November, 1935
416
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
INTERNATIONAL LESSON Commentary Outline and Exposition Blackboard Lesson Children’s Division Golden Text Illustration , Object Lesson B y B. B. S utcliffe B y B essie B. B urch B y H elen G ailey B y A lan S. P earce B y E lmer L. W ilder Points and Problems B y A lva J. M c C lain , Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, Ohio
scribe was a scholar of the Law, one who made the study and interpretation of the Law his profession. Ezra was both a priest and a scribe, but the two things did not always go together. The scribes grad ually developed as a separate class outside the priesthood. They were the experts in matters of Law, sometimes called in the New Testament “lawyers” and “doctors of the law” (Matt. 22:35; Lk. 5 :17). D oubt-} less, at the time o f Christ both o f the leading parties, Pharisees and Sadducees, had their own scribes who rendered expert opinions on the’ Mosaic Law. See Acts 23:9 which speaks o f “the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part.” 3. “ The Nethinims” (7 :7 ). The word occurs only in 1 Chronicles 9 :2, and sixteen times in Ezra and Nehemiah. Since the ending “ im" indicates the plural in Hebrew, it is redundant to add the “s” as s in some editions o f the Bible, and the American Revision has properly dropped it. The word literally means “ given” or “dedicated,” and refers to a class of temple servants, for the most part probably either prisoners o f war or their descendants who had been devoted to the more menial tasks related to the temple service. By the end o f the exile, the Nethinim as a class had acquired a standing o f -some importance, being assigned a certain locality in Jerusa lem where they dwelt under their own overseers (Neh. 3:26; 11:21).v Along with the Levites and priests, they were exempt from “toll, tribute, or custom” according to the decree o f Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:24). Ezra 8 :20 traces many o f them back to appointments made by ’David and his princes, and suggests that they were in the service of the Levites. Golden Text Illustration There is a celebrated picture by an emin- , ent artist, worth a vast sum o f money, yet it is only a picture of two hands. This masterpiece is designed to represent the hands of the Lord Jesus, and is so perfectly done that none can gaze on it unmoved. Very few reverent Christians care for qny pictorial representation of the Lord Jesus. After all, what do we know of His per sonal appearance? The Gospels are silent on this point . . . Yet while there is no description of His form or features, the— sacred records are full o f thrilling ac counts o f His deeds. What He did is ever before us in Holy Writ. Therefore no better representation o f the Lord Jesus could there be than this famous picture. —R obert L ee , in Cameos o f our Lord.
DECEMBER 1, 1935 EZRA’ S MISSION TO JERUSALEM E zra 7:1 to 8:36
journey, there was proof that God was with His servant and was pleased with the. course he had taken, Ezra realized that there must be the Lord’s control over every detail, and without fasting and prayer that would bring the people to a recognition of the divine leadership, the successful issue of the undertaking would remain in doubt. Nothing should be a l lowed to take the place o f this exercise among God’s people. III. E zra ’ s D eliverance from E nemies (8:31, 32). After the time spent in fasting and prayer, the journey began (v. 31). Time spent in waiting before God is always time saved in the actual accomplishment of any enterprise with which the Lord intrusts His people. The value of such preparation is seen in the presence of the hand of God and in the deliverance o f His people from the enemies encountered on the way (v. 31). Ezra and his followers were delivered from seen and unseen foes; they were led by the right way across the un known wilderness; and they were protect ed from all the dangers of that way. The enemies were not removed; they were always present. But they were powerless to hinder or to harm those who trusted in the Lord. At last, after four months of toilsome journeying, the people were brought to their desired haven (v. 32). Thus may the Lord’s people today, in their journey heavenward, be a testimony to the world of the sufficiency o f the Lord’s pro vision for His own. Points and Problems 1. “Ezra went up from Babylon” (Ezra 7:6 ). The verb shows that the writer knew the geography o f the trip from Ba bylon to Jerusalem. Caravans did not strike west across the desert from Babylon, but literally “went up” as they followed the Euphrates River around by the north. 2. “He was a ready scribe" (7 :6 ), The term “scribe” does not refer to one who is merely a writer or copyist, as might be supposed by the English word. The Jewish BLACKBOARD LESSON
Ezra 7:6-10; 8:21-23,
Lesson T ext:
31, 32. Golden T ext: “The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him” (Ezra 8:22). Outline and Exposition I. E zra ’ s D esire G ranted ( 7 :6-10). T he opening verses o f this chapter show that genealogies were carefully kept while the people were in captivity. W e are here shown Ezra’s descent from Aaron. But noble ancestry alone is use less, unless the descendants are also noble, as Ezra was. He was a “ready” scribe, acquainted with the Scriptures, and there fore informed concerning God’s purposes for His people. Ezra had asked that he be allowed to lead the people back to Jeru salem, and Artaxerxes the king had grant ed the request (v. 6). The recurring refer ence to the “hand o f his God” should be noted, as it explains Ezra’s success. From the comparatively small number who went with him to Jerusalem, the nation was to be once more established. The journey to Jerusalem was a long and difficult one, beset by danger, but after four months of travel, the party reached its destination (vs. 8, 9). The unseen cause o f Ezra’s request, and of the king’s acquiescence, is revealed in Ezra’s purpose o f heart (v. 10). He had prepared (or “set” ) his heart for a definite purpose—“to seek the law of the Lord.” This is what is needed today: more real heart preparation rather than mere head preparation. Ezra’s desire would not be satisfied until the law of the Lord was accepted, and, after obeying it himself, he desired to teach it through all his nation. II. E zra ’ s D ependence E xpressed (8:21-23). When making his request o f the king, Ezra had declared that God would take care of all the necessities of His people. In the light o f this claim, Ezra was ashamed to ask for the king’s protection on the journey. Accordingly, he proclaim ed a fast, to seek the help of God, “to seek o f him a right way,” for themselves, their little ones, and their possessions. There was a realization of their own ignorance and insufficiency, and there was a knowl edge o f God’s wisdom and ability. We read that they “ fasted and besought . . . God for this.” And they received the an swer, for we read, “He was entreated of us.” Fasting is a confession o f the help lessness and ignorance of human nature and a conscious rejection of self and its desires; at the time time, it is a procla mation o f the Lord’s sufficiency, and an indication of the acceptance of His ways. Even though, in the king’s permission and the providential arrangements for the
Bringing Gifts for God’s House E zra 7 :6-21
Memory Verse: “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him” (1 Chroh. 16:29). Approach: Do you remember the story about Zerubbabel’s leading some o f the Jewish captives back to Jerusalem? You
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