[Chapter 7]

In Chapter 7, after the rebuilding of the temple, God sent Ezra to turn the hearts of the Israelites towards God's law. As you read this chapter ask yourself this question. Do I have the heart of Ezra who listened to God's CALL, observed his LAW diligently and fulfilled his PLAN for Israel?

1. God's Call - Do you hear it?

Ezra 7:1-8
1 After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra 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 came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him.
7 Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
8 Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king.

Ezra was a descendant of Seraiah, the high priest who was taken as a prisoner to Babylon at the time of King Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 25:18). Ezra was born and brought up in a foreign land under captivity, yet he was well versed in the law of Moses. God gave the responsibility of teaching the law to Aaron and his descendants (Leviticus 10:8-11) Ezra was willing to hear this call at the right time. The Bible says in V.8, that he traveled to Jerusalem (900 miles journey), a land he probably never visited before, to restore God's people through God's law.

Today God has taken away the Temple, but the priesthood has been handed over to the disciples (I Peter 2:9 says that we are a royal priesthood). The question is do you hear God's call today? Even today people have turned away from God and have gone after idols, traditions and sins. The way God sent Ezra to Israel, Jesus asks us to go make disciples and to teach them to obey. Do you hear his call? Are you willing to do more for God than what you are doing right now?

2. God's law - Do you keep it?

Ezra 7:9-10
9 He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him.
10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

The Bible says that the gracious hand of God was on Ezra for he had devoted himself to the a) Study b) Observance and c) Teaching God's law. As disciples we can easily ignore one or more of these areas and still feel justified.

A. Study without observance In Ecclesiastes 1:12-14 Solomon called himself a Teacher, who devoted himself to study and to explore all God's works, yet he felt that his life was meaningless because he stopped relying on God and observing his decrees.

B. Teaching without observing Ezra was not a hypocrite. So God made even the king to honor him. In Mathew 5:19 Jesus says that whoever practices and teaches God's commands will be called great in the Kingdom of heaven.

C. Studying but not teaching Sometimes we think teaching is only for the leaders and for the full time workers. Jesus himself was called a Teacher more than 45 times in the Bible and he expects every disciple to teach others (Mathew 28:20)

     II Timothy 3:16 - The very first use of the Scripture is "Teaching".

     Colossians 3:16 - Teach one another with all wisdom.

Which area of your life do you think you are still lacking in: Studying, observing or teaching others? What is your specific plan to change/grow in this area so that the gracious hand of God can be upon you?

3. God's plan - Do you perceive it?

Ezra 7:11-28
11 This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest and teacher, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the LORD for Israel:
12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law of the God of heaven: Greetings.
13 Now I decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who wish to go to Jerusalem with you, may go.
14 You are sent by the king and his seven advisers to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God, which is in your hand.
15 Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisers have freely given to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,
16 together with all the silver and gold you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests for the temple of their God in Jerusalem.
17 With this money be sure to buy bulls, rams and male lambs, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and sacrifice them on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem.
18 You and your brother Jews may then do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, in accordance with the will of your God.
19 Deliver to the God of Jerusalem all the articles entrusted to you for worship in the temple of your God.
20 And anything else needed for the temple of your God that you may have occasion to supply, you may provide from the royal treasury.
21 Now I, King Artaxerxes, order all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you--
22 up to a hundred talents of silver, a hundred cors of wheat, a hundred baths of wine, a hundred baths of olive oil, and salt without limit.
23 Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and of his sons?
24 You are also to know that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God.
25 And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates--all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them.
26 Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.
27 Praise be to the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king's heart to bring honor to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem in this way
28 and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king's powerful officials. Because the hand of the LORD my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.

In V.11, Artaxerxes issued a decree to rebuild Jerusalem. This was to fulfill Daniel's prophesy in Daniel 9:25-26. In the same way, 100 years before king Cyrus was actually born, Isaiah prophesied, by name that he would order the temple to be rebuilt (Isaiah 44:28). God always had a plan for his people. Ezra, by carrying out this decree took part in God's plan. Ephesians 1:4 says that God chose us in him, even before the creation of the world. Do you understand that God chose you by name even before you were born and that you are an important part in God's plan for this generation?

Ezra stands out as a man who studied, observed and taught God's laws. Let us make a decision today to follow his example.