The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-11-16
EZRA'S JOURNEY
TU JERUSALEM
Sunday School Lesson for Nov. 10, 1911
Specially Arranged for This Paper

The nearly sixty years between the
sixth and seventh chapters of Ezra, OF
which there Is almost no direct rec
ord, could scarcely be called the
blank annals of well-being." Without
these happy periods Of dullness our
lives would be hell, and our hearts,
eternally bubbling and boiling in a
huge pot made hot with thorns. But
these were years of slow progress, OF
dullness, and neglect, like a garden
wherein the heavenly plants. while
ltill growing, were oyerrun with
weeds, and the vines and olive trees,
untrimmed and neglected bore but
small and scanty fruit.
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-stretch-
ing mounds. The visions of glory had
faded. They had expected vast In
fluX of their brethren, from Babylon
and other lands, but had been to a
great extent disappointed.
Ezra, 10 doubt knowing the condl-
tion OF things in Jerusalem, had not
only prepared his heart to seek the
law Of the Lord. and to do II, but he
planned to go up to Jerusalem and
teach In Israel statutes and judgments.
Moved by religious zeal, and also. It
would seem, with the statesmanlike
view OF making Jerusalem once more
the real spiritual metropolis of Ju
daism, Ezra conceived the idea OF in
fusing new life and new ideals into
the Judean community by leading
fresh band of zealously religious ex-
lies back to Judea on a mission Of re-
form.
They started from Babylon on the
first day Of the first month. which
would be some time In the last OF
March or the first OF April, accord
ing to the date of Easter and Pass
over 1t took some time to reach
Ahava and get things thoroughly ar
ranged for the Journey, so that II was
the twelfth day of the first month,
about the time of the Passover. our
Easter. before they began their long
march. And the hand of our God was
upon us, the hand that defends, the
hand that gives. the hand of friend
ship.
They came to Jerusalem, after
journey of four months, arriving there
the first day of the fifth month, or
about the middle of July. The dis.
tance In direct line was about 500
miles, but the road followed by Ezra's
caravan made long detour to avoid
the desert and could hardly have been
less than 900 miles. From Ahava the
time was 10 days, so that the cara.
van averaged nine miles a day, omit
ting Sabbaths, which was as fast as
caravan could easily go, with women
and children walking. and household
effects to be carried.
Ezra brought $2.OOO,OOO for the re-
pair of the temple, and for all that
was necessary to put the outward
forms of worship in perfect condi-
ion. He infused the community with
| his own devoted aud consecrated spir-
/ itual life and fervor. He brought with
aim the Book of the Law and the
Prophets, with its strict morality, and
made 1t known to the people. In CON
trast with this holy law the conduct
of the people in adopting "the abom-
nations of the heather appeared in
all its glaring wickedness.
Then Ezra entered upon his great
reform. Some of the leaders pointed
out to Ezra that the people. even the
princes and rulers, were intermarry-
ing with the idolaters, and there was
danger that the religion of Israel
would be destroyed, that all the sins
which caused the exile would be re-
peated, and all that the exile had done
as a discipline would be lost.
Ezra first by himself was astound.
ed and stunned by the report, and
showed all the signs of deepest sor.
row and humiliation Then there was
a meeting together with him of every
one that trembled at the words of the
God of Israel, because OF the trans.
gression of those that had been car.
ried away" They sat in bitter aston.
ishment till the time of evening
prayer, Then they bowed themselves
before the Lord, and wept and prayed
and confessed and entreated
Then followed a public meeting, a
great congregation Of men and women
and children. There came the great
neral reform There was a proclama
tion throughout all Judah and Jeru
salem, that all should gather them
selves unto Jerusalem, upon pain Of
having their property confiscated and
themselves eXcomunicated from the
brotherhood Of Israel. In a great rair
they confessed, repented and re
formed
Those who are briLing and taking
bribes-trylng to get rich by graf
and dishonesty, forging, cheatin.
banks. committing all kinds OF crime
although the sinners are rich, and of
ficeholders-are now working in Jail
separated from their wives and chill
dren. and are learning honest trades
1t is sad. indeed, but there Is nj
other way Of saving the nation.
The suffering involved by Ezra
course was not necessarily so grea
as It would seem, not so great as i'm
prisonment of family man causes to
day The man could still support tn
discarded wife and children, and d.
all possible for her comfort. But h
must not join in her idolatry, or b
subject to bad family atmosphere.