The Carlisle independent., 1917-10-25
LESSON FOR ocToBER 2a
EZRA RETURNING FROM BABY
LON.

LESSON TEXT-Ezra S:15-s6
GOLDEN TEXT-The hand Of our God
Is upon all them for good that seek him
Ezra 8:22.
An interval of some fifty years In
tervenes between the dedication of the
temple and the journey Of Err 20 Pal
estine. Some stirring events ia the
world occurred in this time which
greatly helped the Jews. 1t was dur
ing this time that the episode OF
Esther's being made queen and The ele-
walton of Mordecai occurred, which ia
vorably disposed the Persian govern
ment toward the Jews. The time was
suspicious for Ezra to mako his re-
quest unto Artaxerxes. The supreme
aim of Ezra was the restoration of the
true worship of Jehovah, for it 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 it, and to teach In Is
rael the statutes and judgments"
(7:10). There are three stages ia the
experience of every true teacher. First:
to seek the law of the Lord. Second:
to do it. Third: to teach it to others
The last is impossible without the first
two.
The royal commission granted to
Ezra embraced
G) The return of all whose free will
prompted them to do so :13).
~ Ezra's being given magisterial
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, 49,.
|. 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
.hoseawho returned. (See 2:70; GIG,
t7)
II. Ezra Sends to lido for Ministers
for the Temple Service wv. 1920. Be
fore the journey to Palestine was &C
.ually begun, Ezra gathered about him
ais companions who We're 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 theacompany. So he sent chief
men to lido, who was doubtless the
president of the school of the Levites,
Tor ministers for Gods house. In re-
spouse to this appeal, 80 Levites and
30 Nethinims joined him.
III. 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
-auders. Ezra, fully conscious of these.
and ashamed TO ask help of the king,
proclaimed a fast, in which in deep
humiliation they sought the guidance
and protection of God. This is q fine
Illustration of the independence, and
yet dependence, of the men who fully
rust God. His chief concern was for
The honor of Gods name. He had SO
confidently and repeatedly spoken to
he king of the divine sufliciency that
now to have asked for a guard of sol
Tiers would cause him to blush with
shame. In this critical hour they Gem
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
nave 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 6ed
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.
~. 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 w.
2S). To such only should be intrusted
the Lords money-gifts offered freely
to the Lord by his people. Again. tho
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
v. The Safe Arrival at Jerufaaem
wv. 31-36). The journey lasted fsw
months. They carried with them MI
lions of dollars worth OF treasure.
through region infested with marnue+
ing Bedouins. yet God delivered them
from their hands. At the end Of ne
journey they testified to the faishfuf-
ness Of God in bringing them safely -
w 31l The Safe arrival Mt the ouG