The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1899-10-19
THE SABBATH SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR OCTOBER ~.

Subject; E1ra's Journey to Jerusalem
Ezra wilt, 21-32-Golden Text; Ezra
will, aa-Commentary ON the Days
Lesson.
81. "I proclaimed fast there" Ezra
entered upon his work with fasting an
prayer. The journey was dangerous one,
especially With all the treasure he carried.
Ezra realized the danger, but he went Tor
ward In faith. The chief reform OF Ezra
was the adjustment of mixed marriages
with the surrounding heather. The course
OF tho Isrneltes was running and degrad'
ing the nation. Nearly their whole history
previous to the exile showed how they
yielded to the surrounding idolhtry, pc
cause they refused to drive out the idol
nters In Joshau's time-a history ending 10
exile on that account, and the history oil
over seventy years since the return was
commentary on the practice which Ezra
rebuked. The mixed race OF jews and
Samartans, with their ,alf-heathenish Gus
toms, wns living warming OF tho results
of their course. Ezras work occupied but
eight months, though 1t Is probable lie
spent most OF the remainder OF bis lie NJ
Jerusalem. Thirteen years Of silence In
tervene and then Nehemiah came up to
Jerusalem. "To seek OF Him right way
for us" Thnt is, to commit themselves to
the guidance and protection OF divine Prov
idonce and implore Him to give them
prosperous journey. Their journey lay |
chiefly through the desert, and tho Arab
ians and Samaritans were likely to attack
them.
%. "I was ashamed to require n band |
ofsoldiers." Ezra had preached trust 10 |
God before the heather rulers aud he /,
would not dshouor God by asking tue |
usual military escort. He had represented |
God, the object OF his worship, as supreme
ly powerful, aud a5 having the strongest !
affection for His true followers. Thu5 we
see that this good man had more anxiety
for tho glory OF God than for his own per-
sonal safety. Their faith was rewarded by
the enjoyment OF perfect safety during the
whole way.
23. "And He was entreatel OF us" Ezra
| had the assurance that his prayer had been
| heard
| "a. ~ separated twelve" Appointed to
| the special duty of being custodlans otthe
| sasred vessels. We have here the particular
carc Ezra took OF the treasure OF Gods
| sanctuary. Having committed the keep
| Ing OF 1t to God, he committed the care OF
1t to proper men, though without God they
would have watched In vain. Our prayers
| should always be seconded with our en-
deavors. DO we expect God should by
| His providence keep that which belongs to
| us2 Then ought we by His grace to caro-
| for that which belongs to Him; let Gofs
| honor and interest be our care. Tue
| prophet in foretelllng the return OF Gods
| people aud ministers out OF Babylon gave
| the solemn charge (Isa. 52:lD. "Be ye clean
that bear the vessels OF the Lord" In Ter
| ubbabels time the vessels were delivered
| by number; here, by weight, that 1t might
| easily appear II any were missing. This
| intimates that such aS are intrusted with
holy things ure concerned to remember,
both in receiving their trust and In dis
charging 1t, that they must shortly give
very particular account OF 1t, that they
may be faithful 10 It aud so give mp their
account with Joy. The silver and gold
4 "a n
tho king and his counselors had set apart.
This gift amounted to about s2,575,OOO.
2j. ard weighed unto them the silver"
otc. We may gather from this that the
silver and gold were In bars or ingots, and
nor In coined money. The PersianS had
coined money ut this time, but the treas
ury kept the bulk Of its stores in bars
(lerod., Ill, 06)
&C. "Six hundred and nfty talents OF sill
ver." A talent of silver was about $1,000.
or gold hundred talents. Gold Is usually
worth about sixteen times as much MS sill
YER. The whole treasure was worth 81
600 900 or 70 900, 900.
27. Vessels OF fine copper" Probably
some Fictitious metal made there that
took the polish and assumed the bright
ness OF gold, and because of its hardness
wns more durable. There Is still II fncti-
tiouS metal of this kiud made among the
Asiatics. 1t requires much art In making,
but the constituent materials are OF small
their lustre and durability for ornamental
and domestic uses, uru In many respects
more valuable than gold itsclf DRAINS.
Darics, worth about an English sovereign,
or SO.
%. "a freewlll Offering unto the Lord
God" The money was for religious pur-
poses, and would be n great help to tn"
people mt Jerusalem rs we'll as smooth the
way of Ezra to the needed reforms.
80. "rhe chambers OF the house OF the
Lord" are tho rooms placed on either side
of the main building (see | Kings 65),
partly us chambers for tho priests, partly
us storerooms (see Neh l3:5).
81. 1--WE departed on the twelfth day. "
Tho company began to form and arrange
for the journey upon the first day OF the
month. Upon Il review OF his company
Ezra observed the lacl; OF Levites, and the
time used In securing their union with tue
returning eXiles, and In weighing the
treasures, etc, took up the time until the
twelfth day. Ahuva ~ the name both OF II
town and small stream, not far from the
river Euphrates. This would be natural
course to pursue from Shushan. This ac-
count of Ezra's preparation and journey
Is u beautiful example Of method aud thor
oughness which Is of great value In the
work OF God. Ezra sought first the
prosperity OF Gods cause but he did not
count 1t lost time to spend twelve days in
preparation for the journey. Time used
| for prayer Is never lost time. Time con-
} sumed in perIectlng plans for Gods work
is not mIsspent time. Always take time to
do thing right. Things done by half ARE
never done we'll The prayerful minister
is the careful minister, SO important was
tho mission which called Ezra 20 Jerusalem
that he could not afford to go without first
making his company complete and arrnng
ing for the safe.keeping of the treasure,
for the house Of the Lord. When he hnd
dono all his purt he could confidently be
seech God to give them II safe journey.
: 32. 1--WE came to Jerusalem" The dam
/; Gerous journey was completed with safety
ut the end OF four months. abode thre,
days" That Is, they rested that long. OF
the fourth day the treasures were weighed
, and handed over to tho custody OF th'
! officiating priests of the temple Tho re
! turned eXies offered burnt offerings, nnt
Ezra delivered tho royal commission to thu
, magistrates, while tho Leyltieal portion o
l tho company assisted In performing tn
! additional work which the arrival ot 81
! many new worshiDsas osdasloned.