Middletown transcript., 1917-10-27
INTERNATIONAL
SUNl6YSQl()0L
LESSON
LESSON FOR OCTOBER %
EZRA RETURNING FROM BABY
LON.

tervenes between the dedication Of til
temple and the journey Of Ezra to Pa
estine. Some stirring events in tn
world occurred in this time whic
greatly helped the Jews. 1t was dul
ing this time that the episode o
Esther's being made queen and the elf
walton Of Mordecai occurred, which 10
vorably disposed the Persian govern
ment toward the Jews. The time wa
auSpiciOus for Ezra to make his re
quest unto Artaxerxes. The suprem
aim of Ezra was the restoration Of tn
true worship Of Jehovah, for it is evi
dent that the work done by Zerubbabe
had largely failed Of Its aim. In orde
that Ezra might be an efficient instru
ment in the hands Of God for the &C
complishment Of this purpose, he "pre
pared his heart to seek the law of th
Lord and to do 1t, and to teach In Is
rael the statutes and judgments
(7:10). There are three stages in th'
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 frs
two.
The royal commission granted t.
Ezra embraced
(1) The return Of all whose free will
prompted them to do so :13).
(2) Ezra's being given magisteria
authority over the district beyond the
river" (7:25, 26).
(3) Exemption from taxation to the
Levites (7:24).
(4) Conveyance Of offerings from the
king and his officers (7:15. 19).
I. Register Of Ezra's Companions
| (1-14). Doubtless this is a representa-.
| tive list Of those who joined Ezra
There is clear implication that the
| twelve tribes are represented among
those who returned. (See 2:70; GIG,
17)
II. Ezra Sends to lido for Ministers
for the Temple Service wv. 1920. Be-
fore the journey to Palestine was ac-
tually begun, Ezra gathered about him
his 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
were In the company. 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, 3S Lcvites and
220 Nethinims Joined him.
Ill. Ezra Seeking the Guidance Of
the Lord wv. 21-23). The journey was
full Of deadly perils. 1t lay through
region invested with Bedouin ma
rauders. Ezra, fully conscious of these.
and ashamed to ask help of the king,
proclaimed fast, in which in deep
humiliation they sought the guidance
and protection Of God. This Is a fine
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 so
confidently and repeatedly. spoken to
the king of the divine sufficiency that
now to have asked for guard Of SOL
diers would cause him to blush with
mitted themselves to the care Of Him
who keepeth 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 be
In it and upon it. We should not go
anywhere, engage in any business or
have any friendship upon which we may
not ask Gods blessing and aid. They
sought this for themselves, for their
children, and all their substance. They
knew that as soon as they made God
first his blessing would be upon them.
and as soon as they forsook him his
power would be withdrawn and his
wrath would be upon them. God did
not disappoint them, for they safely
reached their destination. He never
disappoints.
w. The Treasure Committed to
Twelve Priests, wv. 24-30). Combined
with their faith in God, we find prac-
tical business sense. Honest, trust
worthy, good men were selected ".
2S). To such only should 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.
The 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 man; they were
charged with the obligation to deliver
these gifts before the chief priests and
Levites at Jerusalem.
v. The Safe Arrival at Jerusalem
wv. 31-36). The journey lasted four
They carried with them mil
ions of dollars worth of treasure,
through region infested with maraud-
Ing Bedouins, yet God delivered them
from their hands. At the end of the
Journey they testified to the faithful
ness Of God in bringing them safely on
". 31). The safe arrival at the end
Of each days journey is due to the
good hand Of our God upon us. After
resting three days, the treasure was
brought into the temple and burnt Of |
ferings were made to the Lord. After |
this, the decree Of the Persian king
was delivered to the governors who |
should aid in furthering the people and |