A Prepared Heart Leads To Honored Praise

Ezra was one of three key leaders during the return of the Jewish nation from Babylonian captivity. Zerubbabel was the first to encourage rebuilding of the Temple. Nehemiah was involved with rebuilding of the walls. Ezra was key to restoring the people to worship God. Chapters 1-6 describe the first return and the rebuilding of the temple. Chapters 7-10 contain Ezra's return to Jerusalem, his ministry, and the confrontation of the people.

Ibis was Ezra's first trip, eighty years after the initial exiles returned to Jerusalem and it took four months to complete (Ezra 2:1). Ezra had to ask permission from the king so he could return to Jerusalem. He wanted to guide many of the Jewish people back to Jerusalem and he needed a directive or decree, from the king stating that if any Jew wanted to return to Jerusalem they could do so. This decree would an official government document, be like a passport, just in case of any hostility during their travels.

• Ezra 7:10, For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

• Nehemiah 8:9, And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

This official document displayed God's blessing on Ezra (Ezra 7:6, 28). It is apparent that Ezra had held a distinguished position and gave up that role to return to Jerusalem to teach God's laws to the Israelites. His action shows us how God's people can be put into action by a Bible teacher. He was well educated in the laws of God, and he made it a goal to obey those laws, which in turn made him an effective teacher. Not only was his speaking effective but his actions as well.

We should strive to study and obey God's Word as Ezra did.

• 1 Chronicles 6:31, And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after that the ark had rest.

• Ezra 7:6, This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

Three things happened before Ezra's mission began:

• He dedicated himself to study

• He applied and obeyed God's commands, personally

• He committed himself to teach others

We can see that Ezra:

• Prayed for guidance

• Followed thru with action

• Effective due to study, teaching, most important - lived by example

• Lived what he preached

• Gave praise to God for what he had done for him and thru him

• Honored God thru his life, and thereby God honored him

Ezra gave thanks to God for everything He had done for him and through him. God chose to honor Ezra because he had honored God throughout his life. Ezra could have assumed that the king and his princes were won over by his own charisma and grandeur, but he gave God the credit. We should also be thankful to God for our accomplishments and reject the idea that we achieved them on our own.