Blessed by the Good Hand of God

this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him. And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants. And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. 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.

Though much of the book is in the third person, this book is written by Ezra himself.

Chapter 8 has first person accounts that imply the author was involved in the events of the book.

This is important to remember as we work our way through.

Ezra records two separate time periods.

Chapt. 1-6 is the first wave in the return led by Zerubbabel.

Chapt. 7-10 is 60 years later.

1. Ezra’s Background

Ezra 7:6 (ESV)

A. Ezra was raised in Babylon.

Ezra was not one who was taken captive by Babylon.

He was born in captivity.

Born in a culture hostile towards the things of God.

He lived among people that were against the Jewish people.

He was living the consequences of someone else’s sin.

Our past is not an excuse.

Other people’s decisions is not an excuse.

Ezra made it a point to thrive!

We meet him here leading the second of three waves of Jews returning to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity.

B. Ezra became a skilled scribe.

He was an expert in the Law of Moses.

Being skilled in something does not come easy.

It takes dedication.

It takes repetition.

It takes constant learning.

You need the right tools.

You need to ask the right questions.

You need a deep desire to learn.

This was a result of dedicated study many years.

Tradition says that Ezra had the Law memorized and could write it from recall.

Every Christian is expected or required by God to become a skilled theologian.

Scripture is clear that we are to be experts in the things of God.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

B. Ezra became a skilled scribe.

We first see an expectation to put in some work.

A worker is a hired hand.

An agricultural worker.

This worker has no need to be ashamed when testing comes.

Because they have put in the work and can cut God’s word straight.

They are skillful in God’s Word.

You shouldn’t have to regularly ask your pastor or someone else biblical questions because each of us should be developing the skill to study for ourselves.

How do I have an answer for your when you ask?

The years of Bible college I have were a long time ago.

Most of Bible college doesn’t stick.

I have to develop my study skills.

We are giving you Bible college level classes.

We take the idea of you being skilled in God’s Word seriously.

Ephesians 4:12 ESV

to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

B. Ezra became a skilled scribe.

Equip = complete furnishing. (to make skillful)

Let’s look at a couple more verses.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

B. Ezra became a skilled scribe.

We see two specific things God’s Word does for us.

It makes us a special aptitude for good works.

It it completely furnishes us.

2 Timothy 3:17

that the man of God may have a special aptitude for every good work, and be completely furnished to skillfully accomplish every good work.

B. Ezra became a skilled scribe.

Being skilled in the Word is of utmost importance.

This is the importance of Sunday nights.

We want to make you skillful in all that pertains to life and godliness.

Ezra’s role as a skilled scribe was critical for rebuilding the nation of Israel.

They relied on his mastery of the law to set things in order.

If the passing on of Christianity was left up to you and your skill in handling and understanding the Bible, what would be passed on?

2. Ezra enjoyed God’s blessing.

This was not generic blessing.

This was not a blessing of material things.

This was God giving Ezra fruit in his life and ministry.

A. Ezra enjoyed the good hand of God in his life.

Ezra 7:6 (ESV)

Ezra 7:9 (ESV)

For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him.

A. Ezra enjoyed the good hand of God in his life.

What is the good hand of God.

Here it indicates specific blessing and direction.

The good hand of God indicates God’s presence in an event or life.

The good hand of God indicates God’s control in an event or life.

Acts 11:21 ESV

And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.

A. Ezra enjoyed the good hand of God in his life.

The importance of the good hand of God.

Ezra did not describe himself as a great leader.

Ezra did not claim to be a master strategist.

Ezra had the good hand of God on his life.

We can do nothing apart from the good hand of God.

John 15:5 ESV

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

A. Ezra enjoyed the good hand of God in his life.

Good ministry and good results can only come from God.

Good ministry and good results is what we all should want.

We can be far too impressed with ourselves when we see spiritual fruit in our lives and church.

It only because God chose to pour His grace out and His good hand is moving in our lives.

Ephesians 2:8–10 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

A. Ezra enjoyed the good hand of God in his life.

The good hand of God is working for eternal purposes.

The idea is not physical blessing, but eternal fruit.

B. Ezra understood what moves God’s hand.

Ezra didn’t think the blessing of God’s hand was by chance.

Ezra didn’t even think it was because of God’s sovereign plan.

He realized there are certain things that move God’s hand.

This is a new testament principle as well.

The things Ezra did are NT, church age principles as well.

We see a cause and effect in Ezra’s life.

Ezra 7:9–10 (ESV)

[EFFECT] For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, [CAUSE] for the good hand of his God was on him. FOR (because) [CAUSE] 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.

B. Ezra understood what moves God’s hand.

The hand of God tells us the important thing that God was doing the work.

Yet, the hand of God was moving BECAUSE Ezra was preparing the ground.

The hand of God was moving because of Ezra’s lifestyle.

Questions for the week:

If the passing on of Christianity was left up to me and my skill in handling and understanding the Bible, what would be passed on?

Am I skillfully ready for the good works God has for me? If not, what is the next step I need to take to sharpen my skills?