The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-10-25
LESSON TExT-Ezra 81

s dent that the work done by Zerubbabe
: had largely failed. of its aim. In orde
that Ezra might be an efficient instru
ment in the hands of God for the &C
5 complishment of this purpose, he "pre
pared his heart to seek the law of thu
] Lord and to do it, and to teach In Is
] rael the statutes and judgments
; e 10Y. There are three stages in thu
, experience of every true teacher. First
to seek the law of the Lord. Second
, to do it. Third: to teach it to others
!, The last is impossible without the first
two.
The royal commission granted to
Ezra embraced
Cd The return of all whose free will
prompted them to do so e :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 e rs, 19).
!. Register of Ezra's Companions
(1-14). Doubtless this is representa-
There is clear implication that the
twelve tribes are represented among
thoseswho returned. .(See 2 10; 6 :16,
no
II. 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 theacompany. 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, SO .Levites and
220 Nethinims joined him.
III. Ezra Seeking the Guidance of
the Lord wv. 21-23). The journey was
full of deadly perils. 1t lay through
a region invested with Bedouin ma
RAIDERS Ezra, fully conscious of these,
and shamed to ask help of the king,
proclaimed 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 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 a guard of sol
diers would cause him to blush with
shame. In this critical hour they COM
tod u, ~ - L
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 1t. We should not 60 !,
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. 24-30). Combined
With their faith in God, we find prac-
ical business sense. Honest, trust
worthy, good men were selected ".
~. To such only should be intrusted
he Lords money-gifts offered freely
o 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
rusted to them. Men Ought to be held
0 strict account for everything intrust-
to them, to the very last cent. The
1en to whom this was intrusted were
oily; the gifts were Gods; they did
ot belong to any man; they were
harged with the obligation to deliver
lese gifts before the chief priests.
v. The Safe Arrival at Jerusalem
Wv. 31-36). The journey lasted four
lonths. They carried with them mil
ons of dollars worth of treasure,
trough a region infested with maraud-
lg Bedouins, yet God delivered them
ON their hands. At the end of the
,urney they testified to the faithful
ess of God in bringing them safely on
'. 81. The safe arrival at the end
each days journey is due to the
BOD hand Of our God upon us. After
sting three days, the treasure was
ought into the temple and burnt Of
rings we're made before the Lord Je-