按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e from the nations surrounding them； they would have been spared many sad and humiliating experiences。 Now when he learned that notwithstanding the lessons of the past； men of prominence had dared transgress the laws given as a safeguard against apostasy； his heart was stirred within him。 He thought of God's goodness in again giving His people a foothold in their native land； and he was overwhelmed with righteous indignation and with grief at their ingratitude。 〃When I heard this thing；〃 he says； 〃I rent my garment and my mantle； and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard； and sat down astonied。
〃Then were assembled unto me everyone that trembled at the words of God of Israel； because of the transgression of those that had been carried away； and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice。〃 Verses 3； 4。
At the time of the evening sacrifice Ezra rose； and； once more rending his garment and his mantle； he fell upon his knees and unburdened his soul in supplication to Heaven。 Spreading out his hands unto the Lord； he exclaimed； 〃O my God； I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to
621
Thee； my God： for our iniquities are increased over our head； and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens。
〃Since the days of our fathers；〃 the suppliant continued； 〃have we been in a great trespass unto this day； and for our iniquities have we； our kings； and our priests； been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands； to the sword； to captivity； and to a spoil； and to confusion of face； as it is this day。 And now for a little space grace hath been showed from the Lord our God； to leave us a remnant to escape； and to give us a nail in His holy place； that our God may lighten our eyes； and give us a little reviving in our bondage。 For we were bondmen； yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage； but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia； to give us a reviving； to set up the house of our God； and to repair the desolations thereof； and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem。
〃And now； O our God； what shall we say after this？ for we have forsaken Thy commandments； which Thou hast commanded by Thy servants the prophets。 。 。 。 And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds； and for our great trespass； seeing that Thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve； and hast given us such deliverance as this； should we again break Thy commandments； and join in affinity with the people of these abominations？ wouldest not Thou be angry with us till Thou hadst consumed us； so that there should be no remnant nor escaping？ O Lord God of Israel； Thou art righteous： for we remain yet escaped； as it is this day： behold； we are before Thee in our trespasses： for we cannot stand before Thee because of this。〃 Verses 6…15。
622
The sorrow of Ezra and his associates over the evils that had insidiously crept into the very heart of the Lord's work； wrought repentance。 Many of those who had sinned were deeply affected。 〃The people wept very sore。〃 Ezra 10：1。 In a limited degree they began to realize the heinousness of sin and the horror with which God regards it。 They saw the sacredness of the law spoken at Sinai； and many trembled at the thought of their transgressions。
One of those present； Shechaniah by name； acknowledged as true all the words spoken by Ezra。 〃We have trespassed against our God；〃 he confessed； 〃and have taken strange wives of the people of the land： yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing。〃 Shechaniah proposed that all who had transgressed should make a covenant with God to forsake their sin and to be adjudged 〃according to the law。〃 〃Arise；〃 he bade Ezra； 〃for this matter belongeth unto thee： we also will be with thee： be of good courage。〃 〃Then arose Ezra； and made the chief priests； the Levites； and all Israel； to swear that they should do according to this word。〃 Verses 2…5。
This was the beginning of a wonderful reformation。 With infinite patience and tact； and with a careful consideration for the rights and welfare of every individual concerned； Ezra and his associates strove to lead the penitent of Israel into the right way。 Above all else； Ezra was a teacher of the law； and as he gave personal attention to the examination of every case； he sought to impress the people with the holiness of this law and the blessings to be gained through obedience。
623
Wherever Ezra labored； there sprang up a revival in the study of the Holy Scriptures。 Teachers were appointed to instruct the people； the law of the Lord was exalted and made honorable。 The books of the prophets were searched； and the passages foretelling the coming of the Messiah brought hope and comfort to many a sad and weary heart。
More than two thousand years have passed since Ezra 〃prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord； and to do it〃 （Ezra 7：10）； yet the lapse of time has not lessened the influence of his pious example。 Through the centuries the record of his life of consecration has inspired many with the determination 〃to seek the law of the Lord； and to do it。〃
Ezra's motives were high and holy； in all that he did he was actuated by a deep love for souls。 The compassion and tenderness that he revealed toward those who had sinned； either willfully or through ignorance； should be an object lesson to all who seek to bring about reforms。 The servants of God are to be as firm as a rock where right principles are involved； and yet； withal； they are to manifest sympathy and forbearance。 Like Ezra； they are to teach transgressors the way of life by calculating principles that are the foundation of all rightdoing。
In this age of the world； when Satan is seeking； through manifold agencies； to blind the eyes of men and women to the binding claims of the law of God； there is need of men who can cause many to 〃tremble at the commandment of our God。〃 Ezra 10：3。 There is need of true reformers； who will point transgressors to the great Lawgiver and teach them that 〃the law of the Lord is perfect； converting
624
the soul。〃 Psalm 19：7。 There is need of men mighty in the Scriptures； men whose every word and act exalts the statutes of Jehovah； men who seek to strengthen faith。 Teachers are needed； oh； so much； who will inspire hearts with reverence and love for the Scriptures。
The widespread iniquity prevalent today may in a great degree be attributed to a failure to study and obey the Scriptures； for when the word of God is set aside； its power to restrain the evil passions of the natural heart is rejected。 Men sow to the flesh and of the flesh reap corruption。
With the setting aside of the Bible has come a turning away from God's law。 The doctrine that men are released from obedience to the divine precepts； has weakened the force of moral obligation and opened the floodgates of iniquity upon the world。 Lawlessness； dissipation； and corruption are sweeping in like an overwhelming flood。 Everywhere are seen envy； evil surmising； hypocrisy； estrangement； emulation； strife； betrayal of sacred trusts； indulgence of lust。 The