Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-10-27
Sunday School Lesson
Commentary.
z. r. WALKER, D. D.
EzRAs RETURN FROM BABYLON.
z. F. WALKER, D. D.

SZnAo NEIOHN FhOM BABYLON
ezra S:21-32).
Golden Textile hand of our God is
upon all them for good that seek him.
Ezra S:o2.
INTRODUCTORY.
The study of today takes us over
sixty years later than the last. We
have before US lesson in which a per-
son takes very prominent part; for
he was very prominent person-he
is generally believed to be- the author
of this book, though there Is some ar
gument against this conclusion; yet he
certainly contributed much, to say the
least that may be said, to the docu-
mentary material, of the book. The
title of the lesson places the man in
the forefront "Ezras Return From
Babylon"
EXPLANATORY.
Time: B. c. 457.
Place: On road from Babylon to
Jerusalem.
Verses 1920. with about ten thou
sand men, women and children, with
their faces Zionward. Ezra paused by a
river. which was probably the one
called Is in ancient history. about
eight days journey from Babylon to-
ward Jerusalem. There the host pitch
ed tents, and their great leader had a
general review. He would know lust
who and what these thousands of pill
grims were. In all that company he
found none of the sons of Levi.
II. Then I proclaimed a fast there,
at the river of Misunderstanding was a
means of grace. and was much prac-
ticed In olden times among those who
were earnestly religious. Note that
this was before the final start 1t is
not wise to fast in the midst of a Jour-
ney or in the heat of a battle. Wis
dom should dictate that fasting should
precede trial. and not be in the midst
of 1t. Dewey in the midst of battle at
Manila Bay withdrew his fleet that
the fighting men might get breakfast,
and so be better prepared for further
fighting. God here roundly through
Isaiah tells His people what is truly a
fast and what is no fast in His esteem
not to abstain from bread. but to deal
1t to the hungry; this is truly to fast.
Not to wrap ourselves in sackcloth, but
to cover and clothe our naked brother;
this is to be humbled Aims have so
much the pre- -eminence over PRAYER.
that one is begging of Cod the other
lending to Him When the children
of Israel were seeking to depart from
Egypt to the land of promise, Pharaoh
tried to get Them first to leave the
children behind; and then to leave
their flocks and herds. But Moses, the
man of God would not consent. Ev-
erybody and everything went. And
now both the children and the sub
stance were being taken back to the
holy land by the pilgrims; and they
sought divine direction, not only that
themselves but also their families and
property might be led safely through.
~. For l was ashamed to require of
the king band of soldiers and horse
men to help us against the enemy in
the way:-The same king, afterward,
send considerable military escort
with Nehemiah when he was going
back to the same country: and Zerub-
babel, under Cyrus had an escort of a
thousand horsemen; and no doubt Ezra
could have had similar and sufficient
bodyguard If he had asked for it or
even accepted. But there are atti-
tudes of faith In God with which look
ing to man for assistance is inconsist-
emit; and this is what Ezra means by
being ASHAMED"
20. So we tasted. and besought our
God for this; Having made his boast
In the Lord. and in consequence hay
ing placed himself where he could not
have been consistent in the eyes of a
king while asking for his protection.
24-25. Then l separated twelve of
the chief of the priests, Sherebiah,
Hashabiah,-From this reading it
might be understood that these two
whose names are here given were chief
priests, whereas they were not priests
at all, In the sense in which the word
is used; but Levites. as we learn from
verses II and IS. In the Hebrew there
is proposition which Is not translate
ed in our common text
%. And / said unto them, Ye are
molly unto the Lord We are not to
understand that they were personally
molly in the esteem of Ezra but the
| reference is to the sacredness of their
office as priests and Levites They
We're officially as a tribe and an order
set apart from the common pursuits
of life to the ministry of the temple. In
this sense all ministers as such may be
said to be holy; and especially il they
have been ordained to the ministry
set apart for the performance of sacred
functions. But there is another sense
In which all ministers especially should
be holy-the sense of being cleansed
personally from all sin and devoted to
the service and glory of God.
20. Watch we, and keep them,-Thus
they were made custodians of the sa-
cred treasures-very fitting indeed
that those who were officially chosen
by the Lord to serve Him in His
house should have the charge of the
property belonging to Him!-until We
weigh them before the chief of the
priests and Levites, and before the
chief of the fathers of Israel.-So they
were not appointed to have permanent
custody Of this great treasure, but
were eventually to turn It over to those
who already had charge Of such things
at Jerusalem In tha cha m hera of tho