Ezra Sends for Levites

 

Ezra 8: 15-20

 

March 18, 2021

 

 

 Ezra Sends for Levites

I gathered them to the river that runs to Ahava, and there we camped three days. As I reviewed the people and the priests, I found there none of the sons of Levi.  Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, leading men, and for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of insight, and sent them to Iddo, the leading man at the place Casiphia, telling them what to say to Iddo and his brothers and the temple servants at the place Casiphia, namely, to send us ministers for the house of our God.   And by the good hand of our God on us, they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli the son of Levi, son of Israel, namely Sherebiah with his sons and kinsmen, 18;  also, Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, with his kinsmen and their sons, 20;  besides 220 of the temple servants, whom David and his officials had set apart to attend the Levites. These were all mentioned by name.

 

What can we the Church learn from these five verses?   Why was Ezra's discovery so important?   The Levites were the tribe of Israelites descended from Levi.  All priests were to be Levites, according to the Law, but not all Levites were priests.  To fulfill his mission, Ezra needs to do it in God’s way and get the Levites to join him.  When the Church tries to go outside the commands and direction of our LORD, we may look good in the eyes of men, but it will never have an eternal effect. 

 

One of the best examples is putting a woman in the office of pastor, giving her authority over men, the Scriptures are very clear, a pastor must be the husband of one wife, in God’s environment, a woman has no authority over a man in the office of Pastor.  But in the world we live in, see it as very enlightened, and progressive.  But Jesus tells us the world and its desires are passing away but that He has overcome the world.

 

At this time, we live, good is called evil and evil good, but God is still in charge of the affairs of man, and we the church need to pray and rid ourselves of the ways of this world.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice