A Scribe and a Priest
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Ezra Chapter 7
Ezra chapter 7 offers a model for Christian spiritual maturity and leadership that remains deeply relevant today.
It describes Ezra's arrival in Jerusalem after being given authority by the Persian king to lead a group of exiles and to re-establish the Jewish law and worship practices, highlighting his role as a devoted teacher of the law.
The chapter’s central framework—study, obedience, and teaching—provides a blueprint for how believers should approach their faith and influence others.
In retrospect, a verse to highlight here is
But because their God was watching over them, the leaders of the Jews were not prevented from building until a report was sent to Darius and he returned his decision.
Our eyesight is one of our primary senses. Our eyes take in a lot of information about the world around us.
However, regardless of how good our eyesight is- It still has limitations.
Our eyes can begin to fail us as we age. Some folks have to wear glasses because of being near-sighted or Far-sighted.
Through science and technology, we have opened up new frontiers, both large and small that we cannot we with normal eyesight.
Microscopes and telescopes have given us the opportunity to see things the smallest of atomic particles and to look deeper into the universe around us then ever before.
Still our finite minds cannot grasp the idea of God being able to see all things, know all things and care about all things in His creation- All of the time.
He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.
The continued story of Ezra, Esther and Nehemiah gives example after example of how God “Watched over His people”
So we now close the gap of 60-70 years between chapters 6 and 7. That gap filled with the story of Esther and Mordecai.
The Scribe and Priest, Ezra now becomes the focal point of the rest of the story in the Book that carries his name.
So first we examine his
1- Lineage and Legacy
1- Lineage and Legacy
Many years later, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, there was a man named Ezra.
He was the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the high priest.
This Ezra was a scribe who was well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given to the people of Israel.
He came up to Jerusalem from Babylon, and the king gave him everything he asked for, because the gracious hand of the Lord his God was on him.
Many Years later...
The introduction in the text establishes that Ezra, through a 16 generation of ancestors is a descendent of the Israelites first High Priest- Aaron, Moses brother.
He was a Scribe (One who made official copies of important document, long before automatic printing methods were developed)
As a Scribe, Ezra is well versed in the Law of Moses
Once again we see God’s sovereign hand on Ezra as he left Babylonian exile to return to Jerusalem with the King having given him everything he asked for
“Because of the gracious hand of the Lord was on him”
As we saw in the story of Esther, God works mostly behind the scenes in exercising His providential plan for His people.
Ezra’s family history places him in the lineage of the Most High Priest of ancient Israel in Aaron
His ability to act on behalf of the people of his generation being through a family tree going back some 400 years.
That is both a strong lineage and quite a legacy to embrace.
Opening Up Ezra Ezra Loved God’s Word
Jewish tradition has a great deal to say about Ezra.
The Jewish exiles that remained in Babylon and then the Persian Empire maintained their religious practices, largely because of men like Ezra, who simply would not let the telling of the Word of God be stopped.
What we can be assured of is that Ezra loved God’s Word.
2- Focused Faith
2- Focused Faith
Some of the people of Israel, as well as some of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Temple servants, traveled up to Jerusalem with him in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes’ reign.
Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in August of that year.
He had arranged to leave Babylon on April 8, the first day of the new year, and he arrived at Jerusalem on August 4, for the gracious hand of his God was on him.
This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the Lord and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.
A few things to point out
Ezra did not find Studying Gods Word to be a bother
It was his joy and delight
But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.
Ezra prepared his heart to do what was required
In other words, He obeyed what the Word of God called him to do.
Ezra desired to teach the statutes and ordinances in Jewish law.
He work hard to learn himself, and teach others.
This diligence and faithfulness to Gods Word will be a central theme to the rest of Ezra’s story.
Of particular note, the phrase, “The hand of the Lord was upon him” is repeated in like iterations Through out the rest of the book.
Followers of Christ, today can still follow same pattern of embracing their divine calling with faith and courage.
Trusting that God will guide, protect and equip them by His providence for His greater purposes.
That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”
Consider for a moment how mind bending it is to think the God of all Creation
Would consider us worthy of His attention
And how much more glorious that He would actually prepare tasks for us to do. Some tasks generic in nature that can apply to all of humanity-
But other tasks, specifically meant for each one of us in our time and place in God’s sovereign plan.
For we are God’s masterpiece.
He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
God not only created humanity as His prize possession of all creation, but the re-created us through the sacrifice of Christ-
Created anew IN CHRIST- To do the good things He planned for us LONG AGO.
As parents, we try to train our children to get them ready for adulthood-
Where they will forge their own path in society.
Our Heavenly Father is doing the same for His children
Has been since the beginning of time and will continue to do so for eternity.
3- Support From Unlikely Sources
3- Support From Unlikely Sources
Ezra 7:11-20.
What is documented in the letter from King Artaxerxes to Ezra is nothing short of astounding.
V-1 Ezra is identified as the Priest and Scribe.
Who studied and taught the commands and the decrees of the Lord of Israel
The Letter begins
“From Artaxerxes, the king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the teacher of the law of the God of heaven. Greetings.
V-13 Allows any and ALL of the descendents of the Israelite exile to freely return to Jerusalem
V-14 Ezra 7:14
I and my council of seven hereby instruct you to conduct an inquiry into the situation in Judah and Jerusalem, based on your God’s law, which is in your hand.
Basically giving Ezra free reign to do what needs to be done to comply with Jewish law in returning to Judah.
V-15-20 An accounting of the gifts and offerings provided by Artaxerxes to be presented to the “God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem”
Deep down, Artaxerxes is paying tribute to another pagan deity that lives in a city some 800 miles away.
It’s good thing we can know that God is Spirit and “resides” outside of time completely.
The only restrictions placed on the gold and silver taken was that it was to used for the purchase of the sacrificial animals needed for the ceremonies inside the temple.
The cups used in temple sacrifices are to returned to the Temple in Jerusalem
To be used again as they were intended to be used.
V-18 and 20 are both extraordinarily generous for a pagan king of that time.
Any silver and gold that is left over may be used in whatever way you and your colleagues feel is the will of your God.
If you need anything else for your God’s Temple or for any similar needs, you may take it from the royal treasury.
The fact that Artaxerxes was so generous can be read in history as the king of an empire so vast it was estimated that close to 45% of the worlds population was under it’s control-
Was simply appeasing a small portion of his subjects as a means of control-
Let the people worship their deities and they could be managed by an impression of some freedom of expression.
However, as Biblical history has shown us
God has used these seemingly unmerited acts of favor
To bless His chosen people
And to discipline those He loves as well has to release them from bondage when that discipline has run its course.
All of it under God’s sovereign design, will and timing.
4- A Warning from the King and
4- A Warning from the King and
A Proclamation From Ezra
A Proclamation From Ezra
“I, Artaxerxes the king, hereby send this decree to all the treasurers in the province west of the Euphrates River:
‘You are to give Ezra, the priest and teacher of the law of the God of heaven, whatever he requests of you. You are to give him up to 7,500 pounds of silver, 500 bushels of wheat, 550 gallons of wine, 550 gallons of olive oil, and an unlimited supply of salt.
Be careful to provide whatever the God of heaven demands for his Temple, for why should we risk bringing God’s anger against the realm of the king and his sons?
I also decree that no priest, Levite, singer, gatekeeper, Temple servant, or other worker in this Temple of God will be required to pay tribute, customs, or tolls of any kind.’
“And you, Ezra, are to use the wisdom your God has given you to appoint magistrates and judges who know your God’s laws to govern all the people in the province west of the Euphrates River.
Teach the law to anyone who does not know it.
Anyone who refuses to obey the law of your God and the law of the king will be punished immediately, either by death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.”
Praise the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who made the king want to beautify the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem!
And praise him for demonstrating such unfailing love to me by honoring me before the king, his council, and all his mighty nobles!
I felt encouraged because the gracious hand of the Lord my God was on me. And I gathered some of the leaders of Israel to return with me to Jerusalem.
Artaxerxes includes the marching orders, “For all the treasurers” in the province West of the Euphrates to cooperate with Ezra.
Then issues a warning
Be careful to provide whatever the God of Heaven demands for His temple
And now a very practical Biblical question from the pagan king-
“Why should we risk bringing God’s anger against the realm of the king and his sons?”
That being Artaxerxes and his descendents. Covering all of his bases as best he can.
Ezra acknowledges how extraordinary this letter is in his own proclamation
Praising the LORD
The God of his ancestors
Who MADE THE KING WANT TO beautify the Temple of the LORD.
Ezra spares no words in expressing true thankfulness
“I felt encouraged because of the graciousness of the LORD my God was on me...”
In our final analysis, we find application points Ezra showed and that we can model as well
Ezra’s approach of studying God’s Word to understand it,
incorporating it into his life through obedience,
and passing it on to others through discipleship establishes a progression that modern Christians should follow.
Rather than merely accumulating biblical knowledge while failing to let it transform beliefs, character, and actions,
God desires that his Word guide decision-making and set the agenda for our lives through submission to it.
Sharing Scripture with others so they can understand and obey it is essential, for only then will families, churches, and communities experience transformation.
Trust in God himself—rather than primarily in human power—
Remains a timeless principle, though the specific actions Christians take will depend on their circumstances,
And accepting assistance from secular authorities may be appropriate when keeping faith in God primary and expressing it through action.
Church leaders today should handle financial resources with the transparency and honesty Ezra displayed, ensuring money serves God’s purposes.
Additionally, when living out our calling as people of faith,
We must turn to Scripture,
Keeping God at the center of our faith through prayer,
The Bible, and community, making everything we do Bible-saturated.
As God used Ezra’s skills and training toward accomplishing his will, believers should reflect on how their own gifts and circumstances can serve God’s purposes.
Just as Ezra had no doubt about God being the real provider,
We should never forget that God
Not only ordains the outcome to our circumstances
He also ordains the way that outcome come to fruition.
Just as Daniel was made second in charge under king Cyrus and Darius
Zerubbabel was made Governor of Jerusalem by Cyrus
Nehemiah was a cup-bearer for Artaxerxes and later Governor of Jerusalem
And even Ezra, though a Scribe and teacher of the Law
Had to have given an official title by Artaxerxes to be authorized by the king to name judges and even implement the death penalty, if needed.
It was the steadfast refusal to compromise their faith in God, while living under the constant threats of the Babylonian/Persian empires.
That made them trustworthy to be used of God for His plans for Israel’s future.
It is also a shining example of how Followers of Christ, today can play a part in our civic political and public life.
We have the greatest impact on society when we refuse to compromise our faith and beliefs for the sake of appeasement or worldly favors.
Apostle Paul reminds in
Everyone must submit to governing authorities.
For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.
Jesus even weighed in on the topic when questioned about Caesar’s authority in Jerusalem.
... Jesus said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”
His reply completely amazed them.
And finally, Paul again reminds us
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.
Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.
Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.
