Ezra 7
This chapter introduces Ezra, a descendent of the chief priest, Aaron. He was a skilled scribe in the law of Moses and had a desire to study, do and teach God's law, as taught by Moses. The current Persian king, Artaxerxes, allowed his request to go to Jerusalem and enquire how they were observing God's laws. The king also decreed that any other Jews from the captivity who wanted to go with Ezra may and gave silver and gold to buy all that was needed for sacrifices in the temple and vessels to use in the services.
He additionally gave Ezra a letter of authority stipulating all of this and authorising Ezra's use of whatever was needed from the treasurers in his realm surrounding Jerusalem. The letter also gave Ezra permission to set up magistrates and judges who were familiar with God's law and teach it to those that knew it not. Any that would not do God's law were to be punished.
The chapter concludes with Ezra's words of praise to the LORD for putting all of this into the King of Persia's heart.
Aren't these words at the end of verse 25 wonderful?
'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'.
In his continued love to his people, God has moved the heart of heathen King Artaxerxes to allow Ezra to go to Jerusalem and has even ordered that he teach the people about God and his ways! Isn't this amazing!? And Ezra, the man that God has prepared to teach them is so fit for the job - he is a 'ready scribe' or as my study Bible explains it, a skilled teacher of the scriptures, and God has given him a desire to study and teach them.
The children of Israel had been given God's laws via Moses many years ago, but like a loving parent carefully teaches their child how they are to live for their well being, so the LORD is again desirous to teach his people how to serve him. God wanted them to know and keep his laws.
What kindness and mercy this is! Does it give you hope for us today? As a nation we are so departed from following God's ways, and in our lives as believers...well, I often think how should a real Christian really live in today's world?
The Lord encourages us to ask him for teaching - we have the prayer in Psalm 25: 4, 'Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths'. How does he teach us today? Thankfully we still have our Bibles in this country, although I did hear of a move in Scotland to have it banned. And the Lord speaks to us through his word - his words are our spiritual food and drink! As Jeremiah said, 'Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart...' (Jeremiah 15: 16).
The Lord also teaches us of himself and his ways through preachers, teachers and our circumstances. Sometimes we need the Lord to open our eyes to see what he is instructing us, and I feel that I often have to be taught a lesson time and time again!
We may feel tempted that we are insignificant to God, that he doesn't see our little life and that there is no meaning to our circumstances. We cannot always see the teaching we are experiencing until looking back. We may not see the relevance or 'use' of what we do, but be encouraged, the Lord watches over you and teaches you just as he did his people in these ancient times. His word tells us,
'I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go' (Psalm 32:8).
And perhaps the Lord uses your life to teach those around you of him. Their contact with your life may be the only teaching of God which they are exposed to. Many people have probably never read a Bible or heard a sermon. The name of Jesus or God are words they are only familiar with when swearing. Although they might know that Christmas and Easter are something to do with Jesus and Christians - they probably think of them as nice little stories or traditions.
You may feel so inadequate to speak of God and his ways. In contrast to skilled teacher Ezra maybe you have many wasted years of Bible neglect or only reading to satisfy your conscience or your parents. And sometimes I feel that the more we study God's word, the more we realise we don't know. Don't let this discourage you. Do you remember what was said of Peter and John? Although it was evident to the religious leaders of their time that they were uneducated, and we know that they were fishermen, we read in Acts 4 that these same religious leaders marvelled at the boldness with which they spake. And what else do we read? Firstly, that Peter was filled with the Holy Ghost, and secondly that the religious leaders realised Peter and John had been with Jesus.
If you are a believer, the Holy Spirit lives in you, and Jesus tells us that the Spirit of truth 'will guide us into all truth' (John 16: 13). We aren't with Jesus as a physical person in this life, but God's spirit in us teaches us of him. We can pray that as we read our Bibles, worship and have fellowship that the Spirit will teach us and shine through us into how we life our lives, that we might witness of him to those who do not yet know him. As Paul writes in Philippians 2:13-15:
'It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world'.
And may we also be encouraged to ask the Lord to send us Ezras - men prepared to teach the gospel, and that it might even be ordered by our leaders that we should follow God's ways.
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