Who Do You Trust, This Time?

Do-Overs

Ezra and Nehemiah

When God gives you a do-over, what are you going to do with it?

If you get a do-over, it means you (or somebody) messed up.

You made a decision that didn’t turn out too good.

Who did you listen to when you made that bad decision?

Who are you going to listen to this time?

Who do you trust, this time?

This Time?

We live in a culture now where everybody questions everybody else. It seems, nobody trusts anybody any more.

How do we make important decisions?

How do we collect information, process it, and make a better decision based on it?

There are so many articles and websites masquerading as factual news.

“Can you believe Hillary said this…?!”

“Did you know Trump did that…?!”

“And, Obama is still doing it, too.”

What?!!

We make a lot of decisions. Some are big, most are not.

When the big ones go bad, we pray for a do-over. Then, what happens when we get one?

You’re looking for new information. Who do you trust?

Trust your own instincts? Now, w/ our own insecurities, we second-guess ourselves.

Would someone just tell me what I need to know.

Do you trust the media?

I get up in the morning and read the news. I’ve got an app that collects news stories from all over the internet.

First, I read the headline. Then I read the source.

Washington Post, NY Times, WSJ, CNN, NBC, Fox.

I immediately form an opinion about what I’m about to read, if I even read it.

Used to be Walter Cronkite, Chet Huntley, David Brinkley at 5:30 every evening and my grandparents just trusted the facts w/out any thought of any spin or commentary.

Facts. Just the facts. What are the facts?

Can you trust science? Empirical evidence. Observations. Record your findings. Let others interpret what they mean.

When did science become so emotional?

Are you an XX or an XY?

I understand modern XX’s don’t necessarily feel the same way traditional XX’s used to feel.

Genetically, there are only 2 genders.

Climate change. Is it?

It depends on which scientists you listen to.

Is the earth warming?

If so, what’s the cause? What if it isn’t?

There’s no question we need t/b better stewards of the environment.

If we are to blame, we should give up our SUVs and become vegans.

What if God is the cause, using the environment to get our attention?

What does the science say? Do you trust it?

Do you trust the EPA and what they say about our air and water quality?

Do you trust the FDA and the meds your doctor prescribes?

Do you trust your doctor?

The doctors I know are a whole lot smarter than me. But, they are only practicing.

Immunizations?

Will the long-term effects of not immunizing children bet better or worse than if all kids are immunized?

Do you trust teachers?

The NEA is one of the most liberal lobbies in Washington.

Does that mean we can’t trust them?

College professors?

Historians?

History is just facts, right? What are the facts?

Did the moon landings actually happen on the moon?

Was the holocaust real?

What really happened in Roswell, NM?

Everything is so politically charged.

Do you trust politicians? Seriously.

Lawyers?

Preachers?

A friend, who’s a believer and a democrat, posted a news story on FB quoting a preacher that said everyone who voted democrat in this last election is going to Hell.

Plausible that a preacher would say that.

Since it was on FB it must be true...

My son, who’s moving out and heading to grad school, when he was in high school and not too excited about going to college told me once that he thought that he didn’t need to go to college and that he’d just go into ministry like his dad.

My response was, “Please don’t insult me by thinking you can do what I do w/ only a high school diploma.”

He was serious. I was mad.

Sara’s SIL has posted on FB more than once, “Please don’t confuse your Google search w/ my medical degree.”

There are certainly people in all these areas that we are right t/b skeptical of.

I’ll tell you one person you can trust. One person you should listen to, believe what he wrote, and follow his example.

Ezra.

Ezra is a guy you want to follow, by example and on FB, if that were possible. Read what he wrote, believe what he meant, and do what he said.

B/C, he was devoted to the right thing. He was all in w/ God. He studied Gods word diligently, applied it personally, and taught it relevantly.

Yes, I believe you can trust me, but you don’t need to take my word for it. In fact, you don’t need the degree I have to follow Ezra and lead others like he did.

Pay attention, not to me, but to what God has for you while you’re here.

, we are finally introduced to the author and namesake of the book. He has been nick-named the 2nd Moses b/c he led the people to the PL the second time just like Moses did the first.

In this chapter you’ll see why so many people followed him and why it would be wise if you did, too.

A Role-Model

Ezra 7

Ezra 7:1–10 NIV

After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest—this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him. Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

“After these things.”

57 years after ch. 6 and the completion of the temple.

This is 458 BC.

A quick history and where they are headed.

Moses and Aaron led Israel out of Egypt.

Ezra is a descendant of Aaron

Should have made a bee-line to the PL, but due to their disob. they had to wander for 40 years while every one of the, except Joshua and Caleb died. 2 million funerals.

God said to Joshua and thru Joshua, “Choose you this day...” Live faithfully and obediently in the land and God will protect and provide. The land would produce.

They started off mostly obedient and declined from there.

God appointed Judges, called Prophets and gave them kings.

They height of their time was under David and Solomon. But, at the end of Solomon’s life, he has wandered far from God and the people followed even farther away.

Successive kings, some were good, most were bad. God warned them to return or else He’d remove them.

There was a civil war. The north fell first to the Assyrians. 200 years later the south fell to the Babylonians.

Horribly unfaithful and disobedient.

God promised after 70 years He’d bring them back.

(This is where we are in our study today).

Then warned them, don’t repeat the mistakes of the past; or else.

They did.

God didn’t exile them again, He went dark. Incommunicado.

Nothing. No prophets, no burning bushes, no talking donkeys. Quiet. 400 years of silence.

The first they heard from God was when an angel appeared to Elizabeth and Zechariah to tell them, though they were too old for kids, they were going to have a son and to name him John.

John the Baptist.

Then, the angel appeared to Mary, Elizabeth’s niece, and Joseph and introduced Christmas.

Where we go next week.

Back to Ezra. It’s 458 BC. About 60 years before God goes dark. You’d think they would have learned.

Of course, you’d think I’d have learned from my past mistakes, too. So, I’m not throwing any stones.

Ezra was described as ‘skilled’.

That is, in Hebrew, rapid. Or quick on the uptake. Fast to catch on. He learned quickly.

He was gifted and people knew it.

The king even promised to give him whatever he wanted.

Artaxerxes probably thought it was his own idea, his own opinion of Ezra skills.

But, God is Sovereign and can move people to do whatever He wants even if they don’t believe in Him.

Ezra was devoted. That is, his heart and mind and soul was all in w/ God and His word.

He was devoted and diligent in his study.

He studied the law, not to know the rules and facts, but to know God better.

As he discovered more about the character of God, he new more about what to expect of God and what God expected of him. He applied what he learned personally.

As it changed him, he taught others to discover the same things. He made the written word relevant to the lives of those who listened.

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, etc.

Relevant.

It takes a quick learner and skilled teacher to make Leviticus relevant; even then.

The difference between a good teacher and a great teacher? The good one teaches from others learning experiences. The great one teaches from his own learning experiences.

Integrity. The great one believes for himself. The good one believes for everyone else.

Ezra wrote several times that God had His hand on him.

Was it because Ezra was so devoted to God that God did so much for him?

No.

This time, Ezra describes it as the gracious hand of God.

Grace. Undeserved.

IOW, Ezra didn’t do anything to deserve what God was doing for him. It was b/c God did so much for him that he devoted himself so deeply to God.

This made him a man worth following, listening to, trusting.

Even when the Pagan Persian king got involved it was apparent he trusted Ezra. He believed him and believed God had his hand on him.

It is clear in his response in the letter he wrote Ezra.

The King’s Response

I’m not going to read the entire letter or the passage. I’m just going to hit the highlights.

Clearly, the king believed Ezra was blessed by God. And, therefore, if he would be close to Ezra, he hoped some of that blessing would spill out on him, too.

You know people like that? You want to be close so maybe you might get a little splash of blessing on you, too.

Or, people to avoid so you don’t get caught in their shrapnel.

Why did the king write this letter? Don’t really know.

Either, God moved in his heart the same way He moved in Cyrus’ heart to commission Zerubbabel to rebuild the temple.

Or, Ezra asked like Nehemiah will ask and then God moved the king to say, ‘yes’.

Either way, this is what he provided Ezra.

v.13 - Anyone the Persian kingdom who volunteered to go back was free to go.

This is where he rec’d the nickname, 2nd Moses. Ezra led the people back.

They came from every tribe this time. Up to this point it had only been 2, Judah and Benjamin.

Ezra will lead a large contingent back from every tribe. They will inhabit the region and be there when Nehemiah arrives to rebuild the wall.

Anyone could go. The king wasn’t too concerned about losing people for their economy, military, and civic good.

v.15-16 - He gave them more silver and gold to go and gave them the freedom to get more from Babylon.

v.17 - Freedom to offer sacrifices in their temple. What’s the big deal? He didn’t require that they worship the Persian gods. Further separating them from the rest of the world.

v.18 - Freedom to do whatever they wanted w/ the silver and gold they were given. No strings attached.

A typical gov’t project even then would require that if the gov’t gave them money they had to spend it a certain way. Like today, a diversity in hiring would be required.

v.19-20 - Freedom to take back more of the temple worship utensils that Nebuchadnezzar took.

v.21-22 - Freedom to take tax revenue from the Trans-Euphrates treasure up to a limit.

100 talents of silver = 1500 lbs = $345,840 today

100 cors of wheat = 600 bushels

100 baths of wine = 600 gallons

100 baths of olive oil

salt w/out limit.

v.23 - the king wanted something in return. This was political deal-making. No uprisings or feelings of anger toward him. He wanted them to not cause him any problems. He had enough problems in other regions.

v.24 - All the temple workers were tax-exempt. They lived on the tithes of the people. They tithed on what they rec’d. And, the gov’t wouldn’t take anything else from them.

v.25-26 - Ezra was responsible for administering justice according to God’s law.

And, the king ordered anyone who disobeyed God’s law to be punished according to his law.

Typical of an unbelieving king thinking he needed to help encourage people to obey God. As if, God can’t handle it Himself. Like the people need a little added incentive.

Kind of like saying it’s a worse punishment for a murderer to receive is life in prison b/c they have to live w/ their guilt.

Right. Worse than facing God and dealing w/ it there.

Look at all that the king is doing for Ezra.

He’s doing it for God, but he doesn’t believe in God. He does believe in Ezra.

Whether it’s God’s prompting or not, Ezra is a guy that the Persian king respects so much that he practically gave him the keys to the kingdom.

Well, at least the region.

So, how would Ezra respond? Would it go to his head? Would he respond in a way that would that repel others, or earn their respect?

Ezra’s Response

Ezra 7:

Ezra 7:27–28 NIV

Praise be to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king’s heart to bring honor to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king’s powerful officials. Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.

Ezra remained humble.

He gave God all the credit.

He did not praise himself, ‘I deserve this’. Nor did he praise Artaxerxes. A bit risky.

He was appreciative. But, all glory to God.

Only God could have orchestrated this and used human instruments to pull it off.

No scheme of man could have made this happen.

Sovereign God put His gracious hand on Ezra.

He moved in the heart of each king and in the people to return.

It was no one else’s original idea. But, exactly what God had predicted and promised years earlier.

Then, He made it happen.

For His own glory. To bring glory to the house of God.

Ezra saw that God was working thru others and they saw that God was working thru him.

Ezra was also a gifted leader.

He was strong. His leadership skills were high, too.

He didn’t just recruit people. He recruited leaders who would recruit and lead the people.

Evidence Ezra was a strong leader.

Truth about leaders. A leader won’t follow another who has lesser leadership skills than they do.

IOW, on a scale of 1 to 10, w/ 10 being Jesus, the perfect leader.

A person w/ a 6 in leadership will get 5s and lower to follow them. But, 7s, 8s, and 9s won’t follow.

A person who is a 3 leader will only get 1s and 2s.

The fact that Ezra got other people recognized as leaders themselves to follow is an obvious indication he is a guy worth following.

In a culture where everything is questioned and no one is trusted we have to find someone worth following.

Ezra was just a man, but he was a man who was devoted to God.

He was a great teacher b/c he taught from his own experiences.

As he discovered the character of God, he wrote so we could discover it, too.

Ultimately, if we follow Ezra, we will find God, too.

When you get a do-over it’s b/c you need a do-over. The first time didn’t go so well.

Now, who are you going to listen to when you need to make a decision about what you’re going to do w/ the do-over God has given you?

Listen to Ezra.

Applications

Be devoted

Study God.

His word. In prayer. And, in creation.

You don’t need a degree like mine to find God.

You need a commitment like Ezra’s to be all in w/ your heart, mind, and soul.

God will reveal Himself to you and you’ll never waste another opportunity, first one or do-over, when you know what God expects you to do.

Be meek

Jesus said, Blessed are the meek.

Meek is not weak. In fact, it’s powerful.

Meek is like a palm tree in a hurricane. When an oak will snap in two, and a pine will fall b/c of it’s shallow root ball, a palm tree will give w/ the wind but remain upright and in tact.

Ezra had the hand of God on him directing him. He was pliable, moveable by God. He gave into the stimulus of God and did not stand up to it, like a palm tree gives into the wind.

Ezra allowed God to move him however God wanted.

Let God move you however, wherever, whenever He wants.

Last time, probably, you went where you wanted to go and either you snapped or your root ball didn’t hold and you fell.

This time, let God move you however, wherever, whenever He wants.

Be humble

No matter what happens, give God all the glory and credit.

Whatever you do, remember sovereign God is doing it thru you.

Only God can orchestrate the details of everyone life into a symphony that accomplishes His purposes. He uses human instruments to get it done.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking your ideas are original w/ you or your accomplishments are due to your brilliance and personal power.

No scheme of man will get done what God calls us to do.

When you’re given a do-over what are you going to do w/ it?

Who are you going to listen to this time? Who will you trust to lead you to success so you won’t need a next do-over?

Ezra is a guy you want to follow. Read what he wrote, believe what he meant, and do what he said.

He was devoted to the right thing. He was all in w/ God. He studied God’s word diligently, applied it personally, and taught it relevantly.

Take good notes and apply what God says to you as we study Ezra together.