Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-10-26
DIR. MARION McH. HULL.

DIR. MARION McH. HULL.
One of the outstanding characters in
history is Ezra. about whom we study
today; for it was he who compiled the
books of the law and made them avail
able to us, as we'll as the chief histor-
ical books of the Old Testament.
Ezra was the son of Seraiah who
was the chief priest when Nebuchad"
nezzar invaded the kingdom of judah
Seraiah, Ezra's father, was killed N
the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnez-
zar5s reign. B. c. 5S6. When the Exc
dus took place in the first year Of Cy-
rus B. c. $50, Ezra was at least 0O
years of age; therefore, when the foua-
dation of the temple was laid, IN the
second year of Darius, &. c. $40, ana
finished in the sixth year of Darius, e.
c. 514, Ezra was IS and 20 years DID,
respectively. 1t was the next year, the
seventh year of Darius, when he was Il
years of age, that he led the second eS-
odus from Babylon, and not the sew
enth wear of Artaxerxes LonSimanus,
B. C. ass, as is stated by practically
every commentator; for then Ezra
would have been 12s years old. And
when he marched around the walls WIN
Nehemiah, in the twentieth year ne
would have been 141 years old instead
ter date was the twentieth year or "a
rims. not of Artaxerxes Longimanus, as
the chronologists say.
Emphasis is laid upon this chronol-
ogy, however, because OF the "lue
spread error about it, There were
not 81 wears between the completion OF
the temple, in the sixth year or Darius
and the return of Ezra in the seventh
year of Artaxerxes Longimanus' nuI
only one year between the complexion
of the temple in the sixth year of va
RUS and the return OF Ezra IN the sew
enth year of Darius.
POWERS PLENIPOTENTlARn. an,
1t was probably through NordecaIs l Ill
ence a. court that Ezra secured the decree drOa
Artayerxes Jwho was also Darius HystaspeS
and the Ahasuerus of Esther.) Mordecai nau
not been elevated as yet to the place OF pIitn'
minister; this occurred five years later Estne. .
was made queen a few months Iatet In Ina'
same wear but Mordecai already held po-
siffop of authority In the Persian court; As
intense a patriot as he was, tnere Goui inf,,s
ence to get as liberal a decree from tne Ains
as he could, and right well he succeeded Iof
on the first day of the first month OF me
seventh year of Artaxerxes (or DARIUS, tne
king authorized Ezra TO go back TO Jerusalem en-
and take with him all who cared 10 go, 100
ayoiIed themselves of this privilege. HE gave
thom very liberal donation OF large num-
Der of vessels of gold and silver ana 1urIn n.
more authorized the governors TO give G ~
Ubnteyer money he needed, up to S0,OUU,oOV'
for the purchase Of animals and materials LOT
sacrifice and for any other purpose winch IN
Ezras judgment was deemed ADVISABLE, Eseu s;rn
ing that he and those who returned WIN niin
pray for the king and his sons. ~
He granted immunity from taxation TO al
priests and Levities ana conIerru upOn q, lie
and death, in case he desired to exercise II
upon those who would not keep the law OF 90" o
king had the authority to grant such powers,
and also a grave as to whether IL was
expedient to have exempted the priests ana n
Levites from taxation; but we nave not 'ne
space to discu, So those questions now.
THE HAND OF GOD.
One Of the characteristics. of Ezra,s Ire was
God and to do it. and TO teach it, Ihe power
which Ezra exerted was not something wnlcn
just happened to him but , came re as b.d fsTsn
time TO dig into all the the old records and
compiled the law. first to find out what the
law was; but he had higher motive tnan mere
kuowIedee of il he wanted to know it 30 that
he might do it. When the law gnpped MIN,
he was able to grip others as he taught IL 70
them.
one of the serious disadvantages Of modern
life is the intense hurry which prevents time
for meditation. The Psalmist said, when l
unused the fires burned" I very much rear
that i'm our hurry we do not mediate upon
Gods word as we should, and that too much
of our Bible study is for teaching II, rather
than first applying il to our own hves; out
we cannot make It grip others until II mas
gripped us You know the old story Of the
question which was asked Ihe men NJ Ihe
cross-road grocery store: what do you here
all day?'' to which the reply was MADE, wen,
we sit and think. and sometimes we just sit
The city man may we'll envy his country
brother the opportunity which be has to sit
and think
After Ezra had been given the decree, ten
DAYS later he proclaimed a fast, having gain
cred the people who were going with him al
the river Ahava; this was the point where the
road became dangerous. Ezra was not willing
TO undertake so perilous journey before first
humblng himself before God and asking His
guidance He was ashamed to ask military
escort of the king. because he had boasted
that the hand Of God would be with him and
all those who feared Him. God honored his
! faith: for after three days Of fasting and
| prayer he set out, and arrived In Jerusalem
! four months later without having lost man
or vessel.
Another of the characteristics Of Ezra was
| his ability to recognize that it was the hand
/ of God that had made Darius liberal IN
| his decree; that it the hand Of God that had
| induced some Of the LeviteS to go with hlm
when he found that none had volunteered al
! first: that It was the hand Of God which had
delivered them from all their enemies on the
| way.
! This is one OF the differences between the
| Christian man and the wording Of today; the
one sees God and His guiding hand In the
| small details Of his life, the other thinks
| God is too high and holy to take any interest
| in our human affairs.
Let Ezra's set purpose in life he yours; seek
| to know Gods word; make up your mind 70
do it when you have found 1t out: and then
! teach il to others.
Open your eyes that you may see all about
| you the good hand Of orr God: for truly God
| hand is controlling the affairs Of every mans
life, whether he be a Christian or an infidel