The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 129

for restoration whon tho providential time ea.me; and of the historical circumstances wbich led up to their release. For the~o topics valuable help may be gained from Stanley's 'Jewish Church,' vol. iii. We only note one or two points which might be mi~sed or under-estimated. 1. The work of the prophets of the Captivity, in distinctly connecting national sufferings with national sins, and so producing a national repentance and a heart-return to Jehovah. 2. The influence exerted by the association of :ila.bylonia.n idolatry with Babylonian tyranny; a similar influence to that exerted by the Egyptian experieuces on the first fathers of their race. 'rhey were made to feel that idolatry could never assure national liberty; it is never anything but an engine of human tyranny-man's way of mastering and managing the bodies and min,h of his fellow-men. The Jews have been, ever since the Captivity, the most strictly monotheistia race on the face of the earth. 3. The sympathy with the Jewish people which Cyrus, as a monotheist, was likely to feel. 4. And the limited and almost disappointing character of the first party to return. It was but a company representative of a national return. The majority of the Jews, having become settled and prosperous in the land of their exile, preferred to remain behind; only 42,360, attended by 7337 servants, were found willing to return to their native land. That company started under the leadership of Zerubbabel, the head of the house of Judah, and grandson of King Jehoiachin. The chief effects of the Captivity upon the Jews have been thus summa- rized. (1) The old tendency to idolatry had been eradicated; (2) there had sprung up a deep reverence for the letter of the Law, and for their great lawgiver, llloscs; (3) the Jove of agriculture bad declined, and bad given place to a taste for commerce and trade; (4) the vernacular language had undergone a. change, the old Hebrew giving place to the Chaldee. Fixing our attention on the first returning company, we note- I. THEY BAD RETURNED TO LOYALTY. That is, to their full allegiance to Jehovah, their one, immediate, invisible, spiritual King. 1This heart-return aucl natioual return was the essential preparation for their restoration; as we know that repentance, co □ fession, conversion, and heart-return to God must ever precede the assurance of Divine forgiveness and acceptance. The sanctified influences of the Captivity bore directly upon bowing the people down in penitence and winning thom to full allegiance to their God. So it may be impressively urged that Divine blessings are always held back until we are ready to receive them, and the gre11t readiness is full opouncss to God, hearty loyalty to him. II. 'l'HEY NOW RETURNED TO PRIVILEGE. Explo.in their sentiment !\bout their beloved Janel, as showing what a privilege they esteemed it to be ouly to go and dwell in it. They also bad the privilege of comparntivo national liberty and independence. 'fhey might enjoy their family possessions. 'l'bey might renow the Jcl1ovah-wcn-ship. God would do great thiugs for his loy11l people whereof they might be glad. III. 'l'I-IEY FOUND THAT RET0llN •ro PIUVILE0E MEANT RETURN TO DU'rY. A con- nection that is universally preserved and constantly repeated. Privilege never stands nlone. No man can ever get it as an isolated and distinct thing. Responsibility aud duty are always Jinked with it; and whoever will have privilege must llllvo these t\1ings with it. 'l'he "returned captives" found that they were co.lied to rebuild their ctty, retill their lllnds, restore their ceremonial worship, reorganize their governmental nnd social systems, secure their defence from external foes, mise agaiu their domolishecl walls, aud erect a new temple upou the ruins of the old. And, beyond such watorial things, thoy wore bound to "occupy for God," they were to present such a model "state" 11s would effectively witness to a.II surrounding n11tions, and to all succeeding generations, of God's high claims, God's infinite justice, God's triumphing morcy, aud God's sure faithfulness alike to his threatonings and to his promises. 'l'he forms in which, for us, duty follows privilege may be illustrated. Position brings influence, wealth brings power, learning brings claims, gifts bring spheres, piety brings tho call to witness, etc. Ayplication may be made to God's restorations from tho sicknesses and calamities of h_fe. When God brin~s us up again out of any "<lopths," we should feel as cli,I David," Defore I was afflicted I went astray: but now havo I kept thy Word." If we thought aright we should daily regnrcl ourselves as urged to all holy endeavour by th~ pressure of the feeling that we are Gocl'll "restored oncs."-R 'l'. 120 THE PIRST BOOK OF TitE CHMN!CLES. Lc1t t~. 1--44,