Vers. 27, 28.-Aspects of the IJivine and human. I. Aspects of Gon. "Blessed be the Lord God" (ver. 27), 1. He is blessed by devout men. 2. He is the God of our fathers. 3. He puts good things into the hearts of men. II. Aspects of MANHOOD (ver. 28). 1. Mercy extended. "And bath extended mercy unto me.'' 2. Influence augmented. "Before the king and his coum1ellors." 3. Encouragement imparted. " I was strengthened.'' 4. Enterprise undertaken. "And I gathered together out of Ierael,'' &c.-E. Vere. 27, 28; viii. 1-20.-lnfluence. These verses give us the idea of Ezra as a man of great influence over hie fellows ; one of those men that lead others, that inspire them with confidence and regard ; one of those who can make their thoughts and their desires tell powerfully on the mind and the will of others. We see his influence- I. OvER THE KING AND HIS COURT (ver. 27). He puts it modestly, ae becomes a devout man accustomed to refer everything to the Divine hand that governs every- where, and says that God " extended mercy to him before the king and his counsel- lors, and all his mighty princes." Putting it into everyday language, we should say that he gained a commanding influence over the minds of these courtly men, and over this great sovereign. II. OVER THE CHIEFS AND THE MULTITUDE OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE (ver. 28). In the same modest and unassuming strain he speaks of being " strengthened as the hand of the Lord was upon him," and he "gathered out of Israel chief men" to avail themselves of the royal decree and go up with him to their own land. In other and more familiar words, he succeeded in winning the confidence and pre- vailing on the minds of the leading men of his own nation to such an extent that they were willing to forsake their homes and seek their fortune in Judrea. Aud not only the leaders, but also a large company of the "rank and file" among his compatriots responded to his call ; there were " the people" as well as " the priests 11 (viii. 15). III. OvER THE UNRESPONSIVE LEVITES (viii. 16-20). When it was found that, for some reason, no Levites had joined the party of the exodus, Ezra }Jicked out "men of understanding 11 (ver. 16), the right men for the task, and told them what to say, giving them the right message for the purpose (ver. 17), and he thus succeeded in attaching to their company many who had meant to stand aloof, thus completing the number that should go up to Jerusalem (vers. 18-20). Only a man of commanding influence, a man of firm conviction who knew well his own mind, and a man of persuasive force who coulcl impress his will on others, could possibly have accom- plished this. On the great and important subject of influence there a.re two truths we shall do well to learn- 1. That tliose who find themselves possessed of it bear a weighty responsibility. In many cases influence comes to a man unsoug-ht. (1) Wealth, or (2) rank, or (3) office, or (4) intellectual eminence, or (5) beauty and grace of person, or (6) an exceptionally strong will, or (7) a fascinating disposition, may confer influence on 11 man or woman, without any effort on their part to acquire it. It is a very great possession. A grave thing it is to be insensibly drawing many souls either along thtt path of virtue, holiness, and life, or along the path of sin, and she.me, and death. Unconscious influence is very far from being irresponsible for wbe.t it does. "\Ve are most solemnly bound to see to it that such is the spirit of our life, such the colour nnd complexion of our words and deeds, such the tendency of our conduct, that, without any direct endeavour to do so, we shall be influencing our fellow~ towar~s truth, wisdom, God, heaven. Those whom God has made markedly mfluenhal are specially bound to consider what they are doing. "They know ~ot what they do II may be a palliation, but it is not a justification, when they nught know by 122 THE BOOK OF EZRA. [cH. VIII, l-•20.
tliink_ing. 2. 'f'hat those wlto would cheri,sh the highest aspiration slwuld strive to win it. To_ "''n wealth o: fame or office for the sake of these things themselves is a compn_'.·a~vely mean _thrng; i~ does not. rise higher than a refined gratification. B~it to v. m _m~uence with the new of leadmg human souls in the path of heavenly ~1s~om, this 1s a noble ~spirution, worthy of a child of God, of a follower of Jesus Chnst. It may be acquired as well as inherited. It is the outcome of excellency of cha:acter, of strenuousness of soul, of kindness of heart, of likeness to Jesus Chnst.-C.