EZRA 7 | Ezra Comes to Jerusalem

Ezra 7 Ezra Comes to Jerusalem
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Ezra 7 emphasizes the importance of operating within God’s preparation, showcasing how He can use both good and bad experiences to prepare us for His purposes. The daily devotional introduces Ezra, a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, whose heart was set on studying, practicing, and teaching God’s Word. Despite being in captivity, Ezra’s preparation in Babylon equipped him to lead the Israelites back to Jerusalem and rebuild their spiritual foundation. Reflecting on this, the devotional encourages you to consider how God has been preparing you for your own assignments, urging you to apply your past experiences to future dreams with faith and purpose. To learn about the king’s decree about rebuilding the walls in Jerusalem, read the daily devotional on Ezra 6.

Ezra 7 Commentary by Allen J. Huth

Ezra 7 contains leadership principle number eight, operate with God’s preparation. Regardless of your past life experiences, good or bad, God can use them in your future. Has He prepared you for something exciting? Please read or listen to Ezra 7.

Who Is Ezra and Why Is He Significant?

In 1995, I wrote in my journal, “Ezra introduced: a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, a man of the Word. The hand of God was upon him, so he got all he requested. He studied the Law of God, practiced it, and taught it. He knew the commandments and statutes of God’s law. God provides all the money to build and finish the temple.”

Then I wrote part of my prayer, “Make me an Ezra. Help me bring back respect for Your Word and provide the resources to make it happen. Fund the Ezra Project.” That was 1995. The Ezra Project did not begin until 2002, but you can see God was stirring it in my heart well before it ever happened.

In 2009, I read Ezra 6-8 on the same day. Concerning chapter 7, I wrote, “Sixty years passed between chapter 6 and 7 when Ezra, a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, decides to lead a second wave of exiles from Babylon to Israel.”

In 2015, I read Ezra 7 and 8 on the same day and wrote, “Ezra appears in chapter 7. A descendant of Aaron the chief priest, a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, and the hand of God was on him. Ezra’s heart was to study the Law of the Lord, do it, and teach it in Israel, though he was in captivity in Babylon. He is not a Levite, so he needs Levites, priests, to go with him to Jerusalem.”

What Is the Message of Ezra 7:10?

Ezra is introduced in chapter 7. His genealogy is traced all the way back to being a son of Aaron, the chief priest, that same Aaron that was the brother of Moses. We learn in verse 6, “the hand of the Lord his God was on him.” This phrase is repeated in verse 9, “For the good hand of his God was on him.” And we learn about Ezra’s heart, “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” (v. 10).

Verse 10 is one of those power verses in scripture to me, and it also is directly applicable to the Ezra Project. I believe the same thing is needed today. We need people like Ezra who will commit to study the Law, to practice it or do it, and to teach it or share it with others. Part of your practical application from this chapter is to be a 21st century Ezra. Study the Law, do it, and share it with those around you.

What Is the Meaning of Ezra 7?

Ezra 7 not only introduces Ezra, but it also shows he wrote this in the first person. Let’s look at the last couple of verses. Ezra writes in verses 27-28, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.” So, Ezra himself is now writing in the Book of Ezra.

What Does the Bible Say about God Preparing the Way?

From the Twelve Practical Principles of Leadership According to Ezra booklet, leadership principle number eight is, operate with God’s preparation. I wrote in the booklet:

Take a look at your life experiences and examine your preparation “for such a time as this” (Est. 4:14). What have you gone through to prepare you for your current assignment? God was preparing Ezra while he was in captivity in Babylon. He prepared Ezra to teach God’s Word so that when they returned to Israel, he was ready. Maybe He has already prepared your heart for something too.

As you examine your past life experiences, what are you good at? What has God put in your heart? What are you passionate about? What preparation have you experienced and how can you apply it to your current and future dreams?

How Do You Know God Is Preparing You?

Our application out of chapter 7 is consider how God has already prepared you through your past life experiences for something He wants you to do next. Though Ezra had it rough, he was in captivity in Babylon, God was still preparing him to do the next thing. Is there something God is preparing you for? Even if you have been through a tough test or a difficult trial, operate within God’s preparation. How can you apply your past experiences to your future dreams?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for preparing us. You have a purpose for us. You had a purpose for Ezra. Even though he was in captivity, You were preparing him to someday teach the people in Jerusalem the Word of God.

We take a moment to thank You. Regardless of the difficulties or the tests You put us through in our past, prepare us for what You have next, what You have in store for us, in our lives. May we learn from the preparation You put us through and be willing to do the next thing You want us to do. Speak to our hearts, Lord. Speak to our hearts. In the name of Jesus, we ask it. Amen.

We invite you to watch the “Great News” video on this page and find out more about God’s love for you and how you can receive forgiveness and eternal life – today!

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The Prayer of Salvation

Jesus, I don't know You, and I don't know what Your plan is for me. But thank you for coming to die in my place. I'm sorry for anything I've ever done wrong in my life. I don't understand how You could ever forgive me, but if You really would, I would like to accept your free gift of grace and complete forgiveness. Please come into my life and take control, and help me trust You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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