The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1917-10-26
INTERNATIONAL.
.SUllDNS1OM,
LESSON
0y REV. r. d. FTTZWATEH, D. n,
Teacher OF English Bible In the Meody
Bible institute OF Chicngo.)
tcopyrisht. 1917. Western Nevspapsr unssaD
EsSNY
LESSON FOR ocTosER %
EZRA RETURNING FROM Easy.
LON.

LEGION TExr-Esra s:fy-A
| e upon All them for good that seek him--
An interval Of some nifty yeafs In
tervenes between the dedication Of the
temple and the journey Of Ezra to Pal
esti1e. 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 WINS
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 II evil
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 &C
complishment Of this purpose, he '.pre-
pared his heart to seek the law Of the
Lord and to do 1t, 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 1t. Third: to teach It to others.
The last Is impossible without the FIRST
two.
The royal commission granted to
Ezra embraced
~ The return Of all whose free will
prompted them to do so (7:13).
(2)I Ezra's being given magisterial
authority over the district beyond tho
river" (7:25, 28).
(3) Exemption from taxation to the
Levites q: 24).
az Conveyance OF offerings from the
king and his officers t7:15. 19).
Z. Register Of Exra's Companions
(1-14). Doubtless this is q representa-
live list of those who Joined Ezra.
There Ii clear implication that the
welve tribes are represented among
!hoseswho returned. (See 2:70; csc.
T.)
~. Ezra Sends to lido for Ministers
for the Temple Service wv. 1920. Be
:ore the journey to Palestine was ac-
tually begun, Ezra gathered about him
Ills 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
we're in thescompany. So he sent chief
men to lido, who was doubtless the
president of the school Of the Leyites,
for ministers for Gods house, In re-
Spouse to this appeal, SO Levites and
200 Nethinims Joined him.
| III. Ere osekIno the Guidance Of
the Lord wv. 21-23). The Journey was
full of deadly perils. It 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 IL nne
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 10
confidently and repeatedly spoken to
the king of the divine sufiiciency 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 1t and upon 1t. We should not 20
anywhere, engage In any business or
have any friendship upon which we may
| not ask Gods blessing and aid. They