The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-11-11

L. ut Dt6OldNiOH0 VI N@ioAAs HN
enthusiasm aroused by the leaders
and the prophets Haggai and Zechar-
iah (Lesson W eliminated in the
completion of the Temple, and then
gradually declined into a deadened re-
ligious condition The Temple had
been built. but the opposition had
been so great that the walls had not
been restored and the rubbish still
arose in long-stretching mounds The
visions of glory had faded. Poverty
oppression, hardship and disappoint-
ment had settled down on the little
Jewish community, which now found
itself far worse off financially than
the captives at Babylon. They began
to make alliances with the Gentiles,
the leading families intermarrying
with the heather, till the land became
defiled with the flthiness and abom-
nations of idolatry The religious
home life was being destroyed Lax
ity of morals, religious indifference,
desecration OF the Sabbath, moral ig-
norance, were in the ascendancy; the
spiritual declined, and high ideals
grew dim Such was the condition Of
things seventy-eight years after the
first joyous Return.
ii. Ezra. the Man for the Times
Our sources OF Information are Ezra
7-1O; Neh. $40. and the two books of
Esdras (-- Ezra in the Apocrypha
Ezra was Of a priestly family. and his
great work was that of a scribe; not a
mere copyist of the Law, but a dill
gent student and interpreter Of the
Law. He grew up amid the culture
and intense literary activities of Baby
Ion. The literary activity Of Greece
was not far away. He grew up also
in the consciousness of the humilia-
ton of the captivity, as punishment
for sin. He saw that the only way to
save the nation was through the pow
er Of their Law, and of obedience to
it.
III Preparations for a New Relig-
ious Movement-First The exile was
indeed a punishment, but it was also
discipline for a better life. Foreign
culture and literary activity made
their indelible impress on the Jews
The scribes copied the Law, comment
ed. recast and wrote They saved
the people from the worst of all possi-
bic calamities-from Ignorance Of its
own past"
Second Preparation. In the year
465 B. c., Xerxes was murdered in q
palace conspiracy. and his son Artax-
erxes LonNmanus reigned in his
stead. He was young man and had
reigaed six or seven years when
Ezra had it in his heart to go up to
Jerusalem. This king granted the de-
sired permission to Ezra d) perhaps
because Of his natural amiability and
bonhomie, (2) because of the powerful
Jewish influence at the court where he
was trained. Mordecai, Esther, Nehe
miah, and probably others had been
favorites.
Ezra needed three things men
money and authority" The king gave
the latter two, and permitted the men
to volunteer.
Third Preparation Volunteers. BY
the decree no one was compelled to GO
an unwilling sacrifice, but whoever
were minded Of their own free will to
go" Ezra Z: 1S). About 100 persons
including heads of families and their
retainers ezra s: 1-14l, priests, Le
vites and 22O Nethinim. or the sery-
ants who assisted in tho work about
the Temple.
Fourth Preparation Fasting and
prayer Tvs. 21-23.) The rendezvous
was CID "at the river of Ahava,
probably one of the many canals run
ming into Tie Euphrates. and not very
far from Babylon on the north Then
proclaimed fast Fasting, as q
religious act would seem to have its
basis in (1) a grief over sin SO deer
and intense that all desire for food is
taken away Cd In the aid to deyo
tion furnished by body unburdenec
with food. so as to leave the mind ant
heart in their most active and free
condition. 81 1t is the natural ex
preston of deep sorrow for sin. 1t i.
not enough for the heart to feel deep
ly; it needs to express its feelings
though the proof that the fasting /:
sincere lies in forsaking the sin re
pented of and doing deeds OF right
| eousness.
%. For | was ashamed to require
of the king" There were many dan
gers on that four months journey
particularly from the robbers and Be
douins Of the desert. Ezra had told th'
5in@ that God was with his people
and against their enemies; and. there
fore, to ask a guard of soldiers nigh
seem to the king to contradict his as
sertions, and bring disgrace on God
cause.
%. "And he was intreated of us.
Ezra had the assurance that hi
prayer had been heard.
Fifth Preparation. Means FOR cal
rying on the work.
"a Il separated twelve etc, H
committed the treasure into the hand
of twelve chief priests of whom tn
first two are named. These men woul
take special charge and be responsible