GLEANINGS FROM EZRA
There are times when one reads through a portion of the Scriptures and various things "jump out" as you read. Such was the case while reading through the book of Ezra and we just wish to share those things as Truth for Thought - some things to meditate upon, or perhaps to inspire further personal study into the topics. The presentation order is solely based on the order in which we come across the topic as we read through Ezra.
1. Ezra 3:8 they "made a beginning" - there are often areas in our lives which need to change direction, or perhaps we just need to start doing something that we have not done previously. Either way, there needs to be a mindset of "making a beginning", rather then just continuing on as we have in the past. Will you make today "a beginning" in some area of your life, in your walk with the Lord, with your family, etc.? The apostle Paul writes in Philippians 3:13-14: "but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
2. Ezra 3:10-11 - musical instruments. We acknowledge that music is a divisive issue in churches and that HOW music is used is very important. But THAT it was used in worship seems undeniable from the Scriptures, particularly the Psalms. Here in Ezra 3 we read that the priests came forward "with trumpets".... and "with cymbals" - "to praise the Lord". Some churches do not believe that musical instruments should be used in worship, here they are expressly used to praise the Lord. Verse 11 tells us that "the people sang responsively, praising and giving thanks TO THE LORD" (emphasis added).
3. Ezra 4:1-6. This selection raises some difficult issues regarding discernment, separation (anti-ecumenicism), etc. Please read the section for yourself. Those that were the adversaries (note that they are called adversaries, in spite of their attempts to be thought of as "equals") approach Zerubbabel and say "Let us build with you, for we worship your God as you do." There was "peer pressure" to just "get along", to work together side by side because, after all, we are all the same. Zerubbabel demonstrated discernment to know that the adversary was cunning, but not truthful! He also demonstrated courage and boldness to take his stand, and to tell it like it REALLY was - he said: "You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we alone will build to the Lord...." It was AFTER Zerubabbel took this stand that the true colors of the adversaries became evident - we read in verse 4: "THEN the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose...."
4. Ezra 6:14. "and the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo". We simply recommend that you take a few moments and read those two prophets in connection with reading through Ezra. (Haggai and Zechariah are right near the end of the Old Testament).
5. Ezra 7:10 "For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach His statutes and rules in Israel". We have a more detailed study on this verse if you are interested - click here.
6. Ezra 7:25 Guidelines for leaders? "And you, Ezra, according to your God-given wisdom, set magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are in the region beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach those who do not know them."
7. Ezra 8:21 In desiring safe journey, Ezra demonstrates several important principles. First we are told that he proclaimed a "fast". This certainly indicates the seriousness, the earnestness, of the desire of Ezra's heart. Such seriousness before God seems seriously lacking in the church today. We are told next that the fast was proclaimed in order "that we might humble ourselves before our God". God seeks and loves humility. He gives grace to the humble! Most of us are proud - much too proud. Jesus humbled Himself to take on the form of a man. He humbled himself by becoming a servant - to those whom He had created! (see John 13). The basis of Ezra's actions can be seen in his convictions stated in verse 22-23 "...The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.” So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer."
8. Ezra 9 - We find that Israel, NOT GOD, is responsible for the mess in which they ended up (as is the case with us all too often). Ezra 5:12 tips us off to this topic - "But because our fathers provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and carried the people away to Babylon." Ezra 9:1 tells us "...The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, with respect to the abominations of the Canaanites...." We read further in Ezra 9:10-13: "And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken Your commandments, which You commanded by Your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land which you are entering to possess is an unclean land, with the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations which have filled it from one end to another with their impurity. Now therefore, do not give your daughters as wives for their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons; and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land, and leave it as an inheritance to your children forever.’ And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, since You our God have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such deliverance as this,..."
9. Ezra 9:9 and Ezra 10:2 THERE IS HOPE ! ! ! ! Yes, Israel had sinned against God, and yes, it was because of their sins that they were afflicted, enslaved, etc., BUT..... hear these great words. Ezra 9:9: "For we were slaves. Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage; but He extended mercy to us...." and Ezra 10:2: "We have trespassed against our God....; yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of this." Are you a sinner? Have you sinned against your God? As long as you still have breath, you can REPENT and turn to God. Won't you do that right now?
There are times when one reads through a portion of the Scriptures and various things "jump out" as you read. Such was the case while reading through the book of Ezra and we just wish to share those things as Truth for Thought - some things to meditate upon, or perhaps to inspire further personal study into the topics. The presentation order is solely based on the order in which we come across the topic as we read through Ezra.
1. Ezra 3:8 they "made a beginning" - there are often areas in our lives which need to change direction, or perhaps we just need to start doing something that we have not done previously. Either way, there needs to be a mindset of "making a beginning", rather then just continuing on as we have in the past. Will you make today "a beginning" in some area of your life, in your walk with the Lord, with your family, etc.? The apostle Paul writes in Philippians 3:13-14: "but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
2. Ezra 3:10-11 - musical instruments. We acknowledge that music is a divisive issue in churches and that HOW music is used is very important. But THAT it was used in worship seems undeniable from the Scriptures, particularly the Psalms. Here in Ezra 3 we read that the priests came forward "with trumpets".... and "with cymbals" - "to praise the Lord". Some churches do not believe that musical instruments should be used in worship, here they are expressly used to praise the Lord. Verse 11 tells us that "the people sang responsively, praising and giving thanks TO THE LORD" (emphasis added).
3. Ezra 4:1-6. This selection raises some difficult issues regarding discernment, separation (anti-ecumenicism), etc. Please read the section for yourself. Those that were the adversaries (note that they are called adversaries, in spite of their attempts to be thought of as "equals") approach Zerubbabel and say "Let us build with you, for we worship your God as you do." There was "peer pressure" to just "get along", to work together side by side because, after all, we are all the same. Zerubbabel demonstrated discernment to know that the adversary was cunning, but not truthful! He also demonstrated courage and boldness to take his stand, and to tell it like it REALLY was - he said: "You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we alone will build to the Lord...." It was AFTER Zerubabbel took this stand that the true colors of the adversaries became evident - we read in verse 4: "THEN the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose...."
4. Ezra 6:14. "and the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo". We simply recommend that you take a few moments and read those two prophets in connection with reading through Ezra. (Haggai and Zechariah are right near the end of the Old Testament).
5. Ezra 7:10 "For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach His statutes and rules in Israel". We have a more detailed study on this verse if you are interested - click here.
6. Ezra 7:25 Guidelines for leaders? "And you, Ezra, according to your God-given wisdom, set magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are in the region beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach those who do not know them."
7. Ezra 8:21 In desiring safe journey, Ezra demonstrates several important principles. First we are told that he proclaimed a "fast". This certainly indicates the seriousness, the earnestness, of the desire of Ezra's heart. Such seriousness before God seems seriously lacking in the church today. We are told next that the fast was proclaimed in order "that we might humble ourselves before our God". God seeks and loves humility. He gives grace to the humble! Most of us are proud - much too proud. Jesus humbled Himself to take on the form of a man. He humbled himself by becoming a servant - to those whom He had created! (see John 13). The basis of Ezra's actions can be seen in his convictions stated in verse 22-23 "...The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.” So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer."
8. Ezra 9 - We find that Israel, NOT GOD, is responsible for the mess in which they ended up (as is the case with us all too often). Ezra 5:12 tips us off to this topic - "But because our fathers provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and carried the people away to Babylon." Ezra 9:1 tells us "...The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, with respect to the abominations of the Canaanites...." We read further in Ezra 9:10-13: "And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken Your commandments, which You commanded by Your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land which you are entering to possess is an unclean land, with the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations which have filled it from one end to another with their impurity. Now therefore, do not give your daughters as wives for their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons; and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land, and leave it as an inheritance to your children forever.’ And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, since You our God have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such deliverance as this,..."
9. Ezra 9:9 and Ezra 10:2 THERE IS HOPE ! ! ! ! Yes, Israel had sinned against God, and yes, it was because of their sins that they were afflicted, enslaved, etc., BUT..... hear these great words. Ezra 9:9: "For we were slaves. Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage; but He extended mercy to us...." and Ezra 10:2: "We have trespassed against our God....; yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of this." Are you a sinner? Have you sinned against your God? As long as you still have breath, you can REPENT and turn to God. Won't you do that right now?