Ezra 7:1-28
7:1 The events of this seventh chapter of the Book of Ezra occurred sixty years after the events of chapter six. The events of the book of Esther took place between the periods of time. Ezra was the leader of the second return to Jerusalem (Zerubbabel led the first).
7:2-5 Ezra's genealogy reminds us of the person-to-person journey God makes with His children; his genealogy is written to provide evidence that he was born of a long line of people dedicated to teaching God's word, the priestly line (Aaron's family): Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron.
The name meanings for each man in the family represent the concentric faith threaded through their genealogy for the benefit of God's children.
- Ezra: Help
- Seraiah: Jehovah is ruler (Son of Seraiah is a phrase which means Ezra's line of descent rather than his actual father.)
- Azariah: Jehovah has helped
- Hilkiah: My portion is Jehovah
- Shallum: Retribution
- Zadok: Righteous
- Ahitub: My bother is good, goodness
- Amariah: Jehovah speaks
- Azariah: Jehovah has helped
- Meraioth: Rebellious
- Zerahiah: Jehovah has risen
- Uzzi: Strong
- Bukki: Wasting
- Abishua: My Father is Rescue (safety), or is opulence
- Phinehas: Mouth of brass
- Eleazar: God is helper
- Aaron: Light bringer
7:6-7 Ezra came out of Babylon with God's word absorbed body and soul. He was skilled in the word of God and therefore quite able to preach it and solidify it in the lives of God's children. Ezra was allowed to leave Babylon with the king's permission, but the king's permission came by God's orchestration.
God notices His children who are profoundly devoted to Him and He arranges for them to go up and out toward great purpose. In the verse, the phrase "according to the hand of the Lord his God upon Him" is used. Ezra had deep, studious faith and because of that, he was able to perceive God's presence within and surrounding his life.
The Law of Moses simple refers to God's law which came from God through Moses in Exodus and Deuteronomy.
7:8-9 Ezra began his journey out of Babylon in March-April. He reached Jerusalem in July-August in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. Ezra's journey was covered by God's good hand. We do not often perceive the amount of time and arduous effort within the lives of those in scripture, but even for them, life was a day-to-day spiritual journey. Ezra spent a lot of his life studying and learning and growing in God's word. The depth of his relationship with God was a day to day journey and he poured his time and effort and heart into it. Ezra had great purpose and there was a lot of work behind it.
God's good hand is upon our lives as well, but we do not necessarily benefit from that until we understand it, believe it. Ezra cultivated a relationship with God and therefore the minor and major details of his life were in trusted alignment with God's design and direction.
7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statues and ordinances in Israel. Ezra dedicated his whole life and whole heart to learn from God, to obey God, and to spread His teachings.
God placed His hand on Ezra's life because Ezra gave his life to God. In Matthew 16:25, Jesus told us that whoever loses their life for God's sake would gain their life. Ezra set aside worldly, selfish desires and submitted himself to God. He pursued the kingdom of God rather than personal interest, Matthew 6:33, and God blessed him with a purposeful, divinely-arranged life.
When we hand our lives to God, we place our lives in His hand. God's hand is a haven, a fortress, the safest place we could ever be.
7:11-12 King Artaxerxes wrote a letter to Ezra reestablishing Judah's right to return to their land. Although we individually are often unable to sway the minds of kinds and other authorities, God is able. Judah made a commitment to return to God and therefore God re-initiated His commitment to ensuring their freedom.
7:13 Anyone of the tribes of Israel who wanted to return had the freedom to. Such is the way of faith; God does not force or restrict Himself from anyone. They had the right to return rather than a commandment to return. They had the freedom to return rather than a restriction from doing so. God is so generous to offer personal choice.
7:14-17 King Artaxerxes sent Judah back to Jerusalem with silver and God, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests. Judah returned to Jerusalem with offerings for God to express their gratitude and His greatness.
7:18-20 The people of Judah were finally freed from discipline to do according to the will of God. They had failed to adhere to the will of God and it cost them everything. God gives us commandments and instructions in order to align us with righteousness and His abundance love. It is prudent to follow the will of God because all things work for the good of those who love Him, Romans 8:28.
God provides; with His provision He has a purpose and plan for us. King Artaxerxes charged Judah to do with their excess what was in accordance with the will of God. God blesses us so that we have what we need to bless others, to let those blessings abound. When God provides abundantly, never waste the excess. Utilize what He gives to do more on behalf of righteous compassion.
7:21-23 Judah had been given the opportunity from God, through their captor, to work diligently at restoring their kingdom of faith. Our relationship with God is lifelong; it is also moment-by-moment presence and effort. To diligently listen and obey Him is to build a strong relationship, one that survives tempests and temptation, fear and doubt.
7:24 The spiritual teachers were freed from tax; God had always planned for the teachers of His faith to be wholly committed to the word. The most trusting and diligent teachers of God's word understand that when they devote themselves to the kingdom of God, the kingdom of God devotes itself to providing for them.
The disciples/apostles dedicated themselves to God's word. They were travelers, nomadic except for their spiritual residence with God. They had what they needed to sustain their body and spirit. They had God divined joy and purpose; because they had Him, they had their heart's desire. Children of God steadily learn that their relationship with Him outweighs any other desire they ever had.
7:25 Ezra was trusted to reestablish the spiritual and justice system of the kingdom. It is described that Ezra had God-given wisdom. Ezra received the gift of wisdom from God and he devoted that gift right back to the One who gave it. The most sincere thing we can do for God is to honor Him by utilizing the gifts He gives us for His purposes. When we live as instruments, vessels, conduits of His hand, spirit and energy, we make ourselves not only meaningful but impactful.
7:14-17 King Artaxerxes sent Judah back to Jerusalem with silver and God, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests. Judah returned to Jerusalem with offerings for God to express their gratitude and His greatness.
7:18-20 The people of Judah were finally freed from discipline to do according to the will of God. They had failed to adhere to the will of God and it cost them everything. God gives us commandments and instructions in order to align us with righteousness and His abundance love. It is prudent to follow the will of God because all things work for the good of those who love Him, Romans 8:28.
God provides; with His provision He has a purpose and plan for us. King Artaxerxes charged Judah to do with their excess what was in accordance with the will of God. God blesses us so that we have what we need to bless others, to let those blessings abound. When God provides abundantly, never waste the excess. Utilize what He gives to do more on behalf of righteous compassion.
7:21-23 Judah had been given the opportunity from God, through their captor, to work diligently at restoring their kingdom of faith. Our relationship with God is lifelong; it is also moment-by-moment presence and effort. To diligently listen and obey Him is to build a strong relationship, one that survives tempests and temptation, fear and doubt.
7:24 The spiritual teachers were freed from tax; God had always planned for the teachers of His faith to be wholly committed to the word. The most trusting and diligent teachers of God's word understand that when they devote themselves to the kingdom of God, the kingdom of God devotes itself to providing for them.
The disciples/apostles dedicated themselves to God's word. They were travelers, nomadic except for their spiritual residence with God. They had what they needed to sustain their body and spirit. They had God divined joy and purpose; because they had Him, they had their heart's desire. Children of God steadily learn that their relationship with Him outweighs any other desire they ever had.
7:25 Ezra was trusted to reestablish the spiritual and justice system of the kingdom. It is described that Ezra had God-given wisdom. Ezra received the gift of wisdom from God and he devoted that gift right back to the One who gave it. The most sincere thing we can do for God is to honor Him by utilizing the gifts He gives us for His purposes. When we live as instruments, vessels, conduits of His hand, spirit and energy, we make ourselves not only meaningful but impactful.
7:26 Judah needed to prepare itself to eliminate people and ideas which were contradictory to the lifestyle they were rebuilding in Jerusalem. They had been led astray before by corruption; they could not afford to tolerate it or give into its temptation. Neither can we. Our lives depend on our ability to mute, destabilize and destroy corruption around and within us.
7:27-28 Ezra knew that the multitude of blessings had come directly, powerfully from God: Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, and has extended mercy to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes.
We beautify the house of the Lord (which is within us, 1 Corinthians 3:16) when we live righteously. The gold and silver and beauty of our time is love and justice, wisdom and righteousness, faith, hope and joy, friendship, laughter, patience, forgiveness.
So much of life is about perspective. Ezra had the perspective to realize the opportunities God made for him. Most importantly, Ezra had the faith take on those opportunities with courage. Ezra had a daunting task ahead of him. Great responsibility often conjures fear but because of God's presence in his life, Ezra was encouraged.
Ezra was a capable leader because he himself chose to be led by God. It was not such a daunting task to lead a kingdom when the King was leading the way. King of Kings, our God. The same applies to our lives: we do not have to fear the walk if we choose to be led by God, who goes before us to prepare all things for our benefit, John 14:3; Deuteronomy 31:8.
We beautify the house of the Lord (which is within us, 1 Corinthians 3:16) when we live righteously. The gold and silver and beauty of our time is love and justice, wisdom and righteousness, faith, hope and joy, friendship, laughter, patience, forgiveness.
So much of life is about perspective. Ezra had the perspective to realize the opportunities God made for him. Most importantly, Ezra had the faith take on those opportunities with courage. Ezra had a daunting task ahead of him. Great responsibility often conjures fear but because of God's presence in his life, Ezra was encouraged.
Ezra was a capable leader because he himself chose to be led by God. It was not such a daunting task to lead a kingdom when the King was leading the way. King of Kings, our God. The same applies to our lives: we do not have to fear the walk if we choose to be led by God, who goes before us to prepare all things for our benefit, John 14:3; Deuteronomy 31:8.
