Ezra 7
Between chapters 6 and 7, there is a gap of almost sixty years. During this time, the story of Esther takes place. The temple had been rebuilt. But there was a season of silence. That is, nothing noteworthy was happening in Jerusalem that was recorded in Scripture. Maybe you can relate to this. Maybe you’ve been born again and rescued from the captivity of your own carnality, and you’ll be thankful eternally, but it doesn’t seem like a lot is happening presently. Good news—the passage before us speaks to your situation, for this is where Ezra appears on the scene.
Ezra’s name means “Help” or “Helper.” Ezra was a priest, but unable to function as a priest because he had been in Babylon. So, instead, he became a skilled scribe. Most scholars believe that Ezra wrote First and Second Chronicles, along with
Now we come to the second major division in the little Book of Ezra. The first six chapters told us about the return of the Jews from Babylon to Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel—about fifty thousand Jews left Babylon at that time. The Jews had gone into the Babylonian captivity because they continually turned to idolatry, and God gave them a gold cure in Babylon. Also the Jews had disobeyed the Mosaic Law in that they had not allowed the land to lie fallow every seventh year. They probably did not think it was too important. They thought they were getting by with breaking that law, but God said, “I’m going to put you out of the land for seventy years so that the land can catch up on the Sabbaths it has missed.” After the land had rested and renewed itself for seventy years, God allowed His people to return.
Then there was another wave of revival among the Jews who had been captives and were still living in Babylon. Ezra led a second group back to Jerusalem. Up to this point Ezra, although he is the writer of this book, has not figured in its history at all. In the final four chapters we meet the author. In chapters 7 and 8 we see the return of the Jews led by Ezra. In chapters 9 and 10 we see the reformation under Ezra. Revival led to reformation, and that is always the order. We will see that again when we study Nehemiah.
Ezra is one of the neglected characters of the Bible. I do not believe he has received proper recognition by Bible expositors, and certainly not from the church. I wonder if you have ever heard a sermon on the Book of Ezra. Have you ever heard this book taught? Well, it is one that is easily passed by. In the next few chapters we are going to meet Ezra and get acquainted with him.
Ezra “was a ready scribe in the law of Moses.” Since he was not able to execute the office of priest, he spent his time studying the Word of God. Now he is going to be able to use what he has learned. You will find out that he is labeled “a ready scribe” again and again.
Six times we’ll hear Ezra say that the good hand of God was upon him. He was definitely one who was in constant touch with the Lord.
Ezra was not only a teacher of the Word, and not only a doer of what he taught, but he was instrumental in worship, for here he is charged by Artaxerxes to take that which was needed to establish worship in the temple. It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to worship (
This law, of course, was in reference to the Jews after they arrived in the land. In other words, if they return to their land, they must mean business as far as their relationship to God is concerned.
Notice now the thanksgiving of Ezra.
Not only was the temple to be rebuilt, it was also to be beautified. I think God’s house ought to be made beautiful, as beautiful as it can possibly be according to the ability of the folk who are identified with it.
Ezra led a fine delegation back to the land. It was not as large as the first delegation, but a great many of the leaders were in the second group.
