have to do so. The second reason for obeying is because of true love for the one who has made the laws and a desire to show this love by obedience. Some people go to church, read their Bibles, pray, give some money in the offering and work in the church only because they are afraid of God’s anger if they do not do all of these things. Others — those who truly love the Lord Jesus with all their heart—obey Him because they do not want to grieve Him. They gladly and cheerfully obey God’s laws because of their great love for Him.
Jeremiah, the prophet, wrote in God’s Word about a time in the future when everyone will know and will do God’s will. What a wonderful day that will be. No one will obey God because he feels that he has to obey. No one will obey God because he is afraid of punishment if he disobeys. All will love God completely and desire to show their love for Him by obeying His Word. Do you enjoy reading God’s Word, praying, going to Sunday school and church and serving in God’s house in any way possible? Perhaps you complain when it is time for your family devotions and “ grump” when it is time to put on your dress clothes to go to God’s house. When you are asked to take part in a meeting or pass out the papers or take the offer ing, perhaps you refuse. Pray that you will have such a love for the Lord Jesus that you will be eager to say “ yes” to any opportunity you may have to show your love by serving and obeying Him. Aug. 28, 1955 A New Start Isa. 45:1-4, 13; Ezra 1:1-7 Pointers on the Lesson The title of today’s lesson suggests the fact that the God we serve is a God who offers a second chance. In this life it is true that He often offers more than that. He gives sinful man opportunity after op portunity to take the right attitude toward Himself and His service. This is the day of grace and His mercies flow forth in an endless stream. Where would most of us be today had not,God given us a second chance or a new start? We will see how this happened in Israel’s history long ago. The Agent of the New Start Isa. 45:1-4, 13 Note that God chose to use a foreign king to bring about the new beginning in Israel’s experience. Cyrus came to be the Persian conqueror of Babylon, the king of the greatest *empire in that day. At the time this prophecy was uttered Cyrus was not even yet born. But in God’s eyes he was as good as upon his throne. For God had decreed that Cyrus should be the benefactor of His people. The Lord calls him “his anointed,” doubtless for the rea son that God had set him apart to fulfill His special purpose. Moreover, in verse 28 of the previous chapter, the Lord calls him “my shepherd” and the reason is de finitely given that he “ shall perform all my pleasure.” In a somewhat similar manner God chose Nebuchadnezzar as His “ servant” (Jer. 25:9) to work out the divine purposes. It is satisfying to know that Our Lord is working out His plans in the earth even though He sees fit at times to use men who, as Cyrus, do not know Him (v. 4). How much better to be servants of His through the experience of salva tion rather than through compulsion! Ev
JULY, 1955
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