Greetings members and friends and welcome to another commentary and preview to this Sunday’s study of the Word. This Sunday’s study text is entitled “Ezra Seeks God’s Law” and it is based on Ezra 7:1-10, 23-26.
Ezra suddenly appears midway in the book by his name many years after the first group of exiles in Babylon return and had rebuilt the temple. The Persian kings who conquered the Babylonian empire who destroyed Jerusalem and carried the inhabitants away were inclined to allow the Jews to return to their homeland and with their aid and assistance to reestablish themselves there.
Ezra was still in Babylon when he received the authority and assistance he needed to lead a group of Jews back to Jerusalem. His mission was to reconstitute the house of the Lord in order to make it function like it was intended according to the Law of the Lord.
Ezra seems to have been chosen by the king to take on this task. Ezra was a scribe and Levite and very knowledgeable in the Law of the Lord. He had a heart to know, understand and practice the Law and to teach it to others.
The king wanted whatever is commanded by the God of heaven to be done diligently for His house in Jerusalem for he did not want God’s wrath to come on him or his heirs. The king and Ezra formed the perfect match to get this done and God was working in them both.
How they got together is not told. We are told that Ezra had the king’s full support and authority to take whatever he needed and whomever he needed to get the job done including the royal treasury.
Furthermore, no one could levy any sort of tax on anyone or anything including any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants connected to the house of the Lord. This tax exemption for houses of worship has continued to appear in many cultures since then and exist even today in the United States and in other nations around the world.
Anyone who did not keep the law of God and the law of the king regarding these matters, a strict judgment could be executed against him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.
It is said that because of his skill and dedication to the Law, Ezra helped to set and establish the Hebrew scriptures as we know them today. The study text today reveals the origin of Ezra mission and his authority to do what he did. The rest of the book tells what he did after his arrival in Jerusalem.
Also, he was a contemporary of Nehemiah who also received similar royal help to rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem. Together, they and others, helped to reestablish Jerusalem after its destruction to the holy city of God. Today, our responsibility as Christians is to learn all we can about the Law of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ in order to do them and teach them to others just as Ezra did.
Well, be sure to look over the study again and come prepared to offer your comments, questions and perspective on the meaning of the study. If you can’t attend your own Sunday School class this Sunday, you can join us live and online at 9:00 am at www.fbmbc.org and clicking the online services link.
You can also join us live by dialing 508 924-2890. If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section or you can share them on Sunday. So, let’s all have a great lesson and discussion this Sunday and remember to fear God and keep His commandments.
Pastor Jordan
