His suspense was awful, until the fire of the altar began to light up the darknesA of the gathering night. 2. Now !te is encouraged to pray. (1) God has found out a way. Sacrifice would never have occurred to the unaided reason of man; or even had it occurred to him, he could not be sure that God would accept it. (2) God has made his ways known unto men. It was revealed soon after the fall (Gen. iii. 15, 24 ; iv. 4 ; viii. 20, 21 ). More formally established in the Levitical law. This was authenticated by afl the miracles of the exodus. Fulfilled in the solemnities of Calvary. II. THAT BE MUST BE APPROACHED IN THE SPIRIT 01!' HUMILIATION. 1. Ezra rent his garment and his mantle. (1) His "garment" to express bis personal grief at the dishonour done to God. At the wickedness of his people. At their consequent. liability to fearful punishment. (2) His" mantle," which was such a robe as was wom by persons of birth and station, was rent to express bis distress in his magisterial- and representative capacity. Public men should recognise a public responsibility to God. 2. This be now did the second time. (1) In the first instance be rent his clothes to express to men his grief. It produced the desired effect. All those who " trembled at the word of God" gathered round him. We should witness for God to man against sin. We should do this in the most emphatic manner, so as to pro- duce conviction. (2) Now by similar acts he expresses bis grief to God. This second rending of his garment and mantle was in connection with bis rousing him- self to pray. God expects from us a formal and full confession of sin. He does not need information, but requires it for our benefit. 3. Ezra also now fell upon his lcnees. (1) Hitherto be had been si,tt,ing in his grief, bewildered and astonished, not knowing what to do to avert the looming vengeance. To pray he knew not how until his spirit was stirred within him " at the evening sacrifice." All true prayer is from God (Prov. xvi. 1). The fire that stirs a prayerful soul is from the altar of Calvary (see Isa. vi. 6, 7). (2) Kneeling is an appropriate attitude for prayer. It expresses submission (Phil. ii. 10). We should beware of the hypocrisy of bowing the knee when there is no submission in the soul. (3) Posture, however, is not essential to prayer. Scripture furnishes examples of various postures. The attitude of the heart is of vital importance. This is a comfort to those who are physically incapacitated for kneeling (1 Tim. iv. 8). III. THAT WE MUST DRAW NEAR To Goo IN FAITH. Ezra" spread out bis hands to the Lord his Gcd." 1. He recognised God as his covenant friend. (1) Note the possessive case. All that is meant in the title "God" he claims as his. What a proprietary is here I (2) There is a glorious complement to this. If the Lord be our covenant God, then are we bis covenanted people. He too has a property in us (Cant. ii. 16). We are his "peculiar treasure" (Ps. cxxxv. 4). (3) The covenant relationship evermore recognises Christ who is the "Covenant of his people," and whose blood is the "blood of the covenant." The recognition of all this is faith, and when this recognition is raised in us by the Spirit of God the faith becomes saving. 2. Therefore he spread out his hands. (1) The open hand is the symbol of truth. Ezra approached God with the sincerity of a genuine faith (see Ps. xx.iv. 4). The open band of the impenitent hypocrite is bloody in the sight of God (Isa. i. 15). (2) The hands spread out are in the attitude of craving and receiving. Correspond- ing to this, the outstretched bands of God denote the offers of his mercy (Prov. i. 24). Let us ask and receive, that our joy may be full.-J. A. M.
Vere. 5-15.-.A good man's siglit of sin. I. That the sight of sin AWAKENS WITHIN THE GOOD MAN A SPIRIT 01!' EARNEST PRAYER. "I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God" (ver. 5). 1. The humility of the prayer. Ezra fell upon his knees in deepest self-abasement; he did not stand erect like the Pharisee in the temple, but smote upon his breast like the publicrin (Luke xviii. 13). Surely the sin of God's chosen people could not but inspire humility within the patriot. 2. The earnestness of the prayer. Ezra spread out bis bands in earnest entreaty before God; the solemnity. of the circumstance awakened him to holy fervour. At such a time a lifeless prayer could be of no avail. 3. The direction of the prayer. Ezr11 directed his prayer to the Lord his God; be felt the vanity of human help, e.nd that God only could avert the consequence of their transgression. 150 THE BOOK OF EZRA. Len. ix. 1-15