Ezra Sent to Teach the People

 Ezra 7:1-11

March 11, 2021

Ezra Sent to Teach the People

“Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest— this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.

And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants.   And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.   For on the first day of the first month, he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him.   For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.”

In the reign of Artaxerxes God once more God’s man a scribe called Ezra from the lineage of Aaron listened and did as the Lord’s Spirit led him.  The hand of the Lord was on Ezra and the King granted him all that he requested.  When you read that Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord and to do it and teach his statutes and rules in Israel, I wonder what if the Church's goal was to do that.  What change would the people of God see in their daily lives?  What if you and I set our hearts on doing so, how would life change, if dads set their hearts on studying the Word of God and doing and teaching it?

 

In Ezra's case, the king granted him all that he asked, I can only imagine such, they had been in captivity for 70 years, many of you have never known the fear of God, have never known obedience so you have never had the hand of God resting on your life.  But if you are willing to try all the programs of self-improvement, why not study with the intent of doing all the Lord Spirit teaches you, teaching your family?

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice