The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-08-29
l. The Leader-Ezra (7:1-1O).


ID A priest wv. 1-5). He was from
the line which was to stand between
God and the people, a descendant of
Seraiah, the chief priest who had
lineage back to Aaron. The leader OF
the first company was Zerubbabel,
sort of Military governor. The great
need now was for a religious leader,
for the people had gone far from God.
(2) A ready scribe ". 81.
He was a teacher of the law of
God. A scribes training began at thir-
teen years, but he did not enter upon
his official duties till thirty years Of
age, giving him seventeen years of
training.
2. His high ambition wv. 7-10).
% He set his heart to seek the
law of the Lord ". 10). He definitely
set out with the purpose to know Gods
word No one who purposes in his
heart to seek the law of the Lord can
fail
(2) He set his heart to obey the
Lord ". 10).
He was not only concerned with
knowing Gods word, but obeying it.
Gods word cannot be known in its
fullness by the intellect; it must be
experienced.
90 He set his heart to teach in
Israel Gods statutes and judgments
". 10). He not only had love for
Gods word, but a desire to implant it
in the hearts of others.
II. Ezra's Commission (7:11-2G).
ArtaxcrXes, the king, gave him
copy of the decree, authorizing him to
lead a company back to Jerusalem.
This decree empowered him;
l. To collect funds wv. Is, 16).
2. To levy tribute wv. 81, 22).
3. To appoint magistrates and judges
tv.2O.
4. To execute penalties ". 26).
For this great favor Ezra lifted his
heart II God in thanksgiving wv. q,
2S).
III. The Company Which Returned
(S:1-2O).
The company was comparatively
Small-only seventeen hundred and
fifty-four males, but including wom-
en-, children and servants there we're
perhaps or seven thousand people.
~. Ezra's Prayer and Fasting
(S:21-23).
The first thing that Ezra did was
TO seek Gods guidance. All Christians,
as well as leaders of the people,
should seek divine guidance and help
in every new undertaking. No success
can he realized without His help and
blessing. The reason Ezra sought the
Lords help was that as far as posi-
Bile he desired his mission to be free
from human dependence. He did not
minimize the dangers attending his
Journey but since he had assured the
king that the hand of the Lord would
be upon all for good who sought Him,
he was now ashamed to ask the king
for a military escort to protect them
from the marauding Arabs. His de-
sire was to prove to the king the
reality of Gods helps. for Gods honor
among the heather was at stake This
was a real test of faith, but God was
faithful.
V. The Successful Journey (S:24-
32).
God heard their prayer. The treas
ure entrusted to them was great. Per
haps the entire value of money and
sacred utensils was about five million
dollars. For a small caravan carry
ing such an amount of money to go
through a country infested by robber
bands was most perilous, but Ezra
knew that God was able and would
protect them. Observe:
/. Care and honesty wv. 24-30).
The money was weighed unto them
at the start and was to be weighed
when turned over to the authorities
at Jerusalem. The incentive to hon
esty and strict accounting of the trust
was that they were holy men and
were entrusted with that which was
holy because it belonged to God. Most
eXacting care should be exercised in
handling the Lords money.
.. Their safe arrival wv. 81, 32).
Some four and one-haIf months were
required to make the journey. God
brought them safely to their destina-
ton, thus proving that He is faithful
to those who put their trust in Him.