©2003 Pastor Tom Miles

The first six chapters gave us the history of what took place before Ezra himself arrived in Jerusalem and now in chapter seven Ezra returns to Jerusalem.

1-10: The first five verses give us the genealogy of Ezra back to Aaron.  So Ezra was a priest of God through birth and a skilled scribe of the Law of Moses.  Ezra was granted all he requested because God’s hand was upon him.  Think of how things would have been if all the priests had been as Ezra, skilled in the Law of Moses with the hand of God upon them!  It is very evident that God led Ezra and gave him favor.  Many of the children of Israel, including the singers, gatekeepers, priests and Levites arrived at Jerusalem (verse seven) in the seventh year of Artaxerxes and Ezra arrived the first day of the fifth month according to God’s hand upon him (verses eight to nine).  Ezra prepared his heart to seek always first the ways of the Lord and than to do what the Lord showed him and to teach the ways of the Lord in Israel (verse 10).  Ezra shows us that to be effective we must be living examples of what we try to teach!

11-26: These next verses give us the full quote of Artaxerxes letter to Ezra.  We can tell from the introduction of this letter that Artaxerxes felt highly of Ezra, he either knew him or knew of through good reports that he gives his full support of confidence to Ezra calling him a true servant of God with wisdom to honor both God and the king concerning the temple of God in Jerusalem.  We also find a phrase in verse 12 referring to Artaxerxes as the “king of kings” and this is because in the empire of Persia there were other kings that were all subject to Artaxerxes.  And Ezra, “the scribe learned in the commandments of the God of heaven shows us that Artaxerxes must have known that the God of Israel was higher than the gods of Persia.  And the decree also states that any priests, Levites, or people of Israel wanting to go with Ezra to Jerusalem may do so.  And Ezra was going to bring report to Jerusalem and from Jerusalem as well as to carry the silver and gold given by the king and his counselors.  The gold and silver came from freewill offerings for God of Israel whose temple is in Jerusalem.  And Ezra is instructed to use this money to purchase rams, bulls, and lambs along with grain offerings and drink offerings to be placed on the altar of the temple of God in Jerusalem.  And then the king said that all that was left over could be used as Ezra’s God saw fit.  One could say that because of the fervent prayers of God’s servants the king was changed in heart to make sure honor was first given to God.  Our prayers should be for the hearts of our leaders to be changed to give favor and honor to God not prayers for their demise or downfall!  And as if that was not enough the king than also decrees to all the provinces that anything else that Ezra might need for the house of God let it be provided to him even up to 100 talents of silver, 100 kors of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of oil, and salt as needed.  What strange words in the form of a decree from a king who truly is not a godly king, but this again shows the great way in which God can move the heart of man to His good.  And Artaxerxes than goes a step further and decrees that it be unlawful to impose tax, tribute, or custom upon the Jews so that Judah would prosper.  And the king gave credit also to Ezra and honored him to appoint judges and magistrates to uphold the laws of God and to teach the people.  And then king Artaxerxes said that whosoever did not uphold these things would receive punishment in the form of death or banishment or confiscation of goods or imprisonment!  This sounds like he meant business and all because of prayer from a God-fearing servant speaking boldly.

27-28: In the last two verses of chapter seven the words of Ezra are expressed as to his appreciation of God changing the heart of the king so that the house of the Lord could adorned in beauty and holiness and also for putting it in the king's heart to look upon Ezra favorably.  And so with a feeling of confidence knowing that the hand of God was on him Ezra gathered the men of Israel who were leaders and departed for Jerusalem.

Father, thank You for showing unto us that we should pray for the leaders of our countries with love and conviction asking for their hearts to be changed.  Father, thank You for loving us so much that You sent the final sacrifice to secure redemption for all those willing to accept it!

Where Jesus is Lord!
Living Vine Ministries
Pastor Thomas Miles
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