Evening star., 1922-08-19


that seek him."-Ezra, S.22.
Every epoch finds the truth for
which 1t stands expressed in the per-
sonality of great leader. The man
with the message. that moves men In
every crisis. has always been the one
God prepared for that hour. No two
men have ever been prepared alike.
The Lords method of fitting men for
their work considers the personality
of the individual and the place of
service Moses was educated in the
leading university Of Egypt and the
school of experience in the desert
wilderness for the work to which God
called him. Paul was trained in the
literature and law, culture and civili-
cation of the Greeks, Romans and
Jews to be the ambassador to the
Gentiles. Ezra was educated in Baby
Ion during the period following the
return of the exiles to Jerusalem
from the captivity under Zerrubabel.
Ezra was called of God to his life
work. He was given a vision of the
conditionh of the cause of Jehovah in
Palestine. During the sixty years
that had passed since the pilgrims
had returned to Jerusalem to rebuild
the temple and restore the worship of
Jehovah. there had come religious
decline in the life of the Jewish peo-
pie. They had forgotten the purpose
of their return. The walls of Jeru-
salem had not been rebuilt. The tenn
pie worship had been restored, but
the people had become Indifferent to
God and His law. Capitalists were
acting unjustly with their debtors.
The public life was corrupt. Govern
ment officials were grafters who we're
influenced by their love of gold and
gain. The civic and commercial life
reflected the religious life, which was
even worse. The peoples need was
call to service.
Ezra recognized the inner call of
God summoning him to become the
reformer and restorer of his people.
He had been prepared for the task by
his sympathy with the spiritual
teachings of Moses. His heart beat
in unison with the will of God and
he desired to do His will. He had
fitted himself as priest by mas
terry of the sacred writings. In fact.
he is credited with forming the canon
of the Hebrew scriptures, which he
collected. and restored rolls which
had perished when the temple in Je
rusalem was destroyed. He is said
Ito have introduced the square He
brew letters and to have invented
the vowel points of the Massora. He
was called the father of the Great
Synagogue, over which he presided.
His qualifications were recognized
by the king, who commissioned him
to guide the second expedition. No
question that he was chosen of God
for the work of reformation. Ezra
responded to the call to service. as
he had when called to study. so that
he should be thoroughly prepared to
teach the statues and ordinances of
God to his people.
Ezra reveals his ability as an or
ganiZer and man of faith when he
assembled at Ahava those who were
to make the journey to the holy land
wit hnyr ,p.l = lnI O
reviewed the people and priests and
noted the absence of Levites. They
had not responded in great numbers
at first. because they recognized that
at Jerusalem they would not hold as
high a place as they did in Babylon,
where they were equal with the
priests. By a tactful self-sacrifice
Ezra secured the cooperation of the
Levites from Casphia, which made it
possible for him to divide the respon-
journeys activities.
When the plans for the pilgrimage
march were all completed, Ezra
proved that he was a man of faith
by calling them to join in prayer
meeting, so that they would be pro-
tected by the power of Jehovah dur
ing the Journey They faced dan,
gers en- route. Bandit bands roved
them successfully at many places.
The gifts. valued at about $4,000. 600,
would tempt many a Bedouin tribe.
Ezra could have secured, by asking
of the king. an escort of soldiers for
the power of Artarxerxes had long
reach and could protect the pilgrims.
Ezra could not reconcile his profess
of faith in Jehovah's power by re-
questing the armed guard. He be-
lieved that it would be inconsistent
to protect Gods people, and the val
liable temple treasures that they were
taking to Jerusalem.
He called upon his followers to fast
as well as pray. He summoned them
to repent from their sins and submit
to Gods will. He made them recog-
nize the supremacy of the spiritual
life. Modern psychology helps us to
understand the power of prayer. 1t
teaches us that we are not like i'm
penetrable rocks. always the same. |
but that we are like lake fed by
subterranean streams. Through
prayer our personality, or spirit is
brought into communion with God
and we receive power from Him. We
open up the hidden forces of our
spiritual life by worship, study of
the Bible or secret prayer. There is
no better way to equip ones self for !
service than by prayer, for it is a !!
channel through which God bestows |
us. Ezra and his expeditionary force |
were filled with power from above as |
a result of their fasting and prayer. !
Ezra assigned to each member of |
the pilgrimage party definite task |
and responsibility. He developed |
unity of action by creating a spirit |
of dependence upon God for protec- !.
tion throughout the trip. Every one !
was fitted for the personal task as |
signed to him because they were all |
thoroughly consecrated. Each one |
was given a definite portion of the |
Offering for the poor in Jerusalem |
and the restoration of the temple. 1t |
was done systematically and. when |
they reached the end of their !
Journey, a correct account proved the |
fidelity of all, who shared the re-
sponsibility of carrying the treasures |
to Jerusalem.
Only spiritual men could have made
that long and dangerous march. Their
success was due the guidance of the !
Lord. "who delivered" them from !,
the hand of the enemy and of such !
as lay in wait by the way" The |
failure of many an excellent enter /
prise. founded in prayer for the glory !
the work has been placed in the |
hands of those who never knew their |
Lord to carry out His program. Gods J
work requires the services of conse- |
Grated men and women today. Only |
those whose hearts God has touched |
with the renewing grace of regenera- |
tion, filled their hearts with love of |
souls and annointed with the power |
Of the Holy Split are thoroughly !
service. 1t was such band of men |
who followed Ezra to the promised |
land. They depended upon God to |
guide and guard them. If we trusted /