Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-14
| 0lETEsfAnENI:HrEs
81 IGRWkEYk i
mBER'NACtE
.DFRLE. STUDIES.
A GREAT REFoRMER.
Erals Methods Criticized Unjustly.
Ezra viii, is. 36-Nov. 19.
.BfRIE. STUDIES.

1 "a
ed a great reformation movement. As
| iiod's asont he was largely responsible
Tor the maintenance Of the Jewish
faith and nation. His family had
be, n amongst the many carried cap
tive BY NebuchadneZzar. Like many
others that became rooted in the ne"
soil Of Babylonia, they were not among
the fifty-thfee thousand to return to
Jerusalem when king Cyrus gave the
opportunity. Ezra, imbued with
spirit of religious fervor based upon
faith in Sod and his promises to
, Israel, headed another company bound
for erllsnlem-seventye eight years af-
tor the return OF the eXiles.
| The Jews evidently were prosperous
in Babylon and their exile, for time
at least led them to earnest study OF
the Law and the Prophets. I'm tact
Jtaah. probably under Ezra, Is one
81 rs chief representatives, seems 10
have prosperedS more in Babylon than
in Jerusalem-nat as whole but
certain, pious few. These We're vexed
as they from time to time heard OF
the poverty If their brethren in Jera-
sab n, AMI that matters religious We're
not prosperous there, and the rebuild
Ing Of the temple Which Represented
Divine presence with the nation was
but poorly served.
r,ee plv in earnest for a revival OF
the true religion, Ezra laid the matter
before n representative in Babylon ana
before TIE Persian king, with favor
able results large donations were
made eor tho repairs 10 the temple
and tho institution at It's Worship
upon fraper hasis. AMI in general
TO help tie Interests Of the ie"ish
cause In IerHHalrin Tho donations OF
gold and silver totaiad . little nora
han two million dollafa and fne mum
her of nereons who volunteered r. ne
of tie company was about seventeen
hundred. The donations Wefe pun
lic trust ana Ezra wisely divided he
treasure between twelve principal men
If his party, taking receipts from each.
= Before the journey proper was he
gun a fast was proclaimed and the
tIn1fpffv Cod was entreatrfi 10 grant
! gfe messing upon iho undertaking.
and to direct the course Of the travel
org They were not without causa for
fear Cor Themselves. FOR IL fhrst have
Tom generally known that they ear
riea a large amount Of treasure with
,hsm. and tho country through
which they must pass was infested
with robbers Who Nigh, puuTce upon
hon al any time 10 carry off tieF
,reasurc. which consisted Of laree
/ sianlfds az wheat wine and oil 20
: sides the gold and silver.
sln All Thy Ways Acknowledge Him
s,rha beginning of tire journey VITA
lasting and prayer gives US an IN
sight into Ezra's power and efficiency.
God was with him''-he walked with
God. he sought TO know and 10 do the
: Divine WILL Surely it is in VAN that
any would attempt u serve the Lord
and yet neglect to humble themselves
before Him and to make request for
His blessing and guidance. we SUD
nit that fasting and prayer and earn :
est desire to know and TO GO the
Iord,s will are FAR more efficacious
+. for good than are large donations OF
money. Perhaps there has been too
great a tendency on the part of many
to leave out the matter of religious
work at home and abroad save along
financial lines. forgetful, in Part al
least. that they labor in vain unless
the Lord grant His blessing.
Tho fact that NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. our
wonderful financial efforts during the
past century there are today twice as
, many heather as there were century
ago, should take us 10 the Lore III
PRAYER to assure ourselves regarding
/ the meaning of the prayer He taaShs
us-"Thy Kingdom come, Thy VIII ne
done on earth as il is done in heaven
Seeing the futility of our efforts 10
bring about heavenly conditions or
earth ought 10 lead all Of Gods earn
est children TO search His Word ana
TO see whether or not 1T teaches that
the second coming Of Messiah IS to
unite 10 Himself His elect Church
: MS His Bride and then to establish
J the Kingdom of Righteousness which
backed by Divine power, viii bind
: Satan. overthrow sin and death. and
! unfit mankind and make of earth =
paradise.
The Way of Trahsgressors.
Ezra and Ills party reached Jefusa-
lem IN safety after a journey OF eX-
actiy four months. As great dis
tance can be covered in less than four
davs with our modern convenient $,
which surely seem to be precursors OF
the glorious Messianic Epoch. the Won
derful prosperity of which has So long
been foretold.
Ezra has been censured as narrow
and cruel because of the reforms at
Jerusalem OF which he became the
leader and advisor. The Jews who
6rst returned from Babylon were full
of zeal for the Divine Law, and re-
fused 10 inter-marry or TO have sn-
cIal dealings with their heather neigh
hors; but as their prosperity Jagged
ltheir zeal siacRened. Careiessness and
irreligi0n came in. Hence Ezra soon
found that many Jews were inter,
marrying with their npighbers. ana
that condition OF things prevailed
which il continued would mean the
corruption of the nation 10 which God
ihaG given the promise of national con-
tinuity, and the promise that nltl-
mateiy lie would use them as n ma
ton for the sending out of the light
and truth which He has promised
shall yet bless all the families OF the
| earth.
A general assembly or cOuyOea ton