Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-10-21
THE SUNDAY SCl1uvl
LESSON w, FOURTH QUARTER, IN
TERNATiCNAL SERIES, OCT q.

Comments BY VIM. X. Fisher Subject:
Ezra's Journey to Jerusalem, Ezra 8:
else. Commit Verses 2I-23) tsoIden
Tex The Hand Of Our God is Upon All
Them for Good That seek Him, Ezra S:e2
The section includes the whole story
Of Ezra and his work.
Time-B G. ass. 1t was in March
that Ezra left Babylonia and July when
he reached Jerusalem.
Place Babylonia and Jerusalem.
Rulers Artaxerxes l.. the Long
handed, son Of Xerxes. Ezra, the
scribe, governor of Judea.
Seyenty-eight years before the tins
Of our lesson, the first caravan OF
the exiles had returned to Jerusalem.
While the temple had been built, ION
account of great opposition the walls
had not been restored. Their hope tot
a quick return TO glory and GREATNESS
had not been realized Geikie says:
They had expected a vast influx sot
their brethren, from Babylon and other
lands, but had been to great extent
disappointed There was no sign, as
yet, OF the wealth OF the Gentiles be-
ing poured into their treasures. as had
been promised by Haggal The coun-
try was pillaged in open day, and many
Jews carried off into slavery by nightly
surprises, while the corpses Of murder
ed men were often found in the road
In the face Of these adverse circum-
stances, the Jews for while kept tc
themselves, lest the purity of their race
and their religion be defiled," but after
wards they yielded to the temptation
TO make alliances with the Gentiles
We are told that 1.-THE leaders began
and the common people followed till
the new departure became settled
line of policy approved by the highest
authorities in the land Laxity, ignor-
ance and Indifference followed. The
spiritual life declined the ideals faded
and the Sabbath was desecrated.
How very much that sounds like a
description of some branches of the
church to-day! As a rule, when the
leaders keep straight the common
people also keep straight, and when
they compromise and go wrong, the
sheep follow their false shepherd. Ac-
cording to the scriptures the people can
not hide behind the claim that they
were led astray, but the Word also
tells us that God will not hold the one
guiltless who leads Others out of the
straight and narrow path. Going to
the world for financial and social gain
are attended by the same blighting re-
suits in our day and generation as they
were at the time of our lesson. We
pray that the study of this les
son in the Sabbath schools of the
different denominations may lead
teacher and scholar to see the
great necessity of walking upright |
ly before the Lord irrespective of their
Surroundings When things seem dark,
let us remember that Jesus is our light
and our help is TO come from God. |
This truth was imbedded deep in the |
hearts of those who remained in for
eign lands. Having no material basis |
for the national life, they chung all the |
more tenaciously to those spiritual pos
sessions which alone gave the nation a |
title to existence There was an in
creasing strictness of doctrine and
practice. The sabbath, to them, assum-
ed a new spiritual character. and was
observed most strictly as solemn day
of rest and prayer. Dispersed over the
provinces, the Jewish communities
were knit together by the indissoluble
ties of religion and custom"
Writing on "Ezra's purpose and
plan" Peloubet says: Ezra, no doubt
knowing the condition of things in Je-
rusalem, had not only prepared his
heart to seek the law of the Lord, and
to do it; but he planned to go up to
Jerusalem and teach in Israel statutes
and judgments, ezra 7:1O, and to
take so many trained people and so
much pecuniary aid, as would enable
him to accomplish his purpose.
Several explanations are given as to
why the king permitted Ezra to go.
Rather than accept the thought that he
gave his permission because of his nat
ural amiability, or because of the pow
erful Jewish influence where he was
trained, is it not better to believe that
the kings Will was brought into sub
lection to Gods plan by divine power?
In explaining these things from phil
osophical standpoint are we not doing
away with the supernatural, and ex-
planning away the mystery OF godli-
ness?
1t is presumed that the river Ahara
was one of the canals near Babylon,
that flowed into the Euphrates. Before
seeking to know the right way of the
Lord, Ezra wanted to subdue their pas
sions, and bring all their physical pow
ers into subsection. Some of our great
denominations now advocate fasting at
certain times, but unless it is done in
the spirit as we'll as abstaining from
food ii will amount TO naught.
Ezra felt the need of some protection
but felt ashamed to ask help from the
king. Ought we not be ashamed to ask
help from the world when we tell them
that God provides for his own? Let us
do like Ezra. who says.
"23. So we tasted and besought our
God for this; and he was entreated of
us
God is no respecter of persons; as he
answered Ezra so he will help us. and
give us the assurance he gave Ezra.
We shonld not fail 10 read the whole