------------The 1924 King James Bible------------ Released From Babylon Sacred history leaves a blank leaf between the Old Testament and the New, but it would be an error to infer that the period between the two was short or uneventful. 400 years passed after Malachi had uttered his last word before the beginning of the period of which Matthew writes. In some respects, it was the most glorious epoch in Jewish history, resplendent with heroic struggle, fierce conflict, and brilliant achievements. The history of that period is full of momentous events, which changed political, social and religious conditions. A knowledge of these event, and the influence they had on the people, is necessary to a clear understanding of the situation at the time of Christ birth, of the forces which antagonized him, and the causes which led a nation, passionately longing for the coming of the Messiah, to reject him when he appeared, and to put him to death. The Jew who listened to Christ was a very different man from his ancestor, who had sat under the pulpit of Ezra, and had heard from the lips of the later prophets the promises of his coming; and for the causes of that difference we must look to the thrilling experiences which the nation passed through in the interval between the time of Malachi and that of Matthew. The last scenes in the Old Testament narration are beautifully pathetic. They represent the little band of Hebrews, newly released from captivity in Babylon, striving to re-establish, among the ruins of their beloved city, their nation existence. Nehemiah draws a vivid picture of the harassed men laboring on the walls, with a tool in one hand and a weapon in the other, watching night and day against jealous foes who might attack them at any moment. Some among the returned exiles were disposed to be friendly with the surrounding nations, and there were many intermarriages among them; but Ezra and Nehemiah perceived that such practices would lead to absorption, which, in their view, was to be dreaded than extinction, and they rigorously suppressed the movement. But how could the feeble colony, surrounded by hostile races, maintain itself without a friend or ally? The answer of the two leaders showed their faith and piety. Let the people be true to their God, and obey his laws, and he would protect them from their foes. Nevertheless, as the curtain falls from the hand of the inspired historian, the prospect looks ominous, and the reader wonders what will be the issue. But the voice of the sacred chronicler is silent, and we have to turn to the pages of secular history for the story. National Reorganization: (to be continued)
Posted on: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 03:14:08 +0000
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