Pagan piety.
It is certainly a striking fact that a second Persian monarch should have shown so right a feeling toward the people and the cause of God. We have in this Artaxerxes another illustration of pagan piety. We see—
I. ITS FAITH. "Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done," etc. (Ezra 7:23). Evidently Artaxerxes thoroughly believed in the existence and the power of Jehovah. It is noteworthy that he speaks of him not as the God of Judaea or of the Jews, but as "the God of heaven" (Ezra 7:12, Ezra 7:23). Whence this? Chiefly, if not wholly, from what he saw of the Jews about his court; of their strength of conviction, refusing, as they did, to accommodate themselves to the evil ways of the land they lived in—to "do at Rome as Rome did;" of their purity of life; of their probity; of their diligence. Probably Ezra's own character and demeanour exerted a powerful influence on his mind. The captives lived the truth, and the monarch became its subject.
II. ITS FEAR. "Why should there be wrath against the realm of the king," etc. (verse 23)? Artaxerxes had at least so much fear of the living God that he desired to propitiate him and to avert his wrath. This is, as it ever was, the chief note of pagan piety. It is a system of propitiating power and averting its anger rather than reverencing goodness and rejoicing in its love. "I will let you go," said the Persian king; "take money, vessels, etc.; levy tributes at the expense of my people, etc.; sacrifice, pray; for 'why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?'" Our missionaries continually witness the prevalence of this feeling of dread of the wrath of a higher power and attempts to divert it, as the sum total of pagan piety. Fear is not a false or wrong principle in religion. "Noah, moved with fear, prepared an ark," etc. (Hebrews 11:7). "Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry" (Psalms 76:7)? But, good so far as it goes, it does not suffice; it must pass on into that which is higher—into reverence, trust, love, obedience.
III. ITS OCCASIONAL EXCELLENCY OF BEHAVIOUR (verses 13-18; 21, 22, 25). Hardly anything could have been better—indeed, considering the light and the shade in which he lived, we may say nothing could have been better—than the king's conduct toward the people of God. He freely gave them up as his subjects (and they were valuable ones) to return to their own land (verse 13); gave freely himself, and invited his courtiers to give also of their possessions towards the expenses of the exodus (verses 14, 15); gave full permission to Ezra to get all he could from his own compatriots (verse 16); gave wise directions as to the use of the treasure, with leave to regulate all things according to the "will of their God" (verses 17, 18); took measures for the same succours to be granted beyond the river (verses 21, 22), and charged Ezra with the exercise of political powers, bidding him also discharge his functions as a teacher of the law of God (verse 25). Thus the pagan king did his best to serve the cause he espoused. "What his hand found to do he did with his might" (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Much more incumbent is it on us, who live in such brighter light than he, with whom so many shadows have flown away, to work with our whole strength, putting not only our hand, but also our mind and our heart, into any task we undertake for God and for his people. But of this pagan piety we must see—
IV. ITS INSUFFICIENCY. Artaxerxes did well so far as he went; but he did not go far enough. He had faith enough in God to fear him; and fear enough to take some considerable trouble, on one occasion, to avert his displeasure. But he did not yield to him the chief place in his heart. He had not such regard and reverence for God as to put away his superstitions and malpractices. We dare not inquire further into the particulars of his life. True piety is in giving to God, to the Lord Jesus Christ, the supreme place in our hearts; making him, not ourselves, the King of kings and Lord of lords (verse 12), Sovereign of our soul, Lord of our life. Not one fine spurt of zeal, like this of the Persian monarch, but a continuous regal force, uplifting our spirit day by day to heaven, regulating our feelings, controlling our will, shaping and guiding our words and deeds, in all relations and in every sphere—that is the piety which pleases God.—C.
HOMILIES BY J.A. MACDONALD