The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1917-11-03
LESSON FOR OCTOBER %
EZRA RETURNING FROM BABY.
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/ EZnN SNSb.
| t t LON.
| LESSON TExT-Ezra s:15-ss.
GOLDEN TEXT-The hand Of our God
Is upon all them for good that seek him.
| Ezra 8:2
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
| auspicious for Ezra to make his re-
quest unto Artaxerxes. The supreme
aim of Ezra was the restoration of the
true worship of Jehovah, for 1t Is 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
(7:1O). 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 1t to others.
The last is impossible without the first
two. . ...
The royal commission granted to
Ezra embraced
(1) The return of all whose free will
prompted them to do SO (7:13).
(2) Ezra's being given magisterial
authority over the district "beyond the
river" (7:25, 26).
81 Exemption from taxation to tho
Levites (7:2N.
az Conveyance of offerings from the
king and his officers 7:15, 19).
I. Register Of Ezra's Companions
(1-14). Doubtless this is a representa-
tive list of those who joined Ezra.
There is clear implication that the
twelve tribes are represented among
thoseswho returned. (See 2:70; GIG,
17.)
%. Ezra Sends to lido for Ministers
for the Temple Service wv. 1920. Be
fore the journey to Palestine was ac-
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
~ <hn crhon1 Cf tho IIou1fnC
for ministers for Gods house. In re-
spouse to this appeal, 50 Levites and
22O Nethinims Joined him.
III. Ezra Seeking the Guidance Of
the Lord wv. 21-23). The journey was
full of deadly perils. 1t lay through
q region invested with Bedouin ma
RAIDERS. Ezra, fully conscious of these,
proclaimed 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
Elitted 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.
\ %~i 1,,,c3 int csxynv
reaches its best unless Gods hand be
In 1t and upon it. We should not go
anywhere, engage in 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 forsook him his
power would be withdrawn and his
wrath would be upon them.
! w. The Treasure Committed to
Twelve Priests wv. 24-S0). 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 intrusted
the Lords Eloney-gifts offered freely
to the Lord by his people. Again, the
money was carefully counted and
weighed, and the amount set down.
The men were held accountable ut the
! end Of the journey for everything In
trusted to them. Men ought to be held
TO strict account for everything intrust.
ell to them, to the very last cent. Fhe
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 deiiye"
these gifts before the chief priests.
v. The Safe Arrival at Jerusalem
| wv 81 -2C) The Journey lnstpd four