Ezra

Ezra Chapter 7

Ezra Sent to Teach the People

Ezra 7:1 Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
2 The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
3 The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
4 The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
5 The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:
6 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.

Ezra kept the law of the Lord in his heart. The king at that time allowed him to leave Babylon and go teach God's word to the former captives of Babylon who had left to go to Jerusalem.

Ezra 7:7 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.
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.

I love good preaching of God's word but I also love the verse by verse teaching of God's word also. There is a place for both. In the days of the popularity of radio I use to do my chores and listen to preacher after preacher teach the word of God. Love, love, loved it. Still do. Chuck Smith was one of my favorites, also J. Vernon Mcgee. I didn't have to agree with all of them on everything but I loved to hear them faithfully teach every word in the bible year after year. Now I have youtube and can listen to Jack Hibbs and many others, even local ones that I know personally. Good stuff.

Ezra was a teacher that knew the law of the Lord written down by Moses. This was years before Jesus Christ came so they still were under the law in the time of Ezra after they returned to their homeland. God's hand was upon him and he sought God and prepared himself for this great task. All biblical teachers should always prepare with prayer and study deligently.

Ezra 7:11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.
12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.
13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.

I like the word freewill. God wants us to serve and follow Him willingly. He never wants puppets. Teaching should be from the deep within us. Taught with love, not just duty. I can usually tell when someone is teaching with a love for God and His word. It's in the sound of their voice.

The king made a decree that those that wanted to go could go and those that chose to stay could stay. They were not forced one way or another. That is good in a way because to leave and start over isn't easy. It takes those with a pioneer spirit and also a love for God and a love for the people they travel with. They have to be brave enough to face hardships.

In the days after the German holocaust many had to go into other lands for safety. Some went to Israel to start a new nation. It wasn't easy. They had to rebuild, endure opposition from enemies and even had to fight wars. God helped them though or they couldn't have made it. Now Israel is a great nation but alas, they are surrounded with those that hate them and do not realize that God promised them that land years ago in the days of Abraham.

Ezra 7:14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;
15 And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
16 And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:
17 That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
18 And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.
19 The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.
20 And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house.
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?

The king also gave Ezra the authority to buy whatever was required to worship God in all things stating that he believed God's wrath would be upon him if he didn't help in this area. The king sent forth all that was needed by the hand of Ezra. He seems to be aware of how they worshiped and what was required. Oh that we could have leaders and rulers like that today. Those that recognized the God of the universe in all that they do.

Ezra 7:24 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.
25 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.

We need to remember here that in those days, Emperors, kings and such were tough and used the death penalty upon any who went against their decrees. There was no democracy. They lived by the mercy and grace of God.

Ezra 7:27 Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:
28 And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

This is one king that recognized God's favor and blessing upon those that allowed His people freedom to worship according to their laws and customs. God's wrath will come upon kings and leaders that hinder the true worship that God has ordained for Israel and all others that love Him. If a leaders would only "get this" they will be blessed by the Lord. Those faithful to God may at times suffer the wrath of people that do not believe in God but God will come through for His people in the long run. Eternity and everlasting life is for all who stay true to God and trust in the salvation provided through Jesus our Christ. Persecution may come to try one's faith but in the end everlasting life for those faithful to God will be come to them. God is going to dwell with us forever.

In the days of Ezra, Jesus was not yet made known to them and He hadn't come to die for sins until a few years later but if they believed the words of the prophets, they knew the time would come that God would send a savior, their Messiah who would come to deliver them from their enemies. The first time He came though was to save them from thier sin. That part they didn't understand but they will understand one day either just before or at the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. Individual Jews have already come to Christ but as a nation they have not yet recognized Him as the Messiah yet. (July 5, 2025) DC

Ezra Chapter 8