The Arvada enterprise., 1917-10-25
INTERNATIONAL.
SUllYSQlQQL,
LESSON
0y REV. p. b. F1TZWATER, D. d.
Teacher Of English Bible In the Mood
Bible Institute of Chicago.)
Copyright. 1917, Western Newspaper Union.>
LESSON FOR OCTOBER %

LESSON FOR OCTOBER 20
EZRA RETURNING FROM BABY.
LON.
LESSON TEXT-Exra t:l5-3A
GOLDEN TEXT-The hand of our God
b upon all them for good that seek him.
Esra s:1.
An interval Of some fifty years in.
tervenes between the dedication Of the
temple and the journey Of Ezra to Pal
estine. Some stirring events In the
world occurred In this time which
greatly helped the Jews. It was dur
ing this time that the episode Of
Esther's being made queen and the ele-
vation Of Mordecai occurred, which ia
vorably disposed the Persian govern
ment toward the Jews. The time was
auspicious for Ezra to make his re-
quest unto Artaxerxes. The supreme
aim Of Ezra was the restoration Of the
true worship Of Jehovah, for 1t is evi-
dent that the work done by Zerubbabel
had largely failed Of its aim. In order
that Ezra might be an efficient instru-
ment in the hands Of God for the ac-
complishment Of this purpose, he "pre-
pared his heart to seek the law Of the
Lord and to do 1t, and to teach in Is-
rael the statutes and judgments"
(7:10). There are three stages In the
experience Of every true teacher. First:
to seek the law of the Lord. Second:
to do 1t. Third: to teach 1t to others.
The last Is impossible without the first
two.
The royal commission granted to
Ezra embraced
~ The return of all whose free will
prompted them to do 50 q :13).
(2) Exra's being given magisterial
authority over the district beyond the
river" Il :25. 26).
(3) Exemption from taxation to the
Levites (7:24).
(4) Conveyance Of offerings from the
king and his officers (7:15. 19).
Z. Register ef Exra's companIons
(1-14). Doubtless this Is representa-
i've list Of those who Joined Ezra.
There Is clear implication that the
sWClv0 IIlOC0 aIC ACRA AC0CASCA 0AAAOA0
.hoseswho returned. <See 2:70; 6:16.
~
n. Exra Sends to lido for Ministers
for the Temple Service wv. 1920. Be-
:ore the journey to Palestine was &C
tually begun, Ezra gathered about him
lis companions who were to accom-
pany him, to see whether they were
representative. In this review he dis
covered that none Of the sons Of Levi
we're In thescompany. So he sent chief
men to lido, who was doubtless the
president Of the school Of the Levites,
for ministers for Gods house. In re-
sponse to this appeal. 80 Levites and
220 Nethinims Joined him.
III. Ezra Seeking the Guidance Of
the Lord wv. 21-23). The journey was
full of deadly perils. 1t lay through
a region invested with Bedouin ma
RAIDERS. Ezra, fully conscious Of these.
and ashamed to ask help Of the king.
proclaimed q fast, In which in deep
humiliation they sought the guidance
and protection Of God. This 10 6ne
illustration of the independence, and
yet dependence, of the men who fully
trust God. His chief concern was for
the honor Of Gods name. He had 20
confidently and repeatedly spoken to
the king Of the divine sufiiciency that
now to have asked for guard Of SOL
dlers would cause him to blush with
shame. In this critical hour they COM
mitted themselves to the care Of Him
who kcepeth Israel. We should begin
every journey. every undertaking.
every new piece of work, every new
day by seeking the direction Of God.
No friendship or business interest ever
reaches Its best unless Gods hand bs
In 1t and upon 1t. We should not 80
anywhere. engage In any business OF
have any friendship upon which we may
not ask Gods blessing and aid. They
sought this for themselves, for their
children. md oil their substance. They
knew TINT as soon as they made God
nrst his blessing would bo upon them.
and as soon as they forsook him his
power would be withdrawn and bis
wrath would he upon them.
". The Treasure Committed -
Twelve Priests (vv. 24-30). Combined
with their faith In God, we ind prac'
tical business sense. Honest, trust
worthy. good men were selected ".
2S). To such only oh h,uld be intrusted
the Lords money-gifts offered freely
to the Lord by his people. Again. the
money was carefully counted and
weighed. and the amount set down.
Tho men were held accountable at the
end Of the journey for everything In.
trusted to them. Men ought to be held
to strict account for everything intrust.
ed to them. to the very last cent The
men to whom this was intrusted were
holy; the gifts were Gods; they did
not belong to any nun; they were
charged with the obligation to deliver
these gifts before tho chief priests.
v. The safe Arrival at jerusalem
(vv. $780,. The journey lasted four