The Pulpit Commentary — Ezra — Section 102

nttempt great things, nnd helped of God to achieve them. His life flowed on like a fertilising river, and did so because " all his springs were in God" (Ps. lxxxvii. 7). Our character may contain much that is excellent, and our lives include much that is honourable, but.except t~e "hand of the Lord our God b~ llp~m us," renewing our heart and blessmg our hfe, we shall not be or do that which 1s pleasing to him or useful to our fellows. II. GENERALL y RECEIVF,D TRADITION RESPECTING EZRA. It is commonly believed among the Jews that he instituted the Great Synagogue, that he settled tbe canon of Scripture, thnt he himself wrote the books of the Chronicles, Ezra Nehemiah and (perhaps) Esther, and that he established the system of synagogue worship'. This last arose about his time, and, if indeed due to him, is a work which laid his ?ountrymen, and indee_d us all (for had not the forms of the synagogue something, 1f not much, to do with the forms of the early Church ?), under e. heavy debt of gratitude. Ezra was a holy and zealous man, with a strong mind and a• .firm will exercising a commanding influence on his contemporaries, making the word of God the basis and mainspring of his action, seeking and striving for the purity of the people of God. Some things he did we know. Others we know not of. \Ve may not be so great and distinguished as he was. It may not be in our power to render such signal services as he did, or to leave behind us such a reputation as he has left, Yet in the essentials of his character and work we may be like him. We also may- ( 1) Be devout students of God's will as revealed in his word-" preparing our heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it." (2) Open our hearts to receive heavenly influences; gain by humility, docility, and prayer "the hand of the Lord our God upon us," so that he will dwell in us and work through us. (3) Make known the will of God to others, teaching in some sphere, higher or humbler, the word of God and the truth of Jesus Christ. (4) Co-operate cheerfully with others, yielding our preferences to theirs, being "of the same mind in the Lord" with those who are our fellow-labourers in the field of Christian work. And if we do this as did Ezra, we shall, like him, (5) do that which men will mark and praise, but much more that they will not record ; much, however, that will not be unwritten in some book of God, and that will "in no wise lose its reward. "-C. Vers. 1-10.-Ezra the type of an ideal minister. I. THAT HE rs GENERALLY A MAN OF GOOD MORAL ANCESTRY. 11 The son of Aaron the chief priest" (ver. 5). Ezra was in the line of a renowned and religious ancestry ; the past history of Israel would be full of meaning to him ; sacred traditions would inspire him in the present national crisis. It is well for a minister to have in his ancestry men whose lives and activities have been intimately associated with the Church ; their holy example will animate him ; natural sympathy will stimulate him; the sacred enterprise of his family will inspire him ; a ble~sed heritape will_ be his.. It is a privilege for a minist~r to. be_ in the line of Aaron, if he continue faithfully m the work of Aaron. The mspirabon and influence of a holy ancestry is a rich ministerial endowment. II. THAT HE IS A MAN OF SELF-SACRIFICING SPIRIT. Ezra left Babylon for Jeru- salem. He exchanged the comfort and influence which he enjoyed in the court of Arta.x:erxes for the hardships of a perilous journey, and for the broken fortunes of Israel. The true minister will ever be ready to leave Babylon for Jerusalem ; he 'will esteem luxury, and even life itself, as subservient to the welfare of the people vf God. Christ left a better court than Babylon, and allied himself with sinful men that be might restore their broken hopes. The early disciples left all and followed Christ ; the carnal must be sacrificed to the spiritual. Ill. THAT HE IS A MAN INTELLIGENTLY 'l'AUGHT IN THE WORD 01!' GoD. "And he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses" (ver. 6). 1. He intelligently understood the truth. (1) Its divinity. (2) Its obligation. 2. He carefully prepared hie moral nature for the reception of the truth. "For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord" (ver. 10). 3. He constantly endeavoured to make his conduct an embodiment of the truth. "And to do it" (ver. 10). 4. He wisely recognised the deeper rneanings of the truth. "To seek the law of the Lord." ?· He e~:-nestly sought to impart to others a knowledge of the truth. "And to !each m Israel. Thus the true minister will understand the gol!pel; will prepare his soul by repentance OH. VII. 1-10.) THE BOOK OF EZRA. 107