ReTurn, ReBuild, ReNew - Ezra Given Authority

Today we continue our series of messages from the book of Ezra. Scholars believe this next part is from the personal writings of this man named Ezra. So far the focus of this book has been the return of the exiles to Jerusalem to begin rebuilding the temple. The finished temple was documented in chapter six. This is what we read last week:

Ezra 6:13–16 NIV

13 Then, because of the decree King Darius had sent, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates carried it out with diligence. 14 So the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preaching of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, a descendant of Iddo. They finished building the temple according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia. 15 The temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. 16 Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy.

This would seem to be a good end to this book. Let’s wrap it up. Role credits.

***Title slide back up***

All through this book so far, this has been the goal. Rebuild the temple. You’ll notice in the title of the message series, Rebuild is only act 2. There is yet a final act to come…that is Renew.

As we continue reading, we’ll see a later journey of another group of Jewish people back to Jerusalem, this time sponsored by yet another pagan king, Artaxerxes. Let’s read:

Ezra 7:1–6 NIV

1 After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, 2 the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, 3 the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 4 the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 5 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest— 6 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.

This passage tells us about who Ezra was. It establishes 2 things about Ezra.

As a direct descendant of Aaron and as a man well versed in the Law, Ezra had God given authority, and

The king granted Ezra an earthly authority in addition to his God given authority.

Ezra 7:7–9 NIV

7 Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. 8 Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. 9 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.

This was a journey of 800-900 miles during the heat of summer through parts of the world that were very dangerous as we’ll read about next week. Ezra was leading between 8,000-10,000 men, women, children, livestock, household items as well as the gifts given by the king to the group. With all of that, they still managed 10-12 miles a day on their journey back to Jerusalem.

It is easy to speed over verse 9 that tells us that this journey was possible because God’s hand was on them. It was God grace that got them there…Ezra tells us this in the next chapter.

Ezra 7:10 NIV

10 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.

If the first 6 chapters of Ezra were about returning and rebuilding the temple, the next 4 chapters are focused on the hearts of God’s people. They needed a leader who not only knew God’s law, but also observed it and was not ashamed to teach it.

The temple was important to the Lord and to His people, but the condition of His people’s hearts was more important. God wanted to renew their relationship with Him. Sometime it takes a bit of exile and a hard journey back in order to renew one’s love. Ezra was God’s man for the job. He had a heart to follow the Lord and His commands. He had the gifting to teach and lead.

Not only that, but a king was prompted by the Lord to give Ezra the resources and authority he needed to establish order in the city of Jerusalem. Not just any order, but God’s order...

Ezra 7:11–20 NIV

11 This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the Lord for Israel: 12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, teacher of the Law of the God of heaven: Greetings. 13 Now I decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who volunteer to go to Jerusalem with you, may go. 14 You are sent by the king and his seven advisers to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God, which is in your hand. 15 Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisers have freely given to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16 together with all the silver and gold you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests for the temple of their God in Jerusalem. 17 With this money be sure to buy bulls, rams and male lambs, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and sacrifice them on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem. 18 You and your fellow Israelites may then do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, in accordance with the will of your God. 19 Deliver to the God of Jerusalem all the articles entrusted to you for worship in the temple of your God. 20 And anything else needed for the temple of your God that you are responsible to supply, you may provide from the royal treasury.

A king conquers the nation of Israel, destroys Jerusalem, enslaves the people and brings them back to Babylon. Fast forward a few kings and now these kings are not only releasing the people to go back, these kings are giving them all the resources they need to reestablish the nation of Israel starting with Jerusalem.

When I read things like this in God’s word, I am encouraged that no matter what is happening around me or in the world, God is always on the job, always on the move. We never know when God might show up like this and change everything in just one instant.

Ezra 7:21–24 NIV

21 Now I, King Artaxerxes, decree that all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates are to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you— 22 up to a hundred talents of silver, a hundred cors of wheat, a hundred baths of wine, a hundred baths of olive oil, and salt without limit. 23 Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should his wrath fall on the realm of the king and of his sons? 24 You are also to know that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty on any of the priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God.

Not only are the local governors to give resources as needed, they have no authority to tax. Anyone else find that a bit amusing?

Ezra 7:25–26 NIV

25 And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them. 26 Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.

Ezra, not only am I sending you with resources and I am putting you in charge of establishing a government. Not just any government, but a government by the laws of God. You have the authority to punish anyone who goes against those laws.

Remember in the beginning when we read about Ezra…let me remind you of what it said:

Ezra 7:10 NIV

10 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.

This assignment, the authority given to him was based on a calling on His life and his willingness to study and observe the law. In order to be spoken of like this, Ezra must have let God’s word form his beliefs, rather than letting his beliefs form God’s word.

There are times when I read God’s word and I have to wrestle with it. I wrestle because sometimes God’s word tells me something I don’t like…Something that goes against my preference or what I like. I might even try to look for ways that I am reading it wrong so that it doesn’t conflict with what I want.

Ultimately though, I must submit myself to what the Bible says. To do otherwise is to go against the Lord. I’ve read what happens to those who know and still choose to go against Him. It’s not pretty.

Let’s read Ezra’s private response to the letter:

Ezra 7:27 NIV

27 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

First, he offers praise that God would prompt the heart of the king to bring honor to the Lord. All throughout scripture, this is the pattern. God draws, God prompts, God does the work of changing hearts. In many cases, God sends someone with a word to the person who needs a change, but it is God who does the work of changing hearts. You can’t do it, I can’t do it.

What we can do is to go and say what God would have us to say and let Him have the responsibility of changing the heart. It takes the pressure off us when we approach sharing God’s word this way.

Then...

Ezra 7:28 NIV

28 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.

The praise for God continues…good favor on Ezra before the king. The favor he had wasn’t because Ezra was some great man, it was because God went ahead of him and made that happen.

Ezra kept his eyes on the Lord, on the word and did what he could to observe and teach what he learned and as a result, the hand of God was on him.

Without God’s hand on him, he would not have been able to do what he was asked to do. Certainly, no one would have followed him.