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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
Ezra 8:21-23
: “Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava,
that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of Him a right
way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. For I was
ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help
us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king,
saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek Him;
but His power and His wrath is against all them that forsake Him. So
we fasted and besought our God for this: and He was entreated of us.”
The prophet and these fathers did not regard the people of the land
as worshipers of the true God, and though these professed friendship
and wished to help them, they dared not unite with them in anything
relating to His worship. When going up to Jerusalem to build the
temple of God and to restore His worship, they would not ask help of
the king to assist them in the way, but by fasting and prayer sought the
Lord for help. They believed that God would defend and prosper His
servants in their efforts to serve Him. The Creator of all things needs
not the help of His enemies to establish His worship. He asks not the
sacrifice of wickedness, nor accepts the offerings of those who have
other gods before the Lord.
We often hear the remark: “You are too exclusive.” As a people
we would make any sacrifice to save souls, or lead them to the truth.
But to unite with them, to love the things that they love, and have
friendship with the world, we dare not, for we should then be at enmity
with God.
By reading the following scriptures we shall see how God regarded
ancient Israel:
Psalm 135:4
: “For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto Himself, and
Israel for His peculiar treasure.”
Deuteronomy 14:2
: “For thou art an holy people unto the Lord
thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto
Himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.”
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Deuteronomy 7:6, 7
: “For thou art an holy people unto the Lord
thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people
unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The
Lord did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were
more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people.”
Exodus 33:16
: “For wherein shall it be known here that I and Thy
people have found grace in Thy sight? is it not in that Thou goest with