People of the Promise: Exile & Return – Lesson 11

 

 

Ezra 7-8

God Provided for Ezra to Lead – Ezra 7

We learn in verse 10 that Ezra was a priest who devoted himself to the study and observance of the Low of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.  Ezra brought with him priests, Levites, singers, gate keepers and temple servants.  This would be important because the people had not been serving the Lord and they needed to be awakened and challenged in order to restore proper worship and temple practices. 

God provided for His people by putting into the King Artaxerxes’ heart to honor the house of the Lord.  So the king authorized the giving of many silver and gold gifts to the temple and told Ezra he could have anything else he needed for the temple.

Ezra responded to the king’s decree and praised the Lord because He put all these things in the king’s heart.  God extended favor to him before the king, his advisors, and the king’s officials. (Ezra 7:27-28)

We should stop, acknowledge and praise God.  We should always be thankful to God because it enables us to sense His presence and in His presence there is joy.  We’re commanded to give thanks and God blesses us for it.  It shifts our focus off ourselves and our troubles and puts it on Jesus where it belongs.  It keeps us spiritually healthy – we don’t put ourselves in God’s place.  We are made to worship and give thanks, because all things are created by Him.

Principles: 

An effective leader must have faith in God and His Word and also love God’s people.

God uses all kinds of people to accomplish His work.

Ezra Assembled and Led the Exiles – Ezra 8

Ezra recorded the families and lineage of those returning from exile.  Like the list made in Ezra 2, it was made to legitimize land rights after they returned, it distinguished true Israelites from the others in the land, and showed authorization for their return.  It shows each person and their contribution were valued by God.

In verse 15-16 Ezra found when he assembled those for the return, there were no Levites found.  This was a problem since Ezra’s whole mission was based on teaching the Law of God to the people already in Jerusalem.  He couldn’t do this alone; he needed help.  Also their journey needed protection and the Levites were the ones who interceded for the people.

Ezra solved the problem.  He found some key leaders who were to ask others to serve and work in the temple.  They found 2o who brought 220 more who would serve.  Ezra demonstrated wise, godly leadership by asking for help.  

Before leaving for Jerusalem Ezra proclaimed a fast so they might be humbled before God and ask Him for a safe journey.  There were dangers from enemies on the road so this was a prayer asking for protection.  He didn’t want to ask the king for protection because he had told the king that the hand of God was upon everyone.  If he asked for help, it would look like they had no trust in God or that God wouldn’t protect them.

Ezra ensured faithful stewardship by praying and fasting before the journey and dividing the valuables among the leaders of the priests making each responsible for their portion.  They were to watch and deliver them to the leaders of the priest in Jerusalem.

Lessons/Principles:

God wants us to humble ourselves before Him and take everything to Him in prayer.

God is in the details and He knows us by name.

A good leader operates under God’s protection, delegates authority, and keeps good records. “But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way”. – 1 Cor. 14:40

We should always seek divine guidance when making decisions.

Thorough planning is essential for a successful outcome.

We are put in charge of our gifts and finances that God allows us to have and we need to take our offerings to God seriously and be good stewards. 

Good stewardship requires both faithful giving and wise usage of our gifts. “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.” – 1 Cor. 16:2.  In 2 Cor. 8-9. 

We are to give generously to the Lord.

Next week we will continue our study of Ezra. -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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