Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-11-07


22-commentary Prepared by Rev. D..
M. Stearns.
The name Ezra signifies help as
In Sam. vii. IL. margin. where We find
the meaning OF Ebenezer given as ..the
stone Of help" aud in the hook of Ezra
We saw bow marvelously the Lord did
hep. For many years, more than forty.
lisa. I'll. -. has been TO me a strong
message 5som God. Il. the Lord thy
God. viii hold thy right hand. saying
unto thee. Fear not | VIII help thee"
Nehemiah signifies the comfort II Je-
hovah," and we certainly see II Illus
frated In the story of Nehemiah
Hackaliah signifies hidden OF Jeho-
hid with Christ In God (Col. III, 81, but
IT Is sadly true that the God of all
comfort lI Cor l. 81 does not seem to
be known as such by many of His peo-
pie. and His comfort seems to be hid
den from them When the final resto
they shall have seen and received their
Messiah. then they shall be comfor.ed
indeed. according to lisa. XII 1: Xvi. 10
We saw In a former lesson that Ezra
found very sad state OF affairs in
Jerusalem upon his return thither and
miah learned from some who had just
returned that things were still very
bad. the wall broken down, the gates
burned and the people In great afflic-
ton and reproach verses 2. 81.
1t seems ipeomprehensible that II
with so much wealth and sncb authori-
~ from the king of Persia. But then.
as now. patient continuance and con-
slant zeal are necessary. and people
are inclined to grow weary In well do
ing. Nehemiah. like Ezra. was man
given to prayer and fasting. and these
sad tidings sent him to the God OF
heaven with weeping and mourning
verse A.. Lesson verses SILL give us
his prayer at that time. Another great
prayer of his Is found In chapter TX
and these. with such prayers as those
of Asa. Jehoshaphat. Hezekiah and
Daniel. are most helpful studies II we
would learn how to pray Gil Chron
xiv. IL: Xxx. Gig: ii Kings xix. IA 10:
Dan. ixl The Incompatible prayer Is
that OF our Lord Jesus In John xvii
Note in the prayer OF our lesson the
confession OF sin and unwortbiness
which we all and always have rea.
son to plead. even though. II we are
true believers. we may say. as he did.
I'VE are Thy servants and Thy people.
whom Thou hast redeemed by Thy
great power and by Thy strong hand"
verse 10, 1t Is continually true that
unless We honor God and magnify Him
by consistent life. a life of peace and
Joy and victory over besetting sins. we
are bringing reproach upon His name.
but not many lay 1t to heart. as Nehe-
miah did. not remembering that we are
here In christ's stead to represent Him
In some measure as He did the Father.
Nehemiab's reminding God that they
were His people and His servants
makes us thi,k OF lisa xii. q. Z. mar
gin where We are called the Lord :
remembrances and told TO take 10 rest
and give Him no rest until He shall
have made Jerusalem a praise on the
earth That will be the time OF abid-
ing comfort for Israel when God shall
take away the rebuke of His people
from OF all the earth. and they shall
not see evil any more lisa. XIV. g. o:
Zeph. iii. IA. 15). Few In these days
seem to know or care that God has
chosen Jerusalem to put His name
there that Israel shall yet blossom and
bud and Gil the face of the earth with
fruit and that all nations shall 70 up
from year to year to worship the King.
the Lord of hosts at Jerusalem. and
the kingdom shall be the Lords Qsa.
xvii. 6: Jer. lii. II. IS: Zech. xiv. 10:
Obad. 21j.
In lesson verse 3 note his reyerent
alteration Of God and compare Ter.
6. I. 10; xxxii. II: Elk. xzxiv. d .: Acts
". "a. and be encouraged TO trust more
fully the God OF heaven and earth the
living God. who givefh us richly all
things TO enjoy q Tim. vi. Ia. See
uOW ANcHtluidu says dEdiD anu urdDi
my God" and "Our God" d. 8. Y, IS:
iv. go: VI l6,. reminding US OF Da-
vid's "our own God" FPS. xvii. ii. and
Of Thomas MY Lord and my God
John XIX. 2S,. Day and night he con,
tinued to confess before God the sins
Of his people. taking his place with
them as one Of them. excusing nothing
palliating nothing oversees 6. a. This
IL the only way of blessing prov
xviii. Is; John |. 81. He reminded
God Of His words to Moses rested on
the word of God and pleaded His
faithfulness oversees s. 81. This also
did David in Ps. cxix. 40.
Having poured out his soul on behalf
of his people. he asked special favor
on his own behalf. and yet 1t was for
their sakes as their benefactor Verse
III. For this special personal favor be
waited patiently month after month.
though the distress at Jerusalem made
: onavx, he v,ooSoH odio 70