Evening star., 1905-11-11

apart Tor the temple at Jerusalem II has
go .sa.ated that the silver and gold
49,, "or.n half million dollars while the
49,, vi tHe vessels has never been COM
poted This was no, carelessIy nJaces IN
, .ne hahas OF The men. but Il was weighed
anu anu counted, the mode employed In those
uaSs VI hstlng vaiuables OF any kInd tGen-
esis Xxii, 10) So exact was the record NJ
the various articles that there co,,ld have
oeen no mistake. and any fraud though bv
no means expected. would have heey, sa stl1,
dete3ted. The men appointed received this
trust promising to deliver It in Jerusalem
THE CHARGE.-(VerSes IS and 2a)
On accepting this treasure the twenty-fo,lr
men, priests and Levtes. We're made - fael
the Importance of their trust. and 10 re-
gard themselves as the Lords servants.
TO this end Ezra delivered TO them a hries
address, probably In the presence of their
brethren called together for the purpose
are holy, he said to them, set apart
10 God service. Uevites xxi. 81 It IS
probable that some token OF divine favor
was expected as under all the Jewish ad-
ministration. CDeut. xxxiii, So So also
what had been committed 10 them was
holy, the money being a free-wlll offering
to God. They were therefore exhorted to
great faithfulness to watch lest evil befall
them. and to be able at the end OF the
journey to count out with exactness what
they had received. This was a most SOL
emn charge calling them to look forward
to the time when they should stand in the
house of the Lord in the holy city.
THE SECURITY.-(Verses 80. n. 32)
Then the expedition moved forward. one OF
the most remarkable in all history. There
was no purpose of war-no armed men were
present. There was no commercial end to
be server, neither was there any errand of
pleasure. Solely for religious advantage
to the city of their fathers they advanced.
IL anything by comparison cou.u lift that
body OF men into their rightful place in our
thought 1t might be compared with the pill
grim fathers who crossed the sea to find
a home in the new world Perhaps 1t had
even greater significance, for all the future
of the Jewish race depended on the success
of that journey, There were no delays, no
obstacles, no enemies 1t was peaceful.
joyous and successful passage. They came
to Jerusalem, having Travelled westward
over the plain six hundred miles. The his
torian rightly discerned the hand of the
Lord In the deliEerance granted, and at the
end pious hearts rejoiced.
THE REFLECTIONS. - The chief
items of instruction may be easily gathered
from the study of this narrative: l. AS Ez-
ra's work made possible by the brave
act of Queen Esther, so the possibilities Of
every life depend on the service rendered by
those who go before. q Every work for God
dence upon Him prov. Ill, 81, and ought
to be preceded by prayer. g. tious men
compromise themselves and dshonor God
in relying solely worldly defense. forget
full of divine protection. In so doing they
belle their profession. 4. BY some way
the method may be exceedingly varied-it
is permitted unto men who pray Matt.
vii, y TO know when God answers their
supplication. ). When a great work Is to
be done for God and for the public good
men of the highest character should be
chosen. @. Public treasure committed for
safe keeping to any hands is a sacred trust
to be accounted for. l. Happy are they
who at the close of life may render ac-
count of an honest stewardship. Matt.
XIV, 23)
QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
Any person mail TO DR.. Gilbert, 1903 Il
street this city, any question suggested by
the lessons and secure an answer through
The Star.
s.-What route. was followed in the jour-
ney from Babylon to Jerusalem?
Answer-Probably in a northwesterly
and then southwesterly direction. IN mat
way the great desert might be avoided and
water and food for cattle secured along the
sides of the rivers.
e.-What was the money system in Ezra's
time?
in some instances precious stones, whose
value was uniform among merchants OF all
lands. See the lesson.
10-What was the origin of sacrifcial
worship?
Answer-Most evangelical scholars hold
that it was instituted at the time of the
first transgression. Gen iii, u. Some think
il was a purely human invention, suggested
by mans sense of ill-desert, its beginning
in antiquity now unknown.
11-What was the origin and meaning of
fasting?
misunderstanding has been practiced in
all ages among all nations. DIR. Mander
says it was designed to diminish the SEN
sual feelings and give opportunity for holy