The Pulpit Commentary — Ezra — Section 111

have been extended to Ezra himself as concerned in bringing about this result. This again, this love for God's house, this joy in all that tends to its prosperity a great mark of true piety. Observe on this point, in Ps. xxvi., the connection bet,;,een the declaration of ver. 8 and the prayer and hope of ver. 9. Also the connection in Heh. x., between the neglect of God's worship or house in ver. 25 and the total for- saking of God himself in ver. 26, &c. In the eyes of God's true servants, every blessing to God's house and people (God's house in the highest sense, 1 Pet. ii. 5) ie a blessing to themselves. This feature, also, is the more noticeable here, because in that decree which led to this praise nothing is said, except most indirectly, as to the beautifying of God's house. But Ezra, with his great desire for the good of that house, and his zealous intentions in that direction, perceived with admiration and praise how all the provisions of that decree could and would be used in that manner. To have God worshipped in the proper way was the great desire of his heart. Whatever, therefore, promised to help this on was to him a great joy. So with all who truly love God (see Ps. cxxii. almost throughout, &c., &c.). II. EzRA's SINCERE HUMILITY. This also lilhown here in two ways. 1. In what he says here of the king. What Artaxerxes had done was undoubtedly due, under God, in great measure, to Ezra himself. Not every man in the same position would have shown the same happy combination of courage, faithfulness, patriotism, perse- verance, patience, and tact. Not every man, having displayed such qualities, and done so much by them, would have passed them all by so completely. Even as the instrument employed for doing so much, Ezra entirely passes himself by. "Blessed be the Lord, who by my instrumentality," &c. We cannot find even such words in the text. We cannot read them even between the lines. It is the characteristic of pride to search out the highest seats (Matt. xxiii. 6). In this case the highest seat stands empty and ready, and yet is passed by without thought. Of all humility this is, perhaps, the rarest, not even thinking of self. 2. In what he says of himself. True humility, for all we have said, is never, however, unnatural. It does not make an effort to forget self; an effort which necessarily fails the more it succeeds. Where it is necessary for any purpose intrusted to us that we should mention our- selves, purposely to avoid doing so is of all ostentation the worst. It is saying, in effect, "Please admire my great humility. Observe how very lowly I am." How different, in this instance, Ezra's mention of himself in ver. 28. There is no pre- tence of having had nothing to do with the result he joys over. He had been "before the king," &c. ; and his being there had been overruled to procure help in this matter; and this was one part, therefore, of the present call on his gratitude ; and so, in offering his praise, it could not be omitted. At the same time, it is only mentioned ns such-as a reason for praise. " HE hath extended mercy to me before the king. HE enabled me to do what I did. Mine the advantage : be his the praise." So in what Ezra says afterwards as to being strengthened by God's hand (comp. the parallel case of St. Paul, 1 Cor. xv. 10; Eph. iii. 8; 1 Tim. i.12; and perhaps Jacob, Gen. xxxii. 10). Doubtless there is much humility sometimes in not thinking at all about self. There is equal humility sometimes in simpl,y thinking of oneself as one is (Rom. xii. 3). Why should not the mirror shine when it is shone upon by the sun? In connection with these characteristics of Ezra we may also observe, in conclusion-I. The steadiness of his purpose. With all his spirit of praise, with all his constant reference to God's II hand, ' and constant dependence on God's power, his was no indolent soul. Rather, by this II good hand" of God upon him, he was the more stirred up in work and encouraged. This is just the spirit of true faith. Does God really "work in me both to will and to do"? Then I will seek myself to work all the more (Phil. ii. 12, 13). Are none of those with me to perish? I will exert myself all the more to save them (Acts xxvii. 24, 31-44). Men reasoning in this way are the kind of men to depend on. None so truly trusty as those who truly trust Christ. 2. The conselfuent greatness of his influence. What a natural issue to all that we have read before is that which we read in the last words of ver. 28 I How likely such a man to gather others about him. How likely to gather" chief men," men of ch11.racter and position like himself. How likely, when gathered, to retain them, so that they should join him in going up. How e~pecially likely, how certain1 all this 1 with the "good hand" of God still on him. 12  116 THE BOOK OF EZRA. [cH. VII. 11-28.