EZRA
OBSERVATION:
EZRA’S BOOK TELLS THE STORY OF THE FIRST AND SECOND RETURN OF
JEWS IN BABYLON AFTER THEIR RELEASE FROM CAPTIVITY. EZRA
LED THE SECOND GROUP AND RESTORED RELIGIOUS ORDER EMPHASIZING GOD’S LAWS, COMMANDS AND AUTHORITY. KEY CHARACTERS ARE EZRA,
JOSHUA, ZERUBBABEL, CYRUS AND ARTAXERXES.
INTERPRETATION:
READ EZRA 10: 6 (NKJV)
POINTS TO PONDER:
AN ISSUE AROSE REGARDING INTERMARRIAGE WITH PAGAN WOMEN. EZRA WAS DISTRAUGHT, HE WEPT, PRAYED AND QUICKLY MADE PLANS TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. HE AND OTHER MEN WENT TO JERUSALEM TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. EZRA WAS A MAN OF PRAYER. THE PRAYED A PRAYER OF NATIONAL FORGIVENESS OF SIN (EZRA 9: 6-15).
WHENEVER GOD WANTS TO DO A GREAT WORK OR TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION, HE RAISES UP MEN AND WOMEN TO GET THE JOB DONE. THE TALMUD, A RENDERING OF JEWS LAWS AND REGULATION, STATED THIS REGARDING EZRA: “WHEN THE LAW WAS FORGOTTEN IN ISRAEL, EZRA CAME UP FROM BABYLON AND REESTABLISHED THEM.”
CONSIDER EZRA’S GIFTINGS AND QUALITIES: HE TOOK CHARGE AND ADDRESSED ISSUES THAT NEEDED CORRECTION. HE WAS A GODLY MAN OF PRAYER. HE WAS OBEDIENT. HE WAS DEVOTED TO GOD’S LAWS AND TRUTHS. HE WAS A COVENANT KEEPER!
APPLICATION:
EZRA WAS DEVOTED TO GOD’S TRUTHS. EVERY BELIEVER CAN BE A MODERN DAY EZRA!
