prophets and kings-第97章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
promises。 He pleaded for the honor of God to be preserved。 In his petition he identified himself fully with those who had fallen short of the divine purpose； confessing their sins as his own。
〃I set my face unto the Lord God；〃 the prophet declared； 〃to seek by prayer and supplications； with fasting； and sackcloth； and ashes： and I prayed unto the Lord my God； and made my confession。〃 Verses 3； 4。 Though Daniel had long been in the service of God； and had been spoken of by heaven as 〃greatly beloved；〃 yet he now appeared before God as a sinner； urging the great need of the people he loved。 His prayer was eloquent in its simplicity； and intensely earnest。 Hear him pleading：
〃O Lord； the great and dreadful God； keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love Him； and to them that keep His commandments； we have sinned； and have committed iniquity； and have done wickedly； and have rebelled； even by departing from Thy precepts and from Thy judgments； neither have we hearkened unto Thy servants the prophets； which spake in Thy name to our kings； our princes； and our fathers； and to all the people of the land。
〃O Lord； righteousness belongeth unto Thee； but unto us confusion of faces； as at this day； to the men of Judah； and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem； and unto all Israel； that are near； and that are far off； through all the countries whither Thou hast driven them； because of their trespass that they have trespassed against Thee。 。 。 。
〃To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness； though we have rebelled against Him。〃 〃O Lord； according to all Thy righteousness； I beseech Thee； let Thine anger
556
and Thy fury be turned away from Thy city Jerusalem； Thy holy mountain： because for our sins； and for the iniquities of our fathers； Jerusalem and Thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us。
〃Now therefore； O our God； hear the prayer of Thy servant； and his supplications； and cause Thy face to shine upon Thy sanctuary that is desolate； for the Lord's sake。 O my God； incline Thine ear； and hear； open Thine eyes； and behold our desolations； and the city which is called by Thy name： for we do not present our supplications before Thee for our righteousness； but for Thy great mercies。
〃O Lord； hear； O Lord； forgive； O Lord； hearken and do； defer not； for Thine own sake； O my God： for Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy name。〃 Verses 4…9； 16…19。
Heaven was bending low to hear the earnest supplication of the prophet。 Even before he had finished his plea for pardon and restoration； the mighty Gabriel again appeared to him； and called his attention to the vision he had seen prior to the fall of Babylon and the death of Belshazzar。 And then the angel outlined before him in detail the period of the seventy weeks； which was to begin at the time of 〃the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem。〃 Verse 25。
Daniel's prayer had been offered 〃in the first year of Darius〃 （verse 1）； the Median monarch whose general； Cyrus； had wrested from Babylonia the scepter of universal rule。 The reign of Darius was honored of God。 To him was sent the angel Gabriel； 〃to confirm and to strengthen him。〃 Daniel 11：1。 Upon his death； within about two years
557
of the fall of Babylon； Cyrus succeeded to the throne； and the beginning of his reign marked the completion of the seventy years since the first company of Hebrews had been taken by Nebuchadnezzar from their Judean home to Babylon。
The deliverance of Daniel from the den of lions had been used of God to create a favorable impression upon the mind of Cyrus the Great。 The sterling qualities of the man of God as a statesman of farseeing ability led the Persian ruler to show him marked respect and to honor his judgment。 And now； just at the time God had said He would cause His temple at Jerusalem to be rebuilt； He moved upon Cyrus as His agent to discern the prophecies concerning himself； with which Daniel was so familiar； and to grant the Jewish people their liberty。
As the king saw the words foretelling； more than a hundred years before his birth； the manner in which Babylon should be taken； as he read the message addressed to him by the Ruler of the universe； 〃I girded thee； though thou hast not known Me： that they may know from the rising of the sun； and from the west； that there is none beside Me；〃 as he saw before his eyes the declaration of the eternal God； 〃For Jacob My servant's sake； and Israel Mine elect； I have even called thee by thy name： I have surnamed thee； though thou hast not known Me；〃 as he traced the inspired record； 〃I have raised him up in righteousness； and I will direct all his ways： he shall build My city； and he shall let go My captives； not for price nor reward；〃 his heart was profoundly moved； and he determined to fulfill his divinely appointed mission。 Isaiah 45：5； 6； 4； 13。 He would let the Judean
558
captives go free； he would help them restore the temple of Jehovah。
In a written proclamation published 〃throughout all his kingdom；〃 Cyrus made known his desire to provide for the return of the Hebrews and for the rebuilding of their temple。 〃The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth；〃 the king gratefully acknowledged in this public proclamation； 〃and He hath charged me to build Him an house at Jerusalem； which is in Judah。 Who is there among you of all His people？ his God be with him； and let him go up to Jerusalem； 。 。 。 and build the house of the Lord God of Israel； （He is the God；） which is in Jerusalem。 And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth； let the men of his place help him with silver； and with gold； and with goods； and with beasts； beside the freewill offering。〃 Ezra 1：1…4。
〃Let the house be builded；〃 he further directed regarding the temple structure； 〃the place where they offered sacrifices； and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid； the height thereof threescore cubits； and the breadth thereof threescore cubits； with three rows of great stones； and a row of new timber： and let the expenses be given out of the king's house： and also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God； which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem； and brought unto Babylon； be restored； and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem。〃 Ezra 6：3…5。
Tidings of this decree reached the farthermost provinces of the king's realm； and everywhere among the children of the dispersion there was great rejoicing。 Many； like Daniel；
559
had been studying the prophecies； and had been seeking God for His promised intervention in behalf of Zion。 And now their prayers were being answered； and with heartfelt joy they could unite in singing：
〃When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion； We were like them that dream。 Then was our mouth filled with laughter； And our tongue with singing： Then said they among the heathen； The Lord hath done great things for them。 The Lord hath done great things for us； Whereof we are glad。〃 Psalm 126：1…3。
〃The chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin； and the priests； and the Levites； with all them whose spirit God had raised〃these were the goodly remnant； about fifty thousand strong； from among the Jews in the lands of exile； who determined to take advantage of the wonderful opportunity offered them 〃to go up to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem。〃 Their friends did not permit them to go empty…handed。 〃All they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver； with gold； with goods； and with beasts； and with precious things。〃 And to these and many other voluntary offerings were added 〃the vessels of the house of the Lord； which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem； 。 。 。 even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer； 。 。 。 five thousand and four hundred〃 in number； for use in the temple that was to be rebuilt。 Ezra 1：5…11。
Upon Zerubb
