Lesson 426 - Junior
Memory Verse
"If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land" (Isaiah 1:19).
Notes
In a Strange Land
Because of disobedience the Children of Israel had been taken captive. Jeremiah the Prophet foretold that this would happen if they did not obey God. He had warned them: "Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, . . . and go not after other gods to serve them, [JER:25:5-6]). But they did not listen to him as he spoke the Words of the Lord. They had been taken by Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, into his own country.
We have studied about some of the things, which happened in that heathen land. Daniel was cast into a den of lions because he prayed to the Lord God [DAN:6:10], [DAN:6:16]). We remember that the angel shut the lions' mouths and Daniel was delivered [DAN:6:22]). We have read about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego who refused to worship a golden image. They were bound and cast into a fiery furnace but God protected them [DAN:3:21]). The three Hebrews came out of the furnace, loosed, and without "an hair of their head singed," and without "the smell of fire" [DAN:3:27]). The Babylonians had to acknowledge the true God "because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort" [DAN:3:29]).
Prophecy
For seventy years the Children of Israel had been captives, just as Jeremiah had prophesied. At the end of that time, God stirred up the heart of King Cyrus, who ruled all the known kingdoms of the earth at that time. Cyrus did as the Lord had put upon his heart. He issued a proclamation which gave full permission for the Children of Israel to return to Jerusalem. Cyrus said that God had "charged" him to build a "house" for the Lord in Jerusalem. The first house of God, or temple, or church, had been built by Solomon, David's son. It had been a beautiful place of worship, and God had met with the Children of Israel there. That place of worship and sacrifice was destroyed and the wall was broken down when the Children of Israel were captured [2CH:36:19]). The Children of Israel could not properly worship God without the Temple.
When the first Temple was dedicated, Solomon had prayed that God would hear the prayers of the captive people when they turned to Him with all their heart and prayed toward the Promised Land [1KG:8:47-49]). An example was Daniel who, as a captive, opened his windows toward Jerusalem when he prayed, and God heard his prayers.
A Challenge
With the decree of Cyrus was the wonderful hope of having the temple worship as God had commanded. Some were ready to answer the call. "Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem." Many wanted to have the privilege of helping to rebuild the Temple. They were ready to go back to the Promised Land where God had led their fathers. Among those who wanted to go to Jerusalem were young people who had been born in Babylon after their parents had been taken there as captives. No doubt they had been told of the wonderful blessings and promises of God. They wanted to serve God and to work for Him. Today there is a call going forth to young people to work for the Lord. Are you one who has answered the call? Are you saved and doing your part for Jesus?
Captives
Others among the Jewish people in captivity were satisfied there. Perhaps they had good homes and good businesses. They were content to remain captives while others returned to the land that flowed with milk and honey. Their choice was to live in a strange land governed by their enemies rather than have the privilege of being among God's people who rebuilt the Temple. Is it not strange that they preferred to live in captivity, subject to the demands of a foreign ruler, rather than have God to be their Lord and Guide? Is it not strange today that some people prefer to be captives of Satan rather than to have salvation and be free from sin? Yet today we find people who have made the choice of serving the enemy of their soul rather than having the blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Gifts
Not only did Cyrus give permission to the Children of Israel to return to Jerusalem, but he also urged his own people and the Jews who remained, to help. They were encouraged to send gifts of silver, gold, and precious things, as well as beasts for the freewill offerings for the House of God. The people were willing to help, just as some people today will give of their time and money to the church even though they are not saved.
Holy Vessels
Cyrus had some things to add to the gifts. He sent back the holy vessels which had been taken from the Temple. At that time about seventy years before, when Nebuchadnezzar had taken the people captive, he had also taken the sacred things from God's House. They were made of silver and of gold, and were not only expensive but they were also holy articles that had been used in worshiping God. Five thousand four hundred vessels of silver and of gold had been kept all those years in Babylon, and now they were sent back to Jerusalem with the people who returned.
Do you remember how God punished Belshazzar for mocking God by misusing some of the holy vessels? (
) He knew how God had humbled Nebuchadnezzar, but Belshazzar lifted up himself against the Lord of Heaven. He praised the gods of gold and silver instead of glorifying God "in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways" [DAN:5:23]). Against Belshazzar were written these words: '`Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting." The very same night that he and a thousand of his lords drank wine out of the sacred vessels, Belshazzar was slain and his kingdom was taken by the Medes and Persians.
Back to Jerusalem
There must have been much excitement as the Children of Israel left Babylon to go to their homeland. No account is given in the Bible of the journey to Jerusalem. They must have traveled several hundred miles, but no doubt they forgot the long, hard trip when they reached the city of God's choice. They were taking with them many gifts to build the house of God and to use in the true worship. How happy they must have been, knowing they soon would be able to worship God as He had commanded! What rejoicing there is today when one answers the call of God! There is peace in his heart as he willingly offers his gifts of love and service, of talent and time.
As leaders of the people and in charge of the building were two men: Zerubbabel, a descendant of David, who acted as governor, and Joshua of the house of Aaron, who would be the priest in charge of the worship service. Although these men were probably born in Babylon, they had no doubt studied the service of the Temple; and when the opportunity came, they were willing to offer themselves for the Lord's work.
An Altar
When they reached Jerusalem, an altar was built so the Children of Israel could sacrifice to God. They not only wanted to worship Him, but they also wanted His help and protection from the people of the land. The Children of Israel kept the holy days and the feasts. They sacrificed the offerings according to the Law: the burnt offerings, morning and evening, as well as the continual offerings for all the feast days God had appointed. These were much like the prayers of a Christian today who sets aside a prayer time daily, night and morning, in which to contact and worship God, and his going to the house of God to worship, as well as the continual praise which rises to God from a thankful heart.
Cleaning Away the Rubbish
The people began to gather materials. They hired masons and carpenters. They made plans with the people of Zidon and Tyre to send cedar trees from Lebanon for the building of the house of God. They probably cleared away the rubbish in preparation for the building of the Temple.
When one goes to God in repentance, it is a good thing to clear away the things that would be a hindrance. In order to have a good foundation one will make restitution and repay where he has wronged others. Then he has a good start to build for eternity.
Foundation
How important it is in any kind of building to have a good foundation. Sometimes it takes a long time to build it, but then there is something dependable upon which to build the rest of the house.
Jesus told about two men who each built a house. One dug deep and laid the foundation on a rock. Then a storm came; rains, floods, and the wind could not shake the house because it had a solid foundation. Jesus called this man "a wise man."
Jesus was teaching a spiritual truth. The person who hears God's Word and does it, is likened to the wise man. The second man was probably in a hurry or lazy. He built his house on the sand -- without a foundation. When the storms came, the house fell, and "the ruin of that house was great" [LUK:6:49]). Jesus said: "Every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand" [MAT:7:26]). What kind of foundation do you have for your spiritual house -- for your salvation? Did you build upon Christ Jesus, the sure foundation?
Great Joy
At last came the time when the builders laid the foundation of the Temple. The people gathered to praise and to thank God, "because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever." The priests and the Levites with trumpets and cymbals praised God in music. The singers sang together "in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD." What a time of rejoicing! Some people wept with a loud voice and many shouted for joy. So it is when a person repents, gives his heart to Jesus, and starts to build for eternity. There is much rejoicing, and there are many more blessings ahead.
Questions
1. Who was Cyrus?
2. Why were the Children of Israel living in Babylon?
3. What caused Cyrus to make a proclamation that the Jews could return to Jerusalem?
4. How many years did the Children of Israel live in captivity in Babylon?
5. Why did they return to Jerusalem?
6. What did they take with them?
7. Who were Zerubbabel and Joshua?
8. What was built in Jerusalem even before the foundation of the Temple?
9. Why did the people offer sacrifices and burnt offerings?
10. How did the people feel when the foundation was laid?