The Pulpit Commentary — Ezra — Section 129

rush into it; he religiously braved it. (1) Humility. He humbled himself before God in view of his perilous journey. (2) Supplication. He soll&"ht the Divine aid. Thus must we act when we are called upon to reject the secular aids of life. 3. Wlim did Ezra act without the aid of the secular? Ezra travelled without the soldiers n an important crisis ; it is but seldom that we are called upon to divorce prayer and precaution. 4. What moral qualities did Ezra exhibit in thus acting without the aid of the spiritual? It is evident that he was zealous for the honour of God ; courageous in sacred toil ; devout in daily life ; and could act alone when necessary. God answered his confidence by leading him safely to Jerusalem.-E. Ver. 24.-The sacred trusts Qf life. I. THE TRUST GIVEN. "And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, an<i the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God " (ver. 25). 1. Their nature. As the men appointed by Ezra had costly and sacred vessels committed to their care, so men have given to them money 1 time genius, and influence to carry through life. 2. Their purpose (ver. 28). Thes~ vessels of gold and silver were given for the use and adornment of the temple at Jerusalem. Men must hold their sacred trusts for God. 3. Their measure (ver. 26). The gold and silver given were carefully weighed; all the capabilities of men are weighed by God: to some he gives two talents, to others five talents ; to each man according to his several ability. 4. Their responsibility. , The comrades of Ezra bad the responsible task of safely conveying the vessels of the temple to Jerusalem; human talent is a solemn gift. 5. Their registration (ver. 34). The gifts of man are written in the book of God. II. THE FIDELITY REQUIRED. "Watch ye, and keep them" (ver. 29). 1. Their peril. The men conveying the costly vessels of the temple would be exposed to many enemies by the way (ver. 22) ; men of talent are liable to many moral enemies -pride, indolence, misuse, and neglect of culture. 2. Their safety. The prayers of these men were their protection. Ezra says, "So we fasted and besought our God for this: and be was entreated of us" (ver. 23). Devotion is the safeguard of talent. 3. Their inspection. " W eigbed in the house of our God " (ver. 33). At the last God will judge men for the use of their talents ; then every man will be morally weighed in the unerring balance of truth. 4. Their fidelity. The comrades of E?.ra were faithful to their trust; happy if at the close of life we are found faithful to the trusts we have received.-E. V'ers. 24-30.-The custody of the treasure. After fasting and prayer, before the caravan moved from the halt on the banks of the Ahava, Ezra made arrangementf:I for the custody of the offerings with which he was intrusted. Whatever is done under Divine direction is intended to instruct, and in these arrangements we may seek for matter of profitable meditation. Let us then consider- !. THE TREASURE. The vessels which were for the service of the house of the Lord typified his saints (Acts ix. 15; 2 Tim. ii. 20, 21). 1. The treasure was various. (1) Various in its qualities. Some vessels were of silver, some of gold, and some of" fine copper precious as gold." This last the Syriac, somewhat oddly, construes as best Corinth-ian brass, referring to the amalgam, formed by the fusion together of copper, brass, silver, and gold, found by Lucius Mummius after the burning of Corinth. More probably it was some factitious metal (see A. Clarke, in loc.). Though all men have the attributes of each, yet these are variously developed. It should be our endeavour so to cultivate our powers that our service should be like gold, of the most valuable kind. (2) Various in its sources. Some of the vessels were the free-will offerings of Jews. Some were from the Gentiles. So whether Jew or Greek now it matters not, for all believers are one in Christ (Matt. viii. 11 ). 2. The treasure was precious. (1) Gold, from its purity and costlfne_se, h~s ever been ~ak~n 11~ a symbol of precious- ness. Silver also has the same signification, though m mfenor degree. Here also were vessels of a "fine copper precious as gold." (2) But what material substance can compare in value to the human epirit(Isa. xiii. 12)? (a) Immortal. (b) Capable of God (Job xx:vii.i. 19). Redeemed by the Son of God (1 Pet. i. 7). 3. The treasure was aacred. (1) It was rendered eo by being freely given to God. Having freely given ourselves, we have no right to resume the gift. What an anomalous en. vm. 21-36.J THE BOOK OF EZRA. 135