Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 November 1911 — OLD TESTAMENT TIMES BROOKLYN TABERNACLE BIBLE STUDIES. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OLD TESTAMENT TIMES BROOKLYN TABERNACLE BIBLE STUDIES.

A GREAT REFORMER. Ezra’s Methods Criticized Unjustly. Ezra viii, 15-36—Nov. 19 "The hand of our God it upon all them for good that seek Hitt.” eZRA was a learned Jew who beaded a great reformation movement. As God’s agent he was largely responsible for the maintenance of the Jewish faith and nation. His family had been amongst the many carried captive by Nebuchadnezzar. Ezra, imbued with a spirit of religious fervor based upon faith in God and His promises to Israel. headed another company bound for Jerusaiem —seventy-eight years after the return of the exiles.

The Jews evidently were prosperous In Babylon, and their exile, for a time at least, led them to earnest study of

the Law and the Prophets. These were vexed as they from time to time heard of the poverty of their brethren in Jerusalem, and that matters religious were not prosperous there, and the rebuilding of the temple which represented Divine presence with the na-

tion was but poorly served. Deeply in earnest for a revival of the true religion, Ezra laid the matter before a representative in Babylon and before the Persian king, with favorable results. Large donations were made for the repairs to the temple and the institution of itS worship upon a proper basis, and in general to help the interests of the Jewish cause in Jerusalem. The donations of gold and silver totaled a little more than two million dollars, and the number of persons who volunteered to be of the company was about seventeen hundred. “In All Thy Ways Acknowledge Him.” The beginning of the journey with fasting and prayer gives us an insight Into Ezra's power and efficiency. “God was with him”—he walked with God. he sought to know and to do the Divine will. Surely it is in vain that any would attempt to serve the Lord and yet neglect to humble themselves before Him and to make request for His blessing and guidance. We submit that fasting and prayer and earnest desire to know and to do the Lord’s will are far more efficacious for good than are large donations of money. Perhaps there has been too great a tendency on the part of many to leave ont the matter of religious work at home and abroad save along financial lines, forgetful, in part at least, that they labor in vain unless the Lord grant His blessing. The fact that notwithstanding our wonderful financial efforts during the past century there are today twice as many heathen as there were a century ago. should take us to the Lord in prayer to assure ourselves regarding the meaning of the prayer He taught us—“ Thy Kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven." 'Seeing the futility of our efforts to I bring about heavenly conditions on | earth ought to lead all of God’s ear- ; nest children to search His Word and [ to see whether or not it teaches that [the second coming of Messiah is to I unite to Himself His “elect" Church as His Bride and then to establish the Kingdom which will bind Satan and overthrow sin and death. The Way of Transgressors. Ezra and his party reached Jerusa-

lem in safety after a journey of exactly, four months. As great a distance can be covered in less than four days with our modern conveniences. which surely seem to be precursors of the glorious Messianic Epoch, the wonderful pros-

perity of which has so long been foretold.

Ezra soon found that many Jews were inter marrying with their heathen neighbors, and that a condition of things prevailed which if continued would mean the corruption of the nation to which God had given the promise of national continuity, and th? promise that ultimately He would use i them as a nation for the sending ont of the light and truth which He has promised shall yet bless all the families of the earth.

A general assembly or convocation' of Israelites was called for and held to consider this matter of mixed marriages and the requirements of the Law. and any failing to be represented were notified that they would be in danger of being counted out,of the congregation, as aliens. It was a time of weeping and sorrow and distress amongst the people as they realized that conformity to the Divine Law would mean the breaking of family ties. The Divine Law had been broken and now the penalty was to be felt. The way of the transgressors was hard.

After a century of missionary efforts.

Preparations for Messiak's kingdom.