Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-11-09
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER II.

Subject: Ezra's Journey to Jerusalem,
Ezra Will, 21.32-Golden Text, Ezra
Will, 22-Memory Verses, 21-23-Con.
mentary on tho Day. Lesson.
1. A, fast proclaimed Tvs. 21-23). 81.
Proclaimed a fast" Ezra entered
upon his work with fasting and prayer.
The journey was a dangerous one, es-
pecially with all the treasure he car
ried. Ezra realized the danger, but he
went forward in faith. His chief con-
Germ was to have God with him. He
had procured Levites to 90 with him
Tvs. 1920, but even that would be of
no avail If Jehovah did not direct their
steps. "Affiict ourselves" "Iumble
ourselves" OR. W and repent of our
sins. ITO seek Him." Era wanted the
people to commit themselves to the
guidance and protection of divine prov
idence and implore God to give them
lay chiefly through the desert. and the
Arabians and Samaritans were likely
to attack them.
%. II was ashamed" etc. Ezra lad
preached trust in God before the
heather rulers and he would not dis
honor God by asking the usual military
escort. He had represented God, the
object of his worship, as suprenIely
powerful, and as having the strongest
affection for His true followers. Thus
we see that this good man had more
anxiety for the glory of God than for
his own personal safety.
%. $50 we tasted" The people did
as Ezra commanded. God heard and
answered their prayers, and they were
kept In safety during the difficult and
dangerous journey.
II. EZra'S charge to the priests Tvs.
24-3O). "a. Il separated twelve" There
is difference of opinion here as to the
number Of persons Ezra selected as
custodans of the treasure ana sacred
vessels. There were probably twelve
priests and twelve Levitcs; but some
think there We're twelve priests and
only ten Levites. Shercbiah and Hash
abiah were two of the Lcvites. %
weighed" We may gather from this
that the gold and silver We're in bars or
ingots, and not in coined money. y.
"UntO their hand We have here the
particular care Ezra took of the treas
ure Of Gods sanctuary. Having COM
mitted the keeping of it to God, he COM
mitted the care Of 1t to proper men,
though without God they would have
watched in vain. Our prayers should
always be seconded With our endeav-
ors. Do we expect God should by His
providence keep that which belongs to
us? Then ought we by His grace to
care for that which belongs to Him; let
Gods honor and interest be our care.
The prophet in foretelling the return Of
Gods people and ministers ont of Baby
lon gave the solemn charge 1Sa. 32.1D,
"Be We clean that bear the vessels of
the Lord" In Zcrubbabel's time the
vessels were delivered by number;
here by weight. that it might easily
appear If any were missing. This init
mates that such as are intruStcd with
holy things are concerned to remember,
both in receiving their trust and in dis
charging 1t, that they must shortly give
very particular account of it, that
they may be faithful to it and so give
up their account with joy. "Silv2r....
gold" The whole treasure has been
estimated at from four to six million
dollars. a talent of silver was about
$1,000; gold is usually worth sixteen
times as much as silver.
q. "Basons. . .dramS." The word
translated dram" appears to be in the
Hebrew representative of the Persian
word which the Greek rendered by
"daric" This was a gold coin stamped
with the figure Of the Persian king,
wearing his crown and armed will!
bow and arrow. According to the most
exact computation each such coin con-
tanned somewhat more pure gold than
an English guinea, and was worth five
dollars of our money. The "basins'
would be worth about two hundred and
seyenty-fve dollars each. vessels OF
fine "copper"" Probably some fictitious
metal made there that took the polish
and assumed the brightness of gold,
and because Of its hardness was more
durable. There is still metal of this
kind made among the Asiatlcs. 2S.
"Freewill Offering" The silver and
gold were present to the house of God
that the king and his counselors had
set apart.
III. The journey to Jerusalem Tvs.
81, 32). 81. 1--WE departed. -. .on the
twelfth day" The company began to
form and arrange for the journey upon
the first day OF the month Nisan. Upon
q review of his company Ezra observed
the lack of Lev!teS, and the time used
In securing their union with the return
ing eXiles, and in weighing the treas
ure, ETC., took up the time until the
twelfth day. Ahava is the name both
of small town and stream, not far
from the river Euphrates. This would
be natural course to pursue from
Shushan. This account Of Ezra's prep
araton and journey is beautiful eX-
ample of method and thoroughness
which is of great value in the work of
God. Ezra sought first the prosperity
Of Gods cause, but he did not count it
lost time to spend twelve days in prep
aration for the journey. Time used
Tor prayer is never lost time. Time
consumed in perfecting plans for Gods
work is not misspent time. Always
take time to do thing right. Things
done by half are never done well.
80. "We came to Jerusalem The
dangerous journey was completed with
safety at the end Of four months.
"Abode. three days That is. they
rested that long. On the fourth day
the treasures We're weighed and hand
cd over to the custody Of the officiating
priests of the temple. The returned
exiles offered burnt offerings, and Ezra
delivered the royal commission to the
magistrates, while the Levi.!cal portion
Of the company assisted in performing
the additional work which the arrival
Of so many Aew worshipers occasioned.