Ezra: The Right Man at the Right Time. Pt. 8 A man who loved Jehovah
Good morning to all. It is a quiet morning in Northeast Ohio. Sunshine is over the horizon and illuminating tree tops around us. Birds of all kinds are busy flying in and out of our feeder and the pesky squirrels are chasing each other around. Fascinating to watch all the playful interactions of animals that God created.
Ezra now comes on the scene and it begins with his family genealogy. You notice that he is a direct descendant from Aaron and ultimately from Levi, the father of the Levites. Ezra's family history is found in Ezra 7:1-5.
We will see much about the excellent character of Ezra. The text below begins by reminding us that it is "this Ezra" (who is descended from Aaron) who is the man we are learning about. There may have been others with the same name but "this Ezra" stands out.
Ezra was a ready scribe
Ezra was a ready scribe. This term means that he had dedicated himself to studying the Law of Moses and not all the extra things that rabbis had written. Ezra was a very skilled teacher of God's truth because he dedicated himself to studying it.
Ezra loved the scriptures
Ezra recognized the great treasure of the inspired scriptures being given to Moses by Jehovah. He wanted to learn and understand the pure Word of God so that he might live for the glory of his God.
Though Ezra was trained as a priest and could claim an illustrious ancestry, the reality is that he did not ever fill the office of a priest while in captivity. I think this shows us he had a servant's heart and he would be used of God to serve His nation in special ways.
The Good hand of God was upon Ezra
Ezra made a request for permission to return to Jerusalem and to bring more priests, porters, Nethinims, Levites and singers with him. His journey was apparently uneventful and the company of Jews arrived safely in Jerusalem.
The rich blessings of receiving the king's permission, finding people ready and willing to make the trip to Jerusalem and of arriving safely were due to the "good hand of his God upon him."
Ezra 7:6-9 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him. 7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. 8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9 For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
Ezra's heart was prepared and seeking
The last verse of this section provides a powerful summary statement about the character of Ezra. He "prepared" his heart which means he made a strong choice to order his life around studying God's word. He was going to read, study and "seek" as much truth as he could from the law of Jehovah.
The word "Seek" means going to do this task so frequently that a path is worn from seeking the things of God. Ezra did this because he wanted to teach what he had learned about God to the others. He wanted to help others understand the message of the scriptures. He knew the people needed someone to teach them the statutes and judgments of the law.
Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
God moved Artaxerxes to supply all that Ezra would need
Artaxerxes was now on the throne. He was the king during the time of Esther & Mordecai. He wrote a lengthy decree confirming Ezra's mission in Ezra 7:11-26. I would suggest that you read the text and as you do, you will find it is similar to the decree of Darius.
Artaxerxes added a bit more to his decree. He commanded the treasurer for Judah to provide whatever Ezra needed and he established some very generous limits. Ezra's requests were to be filled "speedily." He also forbid the governor from taxing the priests, Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims or ministers in the Temple.
Ezra 7:21-24 21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily, 22 Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. 23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? 24 Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.
God made a way for Ezra to establish worship of Jehovah and courts to enforce the law of God and the king.
Artaxerxes still had more that he wrote in his decree and it would severely punish those who opposed the work of the Jews and Ezra in particular. Ezra was empowered to appoint magistrates and judges over all the people in the land of Israel and Judah.
The king also commanded that the people in the land who did not know the law and ways of God be taught. He affixed a death sentence upon those people who refused to keep the law of God and it was to be swiftly carried out. Also, Ezra could mandate prison time, fines or expulsion from the kingdom for other offenses.
Ezra 7:25-26 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not. 26 And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
Points to Ponder.....
Bob
Ezra now comes on the scene and it begins with his family genealogy. You notice that he is a direct descendant from Aaron and ultimately from Levi, the father of the Levites. Ezra's family history is found in Ezra 7:1-5.
We will see much about the excellent character of Ezra. The text below begins by reminding us that it is "this Ezra" (who is descended from Aaron) who is the man we are learning about. There may have been others with the same name but "this Ezra" stands out.
Ezra was a ready scribe
Ezra was a ready scribe. This term means that he had dedicated himself to studying the Law of Moses and not all the extra things that rabbis had written. Ezra was a very skilled teacher of God's truth because he dedicated himself to studying it.
Ezra loved the scriptures
Ezra recognized the great treasure of the inspired scriptures being given to Moses by Jehovah. He wanted to learn and understand the pure Word of God so that he might live for the glory of his God.
Though Ezra was trained as a priest and could claim an illustrious ancestry, the reality is that he did not ever fill the office of a priest while in captivity. I think this shows us he had a servant's heart and he would be used of God to serve His nation in special ways.
The Good hand of God was upon Ezra
Ezra made a request for permission to return to Jerusalem and to bring more priests, porters, Nethinims, Levites and singers with him. His journey was apparently uneventful and the company of Jews arrived safely in Jerusalem.
The rich blessings of receiving the king's permission, finding people ready and willing to make the trip to Jerusalem and of arriving safely were due to the "good hand of his God upon him."
Ezra 7:6-9 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him. 7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. 8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9 For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
Ezra's heart was prepared and seeking
The last verse of this section provides a powerful summary statement about the character of Ezra. He "prepared" his heart which means he made a strong choice to order his life around studying God's word. He was going to read, study and "seek" as much truth as he could from the law of Jehovah.
The word "Seek" means going to do this task so frequently that a path is worn from seeking the things of God. Ezra did this because he wanted to teach what he had learned about God to the others. He wanted to help others understand the message of the scriptures. He knew the people needed someone to teach them the statutes and judgments of the law.
Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
God moved Artaxerxes to supply all that Ezra would need
Artaxerxes was now on the throne. He was the king during the time of Esther & Mordecai. He wrote a lengthy decree confirming Ezra's mission in Ezra 7:11-26. I would suggest that you read the text and as you do, you will find it is similar to the decree of Darius.
Artaxerxes added a bit more to his decree. He commanded the treasurer for Judah to provide whatever Ezra needed and he established some very generous limits. Ezra's requests were to be filled "speedily." He also forbid the governor from taxing the priests, Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims or ministers in the Temple.
Ezra 7:21-24 21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily, 22 Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. 23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? 24 Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.
God made a way for Ezra to establish worship of Jehovah and courts to enforce the law of God and the king.
Artaxerxes still had more that he wrote in his decree and it would severely punish those who opposed the work of the Jews and Ezra in particular. Ezra was empowered to appoint magistrates and judges over all the people in the land of Israel and Judah.
The king also commanded that the people in the land who did not know the law and ways of God be taught. He affixed a death sentence upon those people who refused to keep the law of God and it was to be swiftly carried out. Also, Ezra could mandate prison time, fines or expulsion from the kingdom for other offenses.
Ezra 7:25-26 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not. 26 And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
Points to Ponder.....
- Ezra is a highly qualified priest and a dedicated student of scripture.
- Ezra became a competent teacher of the law as a ready scribe.
- Ezra consistently prepared his heart to seek Jehovah in His word.
- The Lord moved the king to write a strong decree supporting Ezra and the work of reestablishing the Jewish people in their homeland.
- The Lord did above and beyond what Ezra expected to happen.
The beautiful moral character of Ezra is being put on display for our consideration. Ezra prepared his heart to immerse himself in the things of God. Ezra sought to understand as much as he could and he was a very capable scribe and a very competent teacher of the law.
The governor and rulers in the land had no choice but to implement the decree of Artaxerxes. In spite of such a favorable decree from the king, Ezra remained a humble, grateful man. We do not see any evidence of pride on his part in the record of scripture.
It would seem that Ezra walked in a path where his steps were ordered by Jehovah. That is a blessed path for all of us to seek.
Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Bob
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