THE HAND OF THE LORD MY GOD WAS UPON ME
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INTRODUCTION
The Bible is filled with accounts of people who lived their lives under the influence of God...
The Bible is filled with accounts of people who lived their lives under the influence of God...
Through deep faith and a willingness to serve, God used them to fulfill His purposes
Ezra is one such example of what can happen:
When a person determines to seek God
And allows the Lord to use him
In 457 B.C., Ezra led a group of Jews from Babylonian captivity back to Jerusalem...
In 457 B.C., Ezra led a group of Jews from Babylonian captivity back to Jerusalem...
About eighty years after a group led by Zerubbabel to rebuild the temple
The mission of Ezra’s group was to restore the people of God
In the book of Ezra...
In the book of Ezra...
The first six chapters describe the work of Zerubbabel
The final four chapters relates Ezra’s arrival and the great restoration he brought about
The theme of Ezra’s life and work could be stated as:
The theme of Ezra’s life and work could be stated as:
“The Hand of Jehovah My God Was Upon Me”
Six times in two chapters he thus attributes his success to God
In our lesson, let’s first notice...
DISCUSSION
HOW THE HAND OF JEHOVAH WAS UPON EZRA
HOW THE HAND OF JEHOVAH WAS UPON EZRA
THE HAND OF JEHOVAH WAS UPON EZRA IN RECEIVING REQUESTS FROM THE KING...
THE HAND OF JEHOVAH WAS UPON EZRA IN RECEIVING REQUESTS FROM THE KING...
Notice...
6 this Ezra went up from Babylon. And he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Jehovah, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Jehovah his God upon him.
Because the hand of the Lord was upon Ezra, Artaxerxes allowed him:
To go to Jerusalem - Ezra 7:12-13
To take silver and gold to buy animals for sacrifice - Ezra 7:14-17
To buy what is needed for the service of the house of God - Ezra 7:18-23
To be free from taxation - Ezra 7:24
To set up magistrates and judges - Ezra 7:25-26
Ezra recognized the hand of God was at work in his behalf!
27 Blessed be Jehovah, the God of our fathers, who hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of Jehovah which is in Jerusalem; 28 and hath extended lovingkindness unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened according to the hand of Jehovah my God upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
THE HAND OF JEHOVAH WAS UPON EZRA IN FINDING SERVANTS FOR THE TEMPLE...
THE HAND OF JEHOVAH WAS UPON EZRA IN FINDING SERVANTS FOR THE TEMPLE...
Prepared to leave, Ezra noted none of sons of Levi
15 And I gathered them together to the river that runneth 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.
He sends men to find some who will go with them (Ezra 8:16-17)
By the good hand of God upon them, they find 38 Levites and 220 Nethinim to assist them!
18 And according to the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen; 19 and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty; 20 and of the Nethinim, whom David and the princes had given for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim: all of them were mentioned by name.
THE HAND OF JEHOVAH WAS UPON EZRA IN PROVIDING SAFE JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM...
THE HAND OF JEHOVAH WAS UPON EZRA IN PROVIDING SAFE JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM...
Ezra proclaimed a fast to seek from God the right way to travel...
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 unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them that seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. 23 So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of us.
Having told the king that God’s hand would be them, he was ashamed to ask for a military escort
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 unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them that seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
God’s hand was upon them, and they safely arrived in Jerusalem!
31 Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the lier-in-wait by the way. 32 And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.
From beginning to end the hand of Jehovah was upon Ezra.
From beginning to end the hand of Jehovah was upon Ezra.
Why did Ezra enjoy the blessing of God’s provision in his life?
Is there anything we can glean from Ezra’s story that might ensure the hand of God in our own lives?
I believe there is! Let me suggest some reasons...
WHY THE HAND OF JEHOVAH WAS UPON EZRA
WHY THE HAND OF JEHOVAH WAS UPON EZRA
EZRA HAD PREPARED HIMSELF...
EZRA HAD PREPARED HIMSELF...
In a summary passage, we learn why God was with him...
9 For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon; and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. 10 For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Jehovah, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances.
God was with him “For (because) Ezra had prepared his heart...”
“to seek the Law of Jehovah” (to learn what God wanted him to do)
“to do it” (to apply it to himself first)
“to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel” (and then teach others)
Ezra had first made himself “useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” - cf....
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master’s use, prepared unto every good work.
EZRA HAD SOUGHT THE LORD...
EZRA HAD SOUGHT THE LORD...
He believed that God would be with those who seek Him...
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 unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them that seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
Thus he entreated God’s protection through fasting and prayer...
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 unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them that seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. 23 So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of us.
Ezra believed that God rewarded those who diligently seek Him; such faith undoubtedly pleased God - cf...
6 and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.
EZRA WAS WILLING TO STEP OUT IN FAITH...
EZRA WAS WILLING TO STEP OUT IN FAITH...
Trusting the Lord would protect them, they began their perilous journey
31 Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the lier-in-wait by the way.
It was not easy, for there were enemies and potential for ambush along the way!
But Ezra illustrated that he had a living, working faith! - cf...
17 Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself.
26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love.
EZRA WAS WILLING TO FACE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS...
EZRA WAS WILLING TO FACE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS...
Upon his arrival, Ezra was faced with a difficult situation
1 Now when these things were done, the princes drew near unto me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the peoples of the lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.
Many of the Israelites had intermarried with Gentile women
The rulers and leaders of Israel were the worst violators
He was moved to fasting and prayer
3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my robe, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded. 4 Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the trespass of them of the captivity; and I sat confounded until the evening oblation. 5 And at the evening oblation I arose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe rent; and I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto Jehovah my God; 6 and I said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God; for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our guiltiness is grown up unto the heavens. 7 Since the days of our fathers we have been exceeding guilty unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this day. 8 And now for a little moment grace hath been showed from Jehovah our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. 9 For we are bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended lovingkindness unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the ruins thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. 10 And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments, 11 which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land through the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their filthiness: 12 now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity for ever; that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever. 13 And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great guilt, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such a remnant, 14 shall we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the peoples that do these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape? 15 O Jehovah, the God of Israel, thou art righteous; for we are left a remnant that is escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our guiltiness; for none can stand before thee because of this.
Others joined him (“everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel”)
He offered prayer confessing the sins of Israel
He accepted the responsibility that was his
1 Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there was gathered together unto him out of Israel a very great assembly of men and women and children; for the people wept very sore. 2 And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land: yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing. 3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. 4 Arise; for the matter belongeth unto thee, and we are with thee: be of good courage, and do it. 5 Then arose Ezra, and made the chiefs of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word. So they sware. 6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water; for he mourned because of the trespass of them of the captivity. 7 And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem; 8 and that whosoever came not within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the assembly of the captivity.
Encouraged by those willing to repent
Leading the people to a great restoration!
It would have been so easy to rationalize away any need for the people to change; but Ezra did not let the emotionally charged issue deter him from doing God’s will!
CONCLUSION
The hand of the Lord was upon Ezra because he...
The hand of the Lord was upon Ezra because he...
Had prepared himself
Sought the Lord
Was willing to step out in faith
Was willing to face difficult situations
Ezra was not the only person who experienced the hand of the Lord upon him...
Ezra was not the only person who experienced the hand of the Lord upon him...
The Lord was also with a contemporary, Nehemiah - cf...
18 And I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me, as also of the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
Sometimes the hand of the Lord was for the purpose of judgment - cf...
6 But the hand of Jehovah was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with tumors, even Ashdod and the borders thereof.
But here we have considered the working of God for good in the life of his servant
How will the hand of the Lord be for us? For our good, if we emulate Ezra by...
How will the hand of the Lord be for us? For our good, if we emulate Ezra by...
Preparing ourselves to be useful to the Master!
Seeking the Lord with diligence and faith!
Stepping out in faith against the odds
Facing difficult issues and situations head on
Let the example of Ezra encourage us to so live in Christ, that one day we can look back at the events in our lives and say: “The Hand of Jehovah My God Was Upon Me”!
Let the example of Ezra encourage us to so live in Christ, that one day we can look back at the events in our lives and say: “The Hand of Jehovah My God Was Upon Me”!