The Green Forest tribune., 1917-10-26
INTERNATIONAL. SUNDAY NI..N.L1. SCHOOL
 LESSON
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 28
EZRA RETURNING FROM BABY.
 LON.
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 LESSON TEET-T zr7 s.15-26
 COL DEN IE=A I-Iue aaul of our God is uuaI a- them for good taal seek ai'a.-
 Al interval ef some fifty years in. teNeu@s between the dedication of inc temple and inc laurey of Ezra to Pal. eslue. Some stirring e1rns iH the world occurred in lhis time winch greatly helped the Jews. It was dur' ing tH.s time that tbe episode ot EstbeE $ being mude queen aud 3ae eip- vatlua al 3I14H4eur oeearrs1. winch .a. yoral.v disposed the Persian ZaIeru- ueut tas."rd t'4a Jews. The time was au>Die50Us for Ezra to make his re- quest unto A5aEplXes. The supreme aim CT Ezra MAS the restoration ot the true worship of Jehovah for it lS eIi- dent uat the work done by Zerubhai:ci had largely failed of ills ajm in order that Ezra mi@Hs be an efficient instru' meat in the hands of God for the de- c0mU.islmept of this purpose. he 'pre- pared his heart to seek Che law of the Lord and 10 do it, and t0 teach in ls- rael the statutes and judgments (7:107. There are three sta .e1 in the experience of every true teacher First; to seek the laU of tine 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 v.7.-,,5,,+,l t1t.,,7 to 1t sp (7 .1bA
 @ Ezru's being given masiSterial authority over inc district "beyond the rivera (7:2J, 2G).
 C3) Exemption from taxation to the Levitgs C ;24}.
 CD Conveyance of offerings from the king and his officers G:lJ, l9).
 |. Register of Ezra's Companions O-1D. 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 10; CHG, 17.)
 II. Ezra Sends to Iddo for Ministers for the Temple Service (vy. 1J=20). Be fore the journey to Palestine was ac- tually begun, Ezra gathered about him his companions who were to accom- pany him, 10 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 Iddo, who WAS doubtless the president of the school of the Levites, for ministers for Gods house. In re- sponse to this appeal. 3S Levites and 220 Nethnims joined him.
 III. Ezra Seeking the Guidance of the Lord (yv. 21-23). The journey was full of deadly perils. Il lay through a region invested with Bedouin ma rauders. 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 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 suficiency that now to have asked for q guard of sol diers would cause him to blush with shame. In this critical hour they com mitted themselves to tie 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 tn 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 forsooL him his power would be withdrawn and his i wrath would be upon them. God did not disappoint them, for they safely reached their destination. He never disappoints.
 ". The Treasure Committed to Twelve Priests (vv. 24-30). Combined with their faith in God, we find pruc- | tieai business sense. Honest, trust worthy, good men were selected (y. l 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. l The men were held accountable at the end of the journey for everything in l trusted to them. Men ought to be held ] to strict account for everything intrust- ed to them, to the very last cent. The 1 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 (vv. 31-36). The journey lasted four months. They carried with them mil. lions of dollars worth of treasure, through a 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 or (v. 31. The safe arrival at the enc
 of each days journey is due to the
 good hand of our God upon us. After
 resting three days, the treasure wal
 brought into the temple and burnt of
 ferings were made to the Lord. Afte
 this, the decree of the PersiaD kin:
 was delivered to the governors whC
 should aid in furthering the people ant
 the House of God.