The Holt County sentinel., 1917-10-26
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDGYSQlO0L
LESSON
LESSON FOR OCTOBER %
EZRA RETURNING FROM Easy.
LON.
LCssON TExT-E.ra s,is-,a

do GOLDEN t TEXT-Tss hand hand Of our God
9 upon all them for good that seek him.
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. II was dur
Ing this time that the episode Of
Esthers being made queen and the ele-
walton Of Mor,iecai occurred. which fa-
vorably disposed the Persian govern.
ment toward the Jews. The time was
suspicious for Ezra TO mike his re-
quest unto Artnxerxes. The supreme
aim Of Ezra was the restoration Of the
true worship Of Jehovah, for II is evi.
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 If God for the &C.
complIshmcnt Of this purpose. he ''pre-
pared his hcnrt TO seek the Inv of the
Lord and to do II. and 10 teach In Is
rael the statutes and Judgments"
GAO. There are three stages In the
experience Of every true teacher. First:
to seek the law VI the Lord. Second:
to do II. Third: to teach II to others.
The Inst Ia impossible without the nrst
two.
The royal commission granted to
Exra EMBRACED
az The return Of all whose free will
prompted them to IN, 30 q :i3).
(2) Ezrn's being given magisteriai
authority over the district beyond the
river" t7:25. 26).
ta) Exemption from taxation TO the
Lcvitcs GEO.
az Conveyance Of offerings from the
kin. and his officers GAS. l0).
.. Register Of Gara's cempanlons
(l.ip Doubtless this Ii q representa-.
tive list VI those who Joined Ezra.
There II clear implication that tho
twelve tribes arc represented anon.
thoseewho returned. (Sec 2:70; 0:lO.
l7.)
n. Esra Sends 10 lido for Ministers
Tor the Temple Service wv. 15-20). he.
fore the journey 10 Palestine was nc.
tunliy begun. Ezra gathered about hin,
his companions who were to accom-.
pany him. TO Nee whether they were
representative. In shis review he dis.
covered that none of the sons II Levi
were In thcscompnny. So he sent chief
men 10 lido, who wns doubtless tho
president Of the school Of the l.evitcs,
for ministers for Gods house. In re-.
Spouse 10 this appeal, ~ Lcyitcs and
30 Ncthiniins Joined him.
~. Ezra Seeking the Guidance Of
the Lord (vv. 2i.23). The Journey was
full Of dcndly perils. II lay through
u region Invested with Bcdouin ma
raudcrs. EZrn. fully conscious ~ these.
aud ashamed Ia nsk help ~ the king,
proclaimed n fast. In which In deep
humiliation they sought the guidance
nnd protection of God. This II u fine
Illustration ~ the independence, andl
yet dependence, Of the men who fully
trust God. His chief concern was for
the honor Of Gods name, lie Ind M
confidently and repeatedly spoken to
the king of the divine suficicncy that
now To hive asked for guard 81 sol
diers would cause him 10 blush with
shame. In this critical hour they COM
| inittcd themselves to the care Of Hin
who keepeih Israel. We should begin
every journey. every undertaking
every new piece ~ work. every new
dny by seeking the direction Of God,
No friendship or business interest ever
I n.