New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-10-26
LESSON FOR OCTOBER %
EZRA RETURNING FROM BABY
LON.

LON.
LESSON TExT-Ezra s:iS-3s.
GOLDEN TEXT-The hand of our Coz
g upon all them for good that seek him.
Ezra 81.
An interval Of some fifty years In
t%ervenes between the dedication of thu
temple and the journey of Ezra to Pal
estine. Some stirring events in thu
world occurred In this time which
greatly helped the Jews. 1t was dug
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
suspicious for Ezra to make his re
quest unto Artaxerxes. The supreme
aim Of Ezra was the restoration of the
dent that the work done by Z%erubbabel
had largely failed of It's aim. In order
that Ezra might be an efficient instru'
ment in the hands of God for the nc
complishment Of this purpose, he "pre'
pared his heart to seek the law OF the
Lord and to do it, and to teach In Is
rael the statutes and Judgments
T:1O). 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 oil whose free will
prompted them to do SO 0:13).
(2) Ezra's being given magisterial
authority over the district beyond the
river" (7:25. 26).
(3) Exemption from taxation to the
Levites (7:24).
(4) Conveyance of offerings from the
king and his officers Gas, 1917.
!. 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
those who returned. (See 2:7O; GIG,
17.)
II. Ezra Sends to lido for Ministers
for the Temple Service wv. 1920. Be-
fore the journey to Palestine was &C.
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 the company. So he sent chief
men to lido, who was doubtless the
president of the school Of the Levites,
for ministers for Gods house. In re-
Spouse to this appeal. 80 Levites and
300 Nethlnims Joined him.
~. Ezra Seeking the Guidance Of
the Lord wv. 21-23). The journey was
full Of deadly perils. 1t lay through
a region invested with Bedouln 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 is a fine
illustration of the independence, and
yet dependence. Of the men who fully
trust God. His chief oncer was for
the honor of Gods name. He had so
and repeatedly spoken to
the king of the divine sufliciency that
10Y to have asked for Il 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 It and upon it. We should not 60
engage in any business or
have any friendship upon which we may
ask Gods blessing and aid. They
this for themselves, for their
children, and all their substance. They
knew that as soon as they made God
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. God did
not disappOint them, for they safely
reached their destination. He never
~. The Treasure Committed to
Twelve Priests wv. 24-3O). Combined
with their faith in God, we find prac-
-ical business sense. Honest, trust
worthy. good men were selected ".
28). 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.
The men were held accountable at the
nd Of the journey for everything in
to them. Men ought to be held
o strict account for everything intrust-'
d to them, to the very last cent. The
men to whom this was intrusted we're
the gifts were Gods; they did
lot belong to any man; they were
with the obligation to deliver
hese gifts before the chief priests and