prophets and kings-第96节
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God as His people。 Strength would be gained； not through wealth； not through the power and influence of idolatrous men； but through the favor of God。 Only by keeping the law of the Lord before them； and striving to obey it； would they be protected。
This knowledge of the conditions under which they would continue to enjoy the prospering hand of God； lent more than ordinary solemnity to the consecration service that was held by Ezra and his company of faithful souls just before their departure。 〃I proclaimed a fast there； at the river of Ahava；〃 Ezra has declared of this experience； 〃that we might afflict ourselves before our God； to seek of Him a right way for us； and for our little ones； and for all our substance。〃 〃So we fasted and besought our God for this： and He was entreated of us。〃 Verses 21； 23。
The blessing of God； however； did not make unnecessary the exercise of prudence and forethought。 As a special precaution in safeguarding the treasure； Ezra 〃separated twelve of the chief of the priests〃men whose faithfulness and fidelity had been proved〃and weighed unto them the silver； and the gold； and the vessels； even the offering of the house of our God； which the king； and his counselors； and his lords； and all Israel there present； had offered。〃 These men were solemnly charged to act as vigilant stewards over the treasure entrusted to their care。 〃Ye are holy unto the Lord；〃 Ezra declared； 〃the vessels are holy also； and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the Lord God of your fathers。 Watch ye； and keep them； until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites；
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and chief of the fathers of Israel； at Jerusalem； in the chambers of the house of the Lord。〃 Verses 24；25；28；29。
The care exercised by Ezra in providing for the transportation and safety of the Lord's treasure； teaches a lesson worthy of thoughtful study。 Only those whose trustworthiness had been proved were chosen； and they were instructed plainly regarding the responsibility resting on them。 In the appointment of faithful officers to act as treasures of the Lord's goods； Ezra recognized the necessity and value of order and organization in connection with the work of God。
During the few days that the Israelites tarried at the river； every provision was completed for the long journey。 〃We departed；〃 Ezra writes； 〃on the twelfth day of the first month； to go unto Jerusalem： and the hand of our God was upon us； and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy； and of such as lay in wait by the way。〃 Verse 31。 About four months were occupied on the journey； the multitude that accompanied Ezra； several thousand in all； including women and children； necessitating slow progress。 But all were preserved in safety。 Their enemies were restrained from harming them。 Their journey was a prosperous one； and on the first day of the fifth month； in the seventh year of Artaxerxes； they reached Jerusalem。
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Chapter 51
A Spiritual Revival
Ezra's arrival in Jerusalem was opportune。 There was great need of the influence of his presence。 His coming brought courage and hope to the hearts of many who had long labored under difficulties。 Since the return of the first company of exiles under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua； over seventy years before； much had been accomplished。 The temple had been finished； and the walls of the city had been partially repaired。 Yet much remained undone。
Among those who had returned to Jerusalem in former years； there were many who had remained true to God as long as they lived； but a considerable number of the children and the children's children lost sight of the sacredness of God's law。 Even some of the men entrusted with responsibilities were living in open sin。 Their course was largely neutralizing the efforts made by others to advance the cause of God； for so long as flagrant violations of the law
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were allowed to go unrebuked； the blessing of Heaven could not rest upon the people。
It was in the providence of God that those who returned with Ezra had had special seasons of seeking the Lord。 The experiences through which they had just passed； on their journey from Babylon； unprotected as they had been by any human power； had taught them rich spiritual lessons。 Many had grown strong in faith； and as these mingled with the discouraged and the indifferent in Jerusalem； their influence was a powerful factor in the reform soon afterward instituted。
On the fourth day after the arrival； the treasures of silver and gold； with the vessels for the service of the sanctuary； were delivered by the treasures into the hands of the temple officers； in the presence of witnesses； and with the utmost exactitude。 Every article was examined 〃by number and by weight。〃 Ezra 8：34。
The children of the captivity who had returned with Ezra 〃offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel〃 for a sin offering and as a token of their gratitude and thanksgiving for the protection of holy angels during the journey。 〃And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants； and to the governors on this side the river： and they furthered the people； and the house of God。〃 Verses 35； 36。
Very soon thereafter a few of the chief men of Israel approached Ezra with a serious complaint。 Some of 〃the people of Israel； and the priests； and the Levites〃 had so far disregarded the holy commands of Jehovah as to intermarry
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with the surrounding peoples。 〃They have taken of their daughters for themselves； and for their sons；〃 Ezra was told； 〃so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people〃 of heathen lands； 〃yea； the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass。〃 Ezra 9：1； 2。
In his study of the causes leading to the Babylonish captivity； Ezra had learned that Israel's apostasy was largely traceable to their mingling with heathen nations。 He had seen that if they had obeyed God's command to keep separate from the nations surrounding them； they would have been spared many sad and humiliating experiences。 Now when he learned that notwithstanding the lessons of the past； men of prominence had dared transgress the laws given as a safeguard against apostasy； his heart was stirred within him。 He thought of God's goodness in again giving His people a foothold in their native land； and he was overwhelmed with righteous indignation and with grief at their ingratitude。 〃When I heard this thing；〃 he says； 〃I rent my garment and my mantle； and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard； and sat down astonied。
〃Then were assembled unto me everyone that trembled at the words of God of Israel； because of the transgression of those that had been carried away； and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice。〃 Verses 3； 4。
At the time of the evening sacrifice Ezra rose； and； once more rending his garment and his mantle； he fell upon his knees and unburdened his soul in supplication to Heaven。 Spreading out his hands unto the Lord； he exclaimed； 〃O my God； I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to
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Thee； my God： for our iniquities are increased over our head； and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens。
〃Since the days of our fathers；〃 the suppliant continued； 〃have we been in a great trespass unto this day； and for our iniquities have we； our kings； and our priests； been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands； to the sword； to captivity； and to a spoil； and to confusion of face； as it is this day。 And now for a little space grace hath been showed from the Lord our God； to leave us a remnant to escape； and to give us a nail in His holy place； that our God may lighten our eyes； and give us a little reviving in our bondage。 For we were bondmen； yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage； but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia； to give us a reviving； to set up the house of our God； and to repair the desolations thereof； and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem。
〃And now； O our God； what shall we say after this？ for we have forsaken Thy commandments； which Thou hast commanded by Thy servants the prophets。 。 。 。 And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds； and for our great trespass； seeing that Thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve； and hast given us such deliverance as this； should we again break Thy commandments； and join in affinity with the people of these abominations？ wouldest not Thou be angry with us till Thou hadst consumed us； so that there should be no remnant nor escaping？ O Lord God of Israel； Thou art righteous： for we remain yet escaped； as it is this day： behold； we are before Thee in our trespasses： for we cannot stand before Thee because of this。〃 Verses 6…15。
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The sorrow of Ezra and his associates over the evils that had insidiously crept into the very heart of the Lord's work； wrought repentance。 Many of those who had sinned were deeply affected。 〃
