046. Prayer Of Ezra.

Prayer Of Ezra.

Ezra 8:21-23. The seventy years’ captivity of the children of Israel has ended; a portion of the nation, under Zerubbabel, have returned to the land of their fathers’ sepulchers; the temple has been rebuilt and dedicated; the worship of God has been renewed, and the usual sacrifices resumed.

Following these events, Zerubbabel, the pioneer in this great work of restoring the Jews to their own land, and their former privileges, and Jeshua, the high-priest, who had cooperated with him, had both gone to their rest and reward. And now, what shall become of the cause of God, and of Israel? The Lord has provided a successor in Ezra, who, though born and educated in Babylon, has a heart full of affection for the welfare of his nation, and is ready to espouse her cause. The interests of the returned Jews needed, at this time, looking after; and especially did they need a reinforcement from that part of the nation which had continued in the land of their captivity. On application to Artaxerxes Longimanus, the emperor, with reference to such a reinforcement, a commission is issued to Ezra to repair to Jerusalem, with such of his countrymen as desired to return. More than one thousand heads of families were disposed to take advantage of this license, and, accordingly, enlisted for the expedition. Their treasures, principally the gift of the emperor and his nobles, are computed to have been worth one hundred thousand pounds sterling, or nearly half a million of dollars, besides the sacred vessels, which were also of great value.

It was a four months’ journey which they had in prospect; and, moreover, “their way” says Dr. Scott, “lay chiefly through a desert; and, as they were encumbered with families and possessions, they could make but slow progress, and a feeble defense, in case of assault. They carried large treasures with them, which would invite the attacks of the Arabian freebooters, and others, who infested that neighborhood. In ordinary cases, it would have been very proper to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen for their defense, which, no doubt, would, readily have been granted; but Ezra, wishing to impress Artaxerxes with a proper sense of the power and perfection of Jehovah, and being afraid lest the king should not understand the distinction between using means and confiding in them, he determined to travel without a guard, except that of the Almighty.”

Accordingly, we have here an account of the religious services observed before the expedition set out. And what more proper than the solemn fast which Ezra invited the people to observe? What more rational and dutiful than, by public and united prayer, to seek the blessing of that God, who, alone, could preserve such a number during a long and hazardous march? The form of prayer used by Ezra on this occasion is not recorded; but who can doubt that it had its foundation in the heart, and was prompted by a sense of dependence upon, and confidence in, the God of their fathers? Nor can we wonder that an expedition, with such an object in view, preceded by such religious services, was crowned with success. “Indeed, few enterprises, good in themselves, begun and conducted in this way, finally fail.” The intelligent reader, we doubt not, will be reminded by our description of the foregoing expedition, of another expedition, undertaken more than two thousand years afterwards—that of the pilgrim fathers to the shores of New England. This, also, was a religious expedition—one involving the honor and glory of God; and, as it has resulted, of incomprehensible importance to the cause of civil liberty and the rights of conscience. No man can estimate, or even imagine, the blessings to the world which are to grow out of the removal to the western shores of a small band of pilgrims in 1620. This expedition was undertaken by men of piety, and under the auspices of the God of heaven. The pilgrims, as is well known, resided, for a number of years, in Holland. But their situation, in several respects, at length became uncomfortable, and their attention was directed to a removal to America. The question was considered and debated; but, previous to the final settlement of it, and with reference to such a decision as should secure the approbation of God, a day of fasting and prayer was observed, to seek divine direction. The pilgrims, encamped on the banks of the Ahava, fasted and prayed, “to seek of God a right way for them.” The pilgrims at Leyden fasted and prayed, with a similar object in view, and both under a conviction of the truth of what the pen of inspiration had recorded years before the first expedition: “In all thy ways, acknowledge God, and he shall direct thy paths.” And when, at length, the Leyden pilgrims had decided to stretch forth on the stormy main, for an unknown western wild, they again fast and pray; and, as the time of final embarkation arrived—the night before having been spent in holy and sweet Christian converse and communion—they went on board. It was indeed a time of tears. Sad and mournful are all such partings in this world. But that parting had its joys and alleviations. God was there to comfort and assure. Many Dutch friends flocked to the shore, to express their sympathy and kind wishes; but, more than all, did it soothe the troubled hearts of those who were going, and of those who were remaining, to join, as they all did, in a devout prayer, in which the aged and venerable pastor Robinson led.

What son of New England does not love to look back upon such incidents in the history of our fathers? Who does not bless God for sending here a praying people? Who marvels, when he learns their reliance upon God for aid, and the dutiful manner in which they sought it, that their plans succeeded? Who can wonder that New England has been and is to be blest? Who, looking up to God in the heavens, is not prepared to say, in the language of song:

Thy kindness, to our fathers shown, Their childrens’ children long shall own; To thee, with grateful hearts, they raise The tribute of exulting praise.

Great God, our guardian, guide, and friend!

Oh, still thy sheltering arm extend; Preserved by thee for ages past, For ages let thy kindness last!