Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-10-25


Ezra 81.
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. 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 make his re-
quest unto Artaxerxes. The supreme
aim of Ezra was the restoration of the
true worship of Jehovah, for it is evil
dent that the work done by Zerubbabel
had largely failed of it's aim. In order
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 the
Lord and to do it, and to teach in Is
rael the statutes and judgments"
G. :10). There are three stages in 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
Cd The return of all whose free will
prompted them to do so e :13).
(2) Ezra's being given magisterial
river" e %, 26).
Levites :24).
(4) Conveyance of offerings from the
king and his officers e rs, 19).
!. Register of Ezra's Companions
C-14). Doubtless this is representa-
tive list of those who joined Ezra.
There is clear implication that the
twelve tribes are represented among
thoseswho returned. (See 2:70; :16,
17.)
II. Ezra Sends to lido for Ministers
for the Temple Service (vv. 1920. Be
fore the journey to Palestine was &C
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 thescompany. So he sent chief
men to lido, who was doubtless the
president of the school of the Levftes,
for ministers for Gods house. In re-
Spouse to this appeal, 3S Levites and
900 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 a fast, in which in deep
| humiliation they sought the guidance
and protection of God. This is 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
| shame. In this critical hour they COM
| 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
L
| 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.
w. The Treasure Committed tc
Twelve Priests CIV. 2430). Combined
| with their faith in God, we find prac
teal business sense. Honest, trust
worthy. good men were selected "
2S). To such only should be intrustec
| the Lords money-gifts offered freely
| to the Lord by his people. Again, the
money was carefully counted an6
| 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 hell
to strict account for everything intrust
ed to them, to the very last cent. The
men to whom this was intrusted wer'
holy; the gifts were Gods; they dit
not belong to any man; they wer'
charged with the obligation to delive
these gifts before the chief priests.
". The Safe Arrival at Jerusalem
WV. 1886. The journey lasted fou
months. They carried with them mil
lions of dollars worth of treasure
| through a region infested with maraud
ing Bedouins, yet God delivered then
from their hands At the end of tn
tourney they testified to the faithful