The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1911-11-16
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson VIiI.-Fourth Quarter, For
Nov. 19, 1911.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text Of the Lesson, Ez. viii, 21-22.
Memory Verses, 21-23-Golden Text,
Ez. viii, documentary Prepared
by Row. D. N. Stearns.
In our two previous LESSONS in the
book of Ezra we saw nearly 10000 re-
turning to Jerusalem by permission OF
Cyrus. the king, under the leadership
of Zerubbabel and Joshua. and we saw
the temple finished by the encouraging
words of Hagar and Zachariah Now
we see Ezra, priest in the direct line
from Aaron and also Il scribe of the
law of God vii. 5, 12). returning with
the permission and good will of Artak-
erxes, king of Persia. and with him
over LOO of the people. The decree OF
the king made nothing compulsory in
the matter of returning. -, gave full
permission to all who were minded of
their own free will to 60 up with Ezra
vii, 13). IL is thought that the story
of the book of Esther fits in between
Ez. vi and vii and the statement in
Est. /, Z. s. that there was royal
wine in abundance tor wine of the
kingdom-margin). according to the
state Of the king. but that every one
did according to his own pleasure i'll
the matter of drinking gives an idea
Of perfect freedom. Note the abun-
dant bestowment and freedom Of action
granted to Ezra by the king. "Whatso-
ever shall seem good to thee, that
do after the will of your God. And
whatsoever more shall be needed
bestow it out of the kings treas
ure house, (Ez. vii, Is. 20. 23). The
object Of all this bounty was the
house Of God which was at Jerusalem
CEz. vii, Is. 16, II, 10. %. 20. The
man of God was Ezra. who had pre-
pared his heart to seek the law of the
| Lord and to do it and to teach it and
| in whose hand was the wisdom Of
God (Ez. vii, 10, 90. The great cause
back of oil others was 1.-The good hand
of the Lord God upon him" (Ez. vii.
| 6, 8, %; viii, 18, %, 81. by which the
king granted him all his request. by
| which also he was made strong. by
which the right men We're brought to
him, and, as we shall see in this les
son, by which he was brought safely to
Jerusalem without an armed escort.
| Compare the hand of the Lord upon the
prophet Ezekiel in Eek. i, 8; iii. IA. -:
viii, 1; xxxiii. %; xxxvii. l; 81, l, just
seven times. II we are willing to be
made strong only for Himself. that
people may know Him as the doer of
all that is done in and through us, we
may expect His hand upon us for the
sake of the man Of His right hand Cps.
Xxx, II; elk. 20. Because Ezra had
said to the king, 1.-THE hand of our God
is upon oil them for good that seek
Him." he was ashamed to ask for a
band of soldiers and horsemen to pro-
tect them against the enemy. so they
tasted and prayed and afflicted them
selves before God. and He was en-
treated of them Ez. viii. 21-23). When
J Nehemiah went to Jerusalem he ac-
cepted an escort of captains of the
army and horsemen, and it is writ
ten that the hand of God was upon him
also (Neh. ii, 8, 81. Elijah was as truly
cared for by God in the home Of the
desolate woman at Sarepta. where she
ministered to him, as when cared for
by the ministry Of birds at Cherith.
With mind stayed upon Jehovah and
a whole heart for Him, there is always
perfect freedom to do as occasion
serve. in reliance upon him q Sam
K, y. The silver and the gold and the
vessels. worth over two and a half mil
lion dollars, were placed under the
care Of twelve priests. with ten men
to assist them, with instructions tG
: witch and keep and deliver safely to
the chiefs at Jerusalem in the cham.
bers of the house of the Lord oversees
o4-3O). According to verse %, both yes
sells and people were specially holy unto
the Lord. aye are holy unto the Lord
the vessels are holy also. and the silve!
and the gold are free will offering
unto the Lord God Of your fathers
When the kingdom comes everything
shall be "holiness unto the Lord Zach
xiv, 20, 21). It should be so now. witt
all that the believer is and has. accord
ing to l Pet. /, Is; ii. 8. for we are IL
special sense set apart for Himself
FPS. ". 81. With more care than these
men watched over these treasures III
is ever watching over His people
whom He calls His peculiar treasure
; (Ex. xix, s; Deut. vii. 6: Tit. ii. IA. R
w., and He will land all His good!
safely at their destination. for no pow
er can pluck out of His hand. In oul
lesson story everything was delivered
by number and by weight Verse 34)
and He who said. ''Those that thou CAV
est me have kept. and none of them
lost" John xvii. 12). is the same I'm
} changeable one who cannot lose any
thing that Is truly His. Ezra's journe,
} occupied four months, and all the wa,
they were kept and delivered from tn
hand Of the enemy and of such as la.
in wait by the way vii. 9: viii. 81
When Paul was nearing the end of hi
sojourn In mortal body he said. "
was delivered out Of the mouth of tn
lion, and the Lord shall deliver m
from every evil work and will pre-
serve me unto His heavenly kingdom
QI Tim. ". II. 18). Ezra was ashame,
: to ask for an escort Of soldiers becaus