On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem, and the hand of our God was upon us to protect us from the hands of the enemies and bandits along the way. Sermons
I. THEY WERE PROSPERED IN THEIR JOURNEY. 1. They enjoyed the blessing of their God. "The hand of our God was upon us." (1) The hand is the symbol of power (Judges 1:35; 2 Samuel 24:14). Appropriately so, since it is the instrument by which commonly we exert our strength. So when the "hand of God" is mentioned his omnipotence is supposed (Exodus 15:6; Psalm 17:7). (2) The hand of God "upon" men sometimes denotes his almighty judgments (1 Samuel 5:11; 1 Peter 5:6). "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Sometimes it denotes his all-sufficient protection and defence (John 10:28, 29). In this good sense it is intended here (see also vers. 18, 22; 7:9; Nehemiah 2:18). (3) The hand of God with his people coming up from Babylon may be likened to the glorious cloud which accompanied their fathers in their exodus from Egypt (see Zechariah 2:9, where "I will turn my hand upon the little ones" denotes the sheltering of the little ones when the sword smites the Great One). 2. The Divine protection was respected by the enemy. (1) There was the open "enemy" in the way. There ever were, as to this day there are, bold marauders in the East. Temptations often, with impudent ostentation, attack the Christian pilgrim. (2) There were also "those that lie in wait." There are stealthy as well as sturdy foemen. The brood of the old serpent is legion. Temptations are often most successful when they attack by surprise. (3) But the people were armed with "all prayer." The knowledge of this so over-awed the enemies that they did not attack. Or else if they did attack they were overwhelmed by the "hand of God." "If God be for us, who can be against us?" II. THEY ENTERED INTO JERUSALEM WITH JOY. 1. It was the end of a toilsome march. (1) The journey occupied four months. They "departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month." They "came to Jerusalem in the fifth month" (Ezra 7:8). It would be a joy to them to have the discomfort of that tedious pilgrimage ended. (2) It will be an inexpressible joy to the Christian pilgrim to end life's toils in the heavenly city. 2. It was the satisfaction of a cherished hope. (1) They were "children of captivity," born in Babylon, never having seen Jerusalem. Yet would they not be without the traditions of the glory of their forefathers. The spirit which breathed in Psalm 79, and 137, could not leave them in ignorance of these things. (2) They had also their Scriptures, which associated Zion with the glories of history and of prophecy. Now they were standing in the very place where their fathers had worshipped. In this also they had a pledge of the superior glories of the heavenly Jerusalem. (3) They were relatives of those who had preceded them under the conduct of Zerubbabel. This is evident from a comparison of the catalogues of names (ch. 2. and ch. 8.). Therefore they would have happy recognitions, congratulations, and greetings. If in heaven now there is joy over the repentance of a sinner, what will be the joy of that entrance which shall be ministered abundantly into the kingdom! III. THEY ABODE IN JERUSALEM IN PEACE. 1. They had peace in themselves. (1) This is the happy fruit of fidelity. Tranquillity dwells with integrity. They faithfully delivered up their precious charge. "Now on the fourth day," etc. (vers. 33, 34). (2) The balances of the sanctuary are true, and the weights are just. Sad is the case of him that shall be "found wanting" (see Daniel 5:27). 2. They had peace with God. (1) They went the right way to secure this by offering sacrifices (see ver. 35). Christ is our peace. (2) Note - These sacrifices were offered not only for themselves, but also "for all Israel." But "Judah and Benjamin" alone were present, and these only by a representation, for the bulk of the Jews remained on the Babylonish side of the river Euphrates. Query - Is there not here an expression of faith in the ultimate restoration of all Israel (Romans 10:26)? 3. They had peace from their neighbours. (1) This was secured to them, through the good providence of God, by the king's commissions to lieutenants and governors. These documents were probably sealed; but the purport of them is evident from the letter of Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:21-23). (2) No wonder, then, that these lieutenants should 6, further the people and the house of God." Persecution would cease. "When a man's ways please the Lord he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." Let us never move without God. Let us ever move with God. - J.A.M.
And weighed unto them the silver and the gold, and the vessels I. THE TREASURES TO BE GUARDED.1. Valuable in themselves. 2. Valuable as being consecrated to God. 3. Valuable as being the spontaneous gifts of friends and well wishers. II. THE GUARDIANS OF THE TREASURES. III. THE CHARGE TO THE GUARDIANS OF THE TREASURES. IV. THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE GUARDIANSHIP OF THE TREASURES. Conclusion — 1. Our subject speaks to ministers of the gospel (1 Corinthians 4:1, 2; Titus 1:7, 9; 1 Timothy 6:20; 2 Timothy 1:14). 2. To all who have charge of public funds or the property of others. 3. To all men (Matthew 25:14-30). (William Jones.) I. Consider: THE PRECIOUS TREASURE ENTRUSTED TO OUR KEEPING. 1. The treasure is first our own selves, with all that we are and may be under the humiliating and quickening influence of His grace and spirit. That which we carry with us — the infinite possibilities of these awful spirits of ours, the tremendous faculties which are given to every human soul, and which, like a candle plunged into oxygen, are meant to burn far more brightly under the stimulus of Christian faith and the possession of God's truth, are the rich deposit committed to our charge. The precious treasure of our own natures, our own hearts, our own understandings, wills, consciences, desires — keep these until they are weighed in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem. 2. The treasure is next — This great word of salvation, once delivered to the saints, and to be handed on without diminution or alteration to the generations that are to come. Possession involves responsibility always. The word of salvation is given to us. If we go tampering with it, by erroneous apprehension, by unfair usage, by failing to apply it to our own daily life, then it will fade and disappear from our grasp. It is given to us in order that we may keep it safe, and carry it high up across the desert as becomes the priests of the most high God. II. Next, THE COMMAND, THE GUARDIANSHIP THAT IS HERE SET FORTH. Watch ye and keep them. That is to say, Watch in order that ye may keep. This involves — 1. Unslumbering vigilance. 2. Lowly trust. 3. Punctilious purity.It was fitting that the priests should carry the things that belonged to the temple. No other hands but consecrated hands had a right to touch them. To none other guardianship but the guardianship of the possessors of a symbolic and ceremonial purity could the vessels of a symbolic and ceremonial worship be entrusted; and to none others but the possessors of real and spiritual holiness can the treasures of the true temple, of an inward and spiritual worship be entrusted, "Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord," said Isaiah long after. The only way to keep our treasure undiminished and untarnished, is to keep ourselves pure and clean. 4. Constant use of the treasure. Although the vessels borne through the desert by those priests were used for no service during the march, they weighed just the same when they got to the end as at the beginning. But if we do not use the vessels that are entrusted to our care they will not weigh the same. There never was an unused talent yet, but when it was taken out and put into the scales it was lighter than when it was committed to the keeping of the earth. Gifts that are used fructify. Capacities that are strained to the uttermost increase. Service strengthens the power of service; and just as the reward of work is more work, the way for making ourselves fit for bigger things is to do the things that are lying by us. The blacksmith's arm, the sailor's eye, the organs of any piece of handicraft, as we all know, are strengthened by exercise, and so it is in the higher region. III. THE WEIGHING IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. Though it cannot be that we shall meet the trial and the weighing of that day without many a flaw and much loss, yet we may hope that by His precious help and His pitying acceptance we may lay ourselves down in peace at last, saying, "I have kept the faith," and may be awakened by the word "Well done, good and faithful servant." (A. Maclaren, D. D.) I. THE SETTING OUT FROM AHAVA. 1. From captivity to liberty. 2. From exile to their ancestral home. 3. From the land of idolatry to the scene of true worship. II. THE PROGRESS ON THE JOURNEY. III. THE ARRIVAL AT JERUSALEM. This was characterised by — 1. Grateful rest. 2. Joyful welcome. (William Jones.). People Adin, Adonikam, Ariel, Artaxerxes, Athaliah, Azgad, Bani, Bebai, Bigvai, Binnui, Daniel, David, Ebed, Elam, Eleazar, Eliezer, Elihoenai, Eliphelet, Elnathan, Gershom, Hakkatan, Hashabiah, Hattush, Iddo, Isaiah, Ithamar, Jahaziel, Jarib, Jehiel, Jeiel, Jeshaiah, Jeshua, Jeuel, Joab, Johanan, Joiarib, Jonathan, Josiphiah, Jozabad, Levi, Levites, Mahli, Merari, Meremoth, Meshullam, Michael, Nathan, Noadiah, Obadiah, Pahathmoab, Parosh, Pharosh, Phinehas, Shecaniah, Shechaniah, Shelomith, Shemaiah, Shephatiah, Sherebiah, Uriah, Urijah, Uthai, Zabbud, Zaccur, Zattu, Zebadiah, Zechariah, ZerahiahPlaces Ahava, Babylonia, Beyond the River, Casiphia, JerusalemTopics Ahava, Aha'va, Along, Ambushes, Attack, Bandit, Bandits, Canal, Delivered, Delivereth, Departed, Enemies, Enemy, Haters, Jerusalem, Journey, Journeyed, Lay, Lier, Lier-in-wait, Month, Protected, River, Salvation, Twelfth, Wait, WaitingOutline 1. The companions of Ezra, who returned from Babylon15. He sends to Iddo for ministers for the temple 21. He keeps a fast 24. He commits the treasures to the custody of the priests 31. From Ahava they come to Jerusalem 33. The treasure is weighed in the temple 36. The commission is delivered Dictionary of Bible Themes Ezra 8:31 1265 hand of God Library The Charge of the Pilgrim Priests'Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them ... at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the Lord.'--EZRA viii. 29. The little band of Jews, seventeen hundred in number, returning from Babylon, had just started on that long pilgrimage, and made a brief halt in order to get everything in order for their transit across the desert; when their leader Ezra, taking count of his men, discovers that amongst them there are none of the priests or Levites. He then takes measures to reinforce his little … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Heroic Faith Of the Public Fast. The Old Testament Canon from Its Beginning to Its Close. 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