The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1911-11-16

Ezra S:22
TIME-B. c. 45s, the seventh year OF
Artaxerxes.
Ezra leaves Babylon with his company
on the list day of the isv month, March,
and reaches Jerusalem on the 1st day of
the 9th month, July.
The convocation was on the goth day of
the 9th month dn Nov.-Dec).
His reforms were made during the win
ter, Dec. 45S to March. 457.
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
still growing, were overrun with
weeds and the vines and olive trees,
untrlmmed 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 a vast in
fiux OF their brethren. from Babylon
and other lands, but had been to a
great extent disappointed.
Ezra, no doubt knowing the condi-
nf In 81
only prepared his heart to seek the
law Of the Lord, and to do It, but he
planned to go up to Jerusalem and
teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
Moved by religious zeal, and also, 1t
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 a
fresh band of zealously religious ex-
lies back to Judea on a mission of re-
form.
They came to Jerusalem, after a
journey Of four months, arriving there
the first day Of the fifth month, or
about the middle Of July. The dis
tance in a direct line was about 500
miles. but the road followed by Ezra's
caravan made a long detour to avoid
the desert and could hardly have been
less than 900 miles.
Ezra brought $2,000,000 for the re-
pair Of the temple. and for all that
was necessary to put the outward
nf IN In
tion. He infused the community with
his own devoted and cousecrated spir-
itual life and fervor. He brought with
him the Book of the Law and the
Prophets, with it's 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
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
moral 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 rain
they confessed. repented and re.
formed
Those who are bribing and taking
bribes-trying to get rich by graft
and dishonesty, forging, cheating
banks, committing all kinds of crime,
although the sinners are rich, and Of
ficeholders-are now working In jails
separated from their wives and chill.
dren, and are learning honest trades
1t Is sad, indeed, but there Is no
other way of saving the nation.
The suffering involved by Ezraa
course was not necessarily so great
as It would seem, not so great as i'm.
prisonment of a family man causes to-
day. The man could still support the
discarded wife and children, and dc
all possible for her comfort. But he
must not join In her idolatry, or be
subject to bad family atmosphere.
The suffering caused by this course
was the fruit, not Of Ezra's work, but
OF the wrong doing. The physician is
Oh kr 20, n. III