The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1922-08-17
SUNDAY, AUGUST 20.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 20.
THE SECOND RETURN FROM
EXILE-Ezra Ills; Sc.
The hand of our God is upon all them
for good that seek Him.-Ezra S:22
THE CURTAINED YEARS
Persia struggled for world suprem-
acy against Greece. became decaden5
and ultimately went down before AL
eXander. Jerusalem had become
again the heart of the Jewish world
with its rebuilt temple and restored
sacrifice. But the years were mark
ed by the dimming of ideals and the
lowering of religious vitality in the
long, slow march toward the fulfill
ment of their dream. Samaritans,
Edomites and other enemies haressed
the little, struggling colony Zerub-
babel disappears and the rich promise
of Haggai was disappointed. Malachi
draws depressing picture of forms
kept with sick and faulty offerings,
with complaints and family degener-
acy. 1t was as disheartening a de-
nouement as the new world that has
followed the high day of the armis-
tice. Evidently the RIGA Babylonian
Jews had allowed the colonists to look
out for themselves and the shift of
empire through the century and a
half since the exile had given small
chance for the heather world to do
other than Cypress. Perhaps the
Egyptian situation with its need to
be kept within the empire by force of
arms had something to do with the
renewed interest of the throne in
making this position a strong buffer
against any peril from the West.
Ezra appears upon the scene as u
favorite with the king and d devoted
jew trained in all the knowledge Of
the Hebrew and stepped in her finest
traditions. With his ancestry run
ming back to Aaron and his prestly
office, he took to the restoration of the
ritual and the development of the
temple as naturally as one breathes
and when the openeing was made by
the king he eagerly embraced it and
the curtain lifts upon one of adven-
lures of history.
There is little limit put to his
power. The king wanted a new band
of colonists to reinforce the others
who had gone out sixty or seventy
years beofre. Money WIS to be pro-
vided by the state and by free-wiIl
offerings from the Jews, all of which
Ezra might spend as he chose after
making the stipulated offerings. Req
uisitions were ordered upon the royal
treasures for more money, wheat
etc. and a whole new set of magis-
trates were to be appointed by him.
is it little wonder that such a COM
mission should bring a pean of praise
from the life of the priest in which
his first note is that of love for the
temple Of his God. The church far
outranked and personal matter in his
mind and while there could not fail
to be the Joy of his own place in the
plan, the beauty of his Lords house
came first. If given high office would
we be gladdened more by that or by
the privilege Of helping forward the
Church of Christ?
THE. CROWNED CONSCIENCE
Days of inspection followed the
gathering of the clans at Ahava in
which the plans for the four months
journey were considered. The miss
ing Levites, enamored of their high
er rating in Babylon than in Jerusa-
lem, were hesitant to return to the
lowered grade, but for the sake of
service a group of them responded to
Ezra's special appeal All along their
route, with million dollars of treas
ure, were waiting bands of Bedouin
robbers; how were these to be elud-
ed! CommOnsense said: "Ask the
KING for an escort of soldiers" But
Ezra was ashamed to do anything of
the kind for had he not boosted of
Jehovah's protection for those who
trust Him? If his word failed in deed
would not his God be dishonored in
the eyes of the heather? He would
dare great things for God. But
there was shrewd, level-headed plan
ming by this junior partner of God
q Co. Gray matter was literally
mixed with prayer and trust and the
action offers no comfort to reckless
disregard for the means that God has
provided for health and security.
There were 1896 men beside slaves,
and no small band of robbers would
dare to attack. The very absence of
soldiers with the known presence of