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THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NESS Ezra had a heart and was possessed of a great and noble purpose, which God recognized, as He always does. Daniel “ purposed in his heart” , and Ezra pur posed in his heart to seek the law of God, to do it and to teach it. He loved God’s law, was loyal to its authority and longed to impart it to others. There is a lesson here which is well worth emphasizing. The events which follow are only the result of Ezra’s pur pose. The history of men in the light of the revelation of God’s purpose, as recorded in the Bible, is intensely in teresting. God always has men in prep aration, and He has at this present time. Present experiences are a part of His preparation. (Psa. 10:17) “Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the. humble; thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt eause thine ear to hear.” God needs spiritually minded men and women, in a church, in a com munity or in the nation,—who realize conditions, who believe in God’s call to prayer for help, who take things upon their hearts and who will determine to do their part in . awakening conviction in the hearts of others, also. This was true of Jehoshaphat when in danger (2 Chron. 20:3), and of Jehoia- kim (Jer. 36:9), and of Esther (Esther 4:16). It was true of Anna, the proph etess (Luke 2:37), and it was true of the early church (Acts 14:23). We know today that in the church and in our country conditions are tre mendously critical; unbelief is ram pant; Satan is making onslaughts upon the Bible more definitely serious than ever before. An appalling wave of crime is involving young and old. Only God can solve the problem, but hun dreds o f good Christian people in the church are hoping to change conditions by making the church attractive instead of making sin atrocious, and are de pending upon worldly ways and means rather than waiting upon God in fast ing and prayer.
Ezra was heavenly wise and his proc lamation was a confession of need and was the proper recognition of their de pendence wholly upon God. (John 6:68) “Lord, to whom shall we got Thou hast the words of eternal life*” The proof of Ezra’s righteous position is found in the 23rd verse, “ He was entreated of us.” “The righteous cry, the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of all their troubles” (Psa. 34:17). You can make a practical demonstration of your position at any time by a similar test. Wait upon the Lord (Psa. 27:14) and if you do you will find Isa. 40:31 to be true: “They that wait upon the Lord shall re new their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (2) THE PRIESTS AND PROVISION, 8:24-30. Following the fasting and prayer, Ezra made a proper provision for the care of the offerings which had been entrusted to him. These offerings were for the Lord’s house. They were sacred, and Ezra used practical methods for their security. The gold and silver and precious copper was weighed, the ves sels were tabulated, and an account was taken of everything. This affords an opportunity to em‘ phasize the importance of handling sacred funds in a manner that will ap prove itself to God and that will accom plish the purpose intended by the donors. Much money given by Christian peo ple is self-denial money— sacrificial money; yet it is a sad fact today that those entrusted with these funds are often indifferent, unwise and sometimes unholy in the matter of their disburse ment. If money is given for missionary pur poses, it is evident that it is intended for the support of men and women chosen of God to carry the Gospel to unbelievers. Yet many preachers and
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