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Ezra 4-8
The Good
Hand of God
Psalm 66:1-12 Glorify God
1.“Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!2.Sing to the glory of His name! Offer glory and praise!3.Tell God, "How awesome are Your deeds! Through the greatness of Your power, Your enemies submit themselves to You.4.All the earth will worship You, and will sing to You; they will sing to Your name." Selah.5.Come, and see God’s deeds —awesome work on behalf of the children of men.6.He turned the sea into dry land. They went through the river on foot. There, we rejoiced in Him.7.He rules by His might forever. His eyes watch the nations. Don’t let the rebellious rise up against Him. Selah."8."Praise our God, you peoples! Make the sound of His praise heard,9.who preserves our life among the living, and doesn’t allow our feet to be moved.10.For You, God, have tested us. You have refined us, as silver is refined.11.You brought us into prison. You laid a burden on our backs.12.You allowed men to ride over our heads. We went through fire and through water, but You brought us to the place of abundance."
Observations
66:1-6.God does awesome deeds for His people so others can see and eventually believe and worship Him. To glorify Him is to make Him look good in the eyes of others (Matthew 5:16).
66:7.
Although it might not always look like it, God rules and restrains the rebellious.
66:8-12.
Praise should be offered to God not only for initial deliverance/salvation but also the refining of His people. Those who value holiness will praise Him even for painful times that make us more pleasing in His sight.
Question
What has God done for you lately?
Application
Telling others what God has done gives Him more glory than singing a song.
Prayer
God, You are awesome, and do awesome things; thanks for Your work in my life. May I glorify You with my life, revealing You to those around me. Amen.
Proverbs 17:10-12 Learners and Losers
10.“A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.11.An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.12.Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.“Observation
17:10-12.Tell or show a wise person their fault, and they will quickly seek to correct it. A fool will give you an argument, because they are not interested in being righteous, only in making themselves look right. So a hundred lashes with a whip, won't dent their delusion. Since a fool isn't doing things God's way, and won't be corrected, a cruel messenger will be knocking on their door/head. It's usually good to give fools a wide berth, since you don't want to share in their folly, nor judgment. It would be better to encounter an angry grizzly than a fool following their folly.
Application
Wise people learn at the lowest possible volume; fools may never learn.
Prayer
God, show me anything that isn't right in Your sight, so I can change and not reap the consequences of folly; help me be sensitive to learn at the low volume too. Thanks. Amen.
Ezra 4-8 The Good Hand of God
These chapters focus on the difficulties and opposition faced in doing God's will, and show how wonderfully He provides for those who purpose to know and do His will. The temple building gets officially opposed, and then officially promoted. Ezra purposes to know God's word, and do it, and then move to Jerusalem to teach it, and God's good hand protects and prospers him.
Ezra 4 Bad Guys Win
1.Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple to Yahweh, the God of Israel;2.then they drew near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers’ households, and said to them, "Let us build with you; for we seek your God, as you do; and we sacrifice to him since the days of Esar Haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here."3.But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel, said to them, "You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to Yahweh, the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us."4.Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,5.and hired counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.6.In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.7.In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia...12.Be it known to the king, that the Jews who came up from you have come to us to Jerusalem; they are building the rebellious and the bad city, and have finished the walls, and repaired the foundations.13.Be it known now to the king that if this city is built, and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings.14.Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not appropriate for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore have we sent and informed the king;15.that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers: so you shall find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time; for which cause was this city laid waste.16.We inform the king that, if this city be built, and the walls finished, by this means you shall have no portion beyond the River.
17.Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River: Peace, and so forth.18.The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me.19.I decreed, and search has been made, and it is found that this city of old time has made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.20.There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the country beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid to them.21.Make a decree now to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built, until a decree shall be made by me.22.Take heed that you not be slack herein: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?23.Then when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.24.Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Observation
4:1-24.God's work, done God's way, will never lack Satan's opposition. First the adversaries claim they've been worshiping the same God all along, and want to “help.” Zerubbabel wisely avoids this unholy union. Then the “helpers” show their true colors in opposing the work with hired henchmen.
An aggressive letter writing campaign, that includes the Persian officials, asks one of Cyrus' successors to stop the work, emphasizing the potential damage to the king's revenues (which support them). Their letter indicates that the foundation of the walls was complete, but the height not finished, which adds support to the alternative chronology mentioned in the last post.
The new king confirms that threat of Jewish rebellion and orders the work to stop.
Application
Sometimes the bad guys win, for a while, making life difficult. God's will remains the same.
Prayer
Lord, I pray that You would restrain the forces and influences of evil that seek to prevent Your glory from being displayed, and give me grace and wisdom to overcome opposition. Amen.
Ezra 5 Two Prophets and Problem #2
1.Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem; in the name of the God of Israel they prophesied to them.2.Then Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, rose up and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.3.At the same time came to them Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and their companions, and said thus to them, "Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?"4.Then we told them in this way, what the names of the men were who were making this building.5.But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease, until the matter should come to Darius, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it.7.They sent a letter to him, in which was written thus: To Darius the king, all peace.8.Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands.9.Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, "Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?"10.We asked them their names also, to inform you that we might write the names of the men who were at their head.11.Thus they returned us answer, saying, "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.12.But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.13.But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.14.The gold and silver vessels also of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought into the temple of Babylon, those Cyrus the king took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar/Zerubbabel , whom he had made governor;15.and he said to him, ‘Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in its place.’16.Then the same Sheshbazzar came, and laid the foundations of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now has it been in building, and yet it is not completed.17.Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter."
Observations
5:1-2.God sends a couple of prophets to get people back on track. The whole reason the people returned from exile was to rebuild the temple, and now they've given up.
Haggai 1:7 Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider your ways! 8 Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified," says the LORD.9 "You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?" says the LORD of hosts. "Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house.”
5:3-17.
A second time the Persian officials inquire about the work. The response is exceedingly wise, making a case for the temple, and omitting the decree to stop.
Ezra 6 Search and Decree, Round 2
1.Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.2.There was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, a scroll, and therein was thus written for a record:3.In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let its foundations be strongly laid; its height sixty cubits, and its breadth sixty cubits;4.with three courses of great stones, and a course of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house.5.Also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored, and brought again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, everyone to its place; and you shall put them in the house of God.6.Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River, you must stay far from there.7.Leave the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its place.8.Moreover I make a decree what you shall do to these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses be given with all diligence to these men, that they be not hindered.9.That which they have need of, both young bulls, and rams, and lambs, for burnt offerings to the God of heaven; also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the priests who are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail;10.that they may offer sacrifices of pleasant aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.11.Also I have made a decree, that whoever shall alter this word, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this:12.and the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples who shall put forth their hand to alter the same, to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with all diligence.13.Then Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and their companions, because Darius the king had sent a decree, did accordingly with all diligence.14.The elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the decree of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.15.This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.16.The children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.17.They offered at the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.18.They set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.19.The children of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.20.For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were pure: and they killed the Passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.21.The children of Israel who had come again out of the captivity, and all such as had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the nations of the land, to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, ate,22.and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for Yahweh had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
Observation
6:1-22.This time, the problem turns into prosperity, as God honors their commitment to His work, and turns the heart and resources of the king toward them. Not only does God protect, but He prospers them, and the work. What's not to like?
Application
God's work, done God's way, will not only experience Satanic opposition, but God's protection and provision, resulting in prosperity.
Prayer
God, it seems that the only thing that limits Your blessing is my lack of faithful obedience; may I never hinder Your glory by my slowness to obey all the way. Amen.
Ezra 7 God's Hand on Ezra
1.Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of...5....Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest;6.this Ezra went up from Babylon: and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Yahweh his God on him.9....he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God on him.10.For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Yahweh, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances.11.Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra...12.Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth.13.I make a decree, that all those of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, who are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with you.14.Because you are sent of the king and his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand,15.and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,16.and all the silver and gold that you shall find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem;17.therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, lambs, with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.18.Whatever shall seem good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do that after the will of your God.19.The vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver before the God of Jerusalem.20.Whatever more shall be needful for the house of your God, which you shall have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king’s treasure house.21.I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done with all diligence,22.to one hundred talents of silver, and to one hundred measures of wheat, and to one hundred baths of wine, and to one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.23.Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?24.Also we inform you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, on them.25.You, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God who is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach him who doesn’t know them.26.Whoever will not do the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with all diligence, whether it be to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
27.Blessed be Yahweh, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem;28.and has extended hesed/loyal covenantal love to me before the king, and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. I was strengthened according to the hand of Yahweh my God on me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
Observation
7:1-26.Ezra was greatly blessed by God, and used to bless others because he followed the “secret of successful kings” (see last Sunday's post, or Truthbase.net). He set his heart to: learn the truth, live the truth, and teach the truth in Israel. He could have stayed quite comfortably in Babylon, but He desired God's glory above his own. God responded to Ezra's purpose by moving the king to respond to Ezra's request (to go to Jerusalem) with giving him people, authority, and abundant physical blessings (including tax exemption). Serving God in Jerusalem was a “free will” decision of the people (7:13). The king and his counselors freely gave to support the house of Yahweh, because they didn't want His wrath to fall on them (sounds like they got “fear of the Lord”). They also had the right perspective on obedience (7:23). Apparently they weren't huge fans of toleration and freedom of choice, using the power of the state to support “religion.” Such a policy is usually a bad idea, since most folks ideas about religion are bad.
Application
The reason you're reading this is because yours truly set his heart like Ezra's (7:10) albeit, to teach in NYC. You might consider a little do-it-yourself heart surgery, and get your heart set in the same direction as Ezra's: Learn the Truth, Live the Truth, Love others with the Truth.
Prayer
Lord God, thanks that You bless, protect, and prosper those whose hearts are set on glorifying You. Amen.
Ezra 8 God Protects and Delivers
1.Now these are the heads of their fathers’ households, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king...15.I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava; and there we encamped three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.16.Then I sent for Eliezer... who were teachers.17.I sent them forth to Iddo...that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God.18.According to the good hand of our God on us they brought us a man of discretion...21.Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a straight way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.22.For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, "The hand of our God is on all those who seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all those who forsake him."23.So we fasted and begged our God for this: and he was entreated of us.
24.Then I set apart twelve of the chiefs of the priests...26.I weighed into their hand six hundred fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels one hundred talents; of gold one hundred talents;27.and twenty bowls of gold, of one thousand darics; and two vessels of fine bright brass, precious as gold.28.I said to them, "You are holy to Yahweh, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to Yahweh, the God of your fathers.29.Watch, and keep them, until you weigh them before the chiefs of the priests and the Levites, and the princes of the fathers' houses of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of Yahweh."31.Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the bandit by the way.32.We came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.33.On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God36.They delivered the king's commissions to the king's satraps, and to the governors beyond the River: and they furthered the people and the house of God.
Observation
8:1-36.Ezra recognized that ministry was a team sport, so he specifically sought Levitical teachers and ministers to assist in the work.
Ezra and company sought Yahweh for protection from bandits and the enemy because he didn't want to rely on the king's protection instead of Yahweh's, and thus diminish God's reputation in the king's sight. God answered their prayer and delivered them safely, and they delivered the goods to the house of Yahweh in Jerusalem.
Application
The good hand of God is upon those who seek Him, so seek His will in all you do.
Prayer
God, You delight in protecting and blessing Your people; may I seek You every day, and may Your hand be upon me for good. Thanks. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God allows obstacles to His will so we will learn to trust and depend upon Him. He protects and prospers those who dependently seek Him and His purposes. He is against those who don't. Just because His will is difficult or opposed, it doesn't mean He wants us to abandon it. His hand is not randomly upon people for good, but only because they seek His ways. He moves the hearts of kings, in response to His people's requests, in order to accomplish His purposes. He doesn't make people make requests; that's up to them. He sends prophets and teachers to guide people in His will, if they would only pay attention.Us in a nutshell: Those who seek God, must do so according to His word, learning it and living it, before passing it on. We can expect His blessing, protection and prosperity as we depend upon Him. We can expect both Satanic opposition and God's enabling grace in seeking to do His will, which at times might look impossible or very difficult. If we are seeking to do His will, He will provide a way to make it happen.