Ezra Scribe from 454-433 BC
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.
Ezra 7:6 (NIV)
READ: Ezra 8:15-10:17
Ezra was one of the most
prominent leaders after the exile who led many people back to Jerusalem after
the Babylonian captivity was over. He
did not return with the original group of exiles who accompanied Zerubbabel
when the decree was written by Cyrus that the Jews could return to their land
and build their temple but remained in Babylon.
Instead he organized a second migration of Jews to return to their
homeland. Ezra was a teacher and scribe
who had good understanding of the laws of Moses and had devoted himself to the
study and observance of the Law of the Lord and to teaching its decrees. Upon
his arrival in Jerusalem he found that the Jewish community was broken down
spiritually and there was much intermarriage with pagan peoples. Even the High priest, who everyone looked to
for spiritual leadership, had sons who married non-Jewish women. Ezra also found that the Sabbath rules were
not being followed. He took his
concerns to the Lord in prayer with confession, fasting and weeping. His holy response to the sin of the people
brought the rest of the people to their knees in confession. The people renewed their covenant with God
and saw that there was still hope. Even
after this Ezra continued to pray, fast and mourn over the unfaithfulness of
the exiles. The people responded with
obedience and were willing to have their sin dealt with.
JOURNALING AND PRAYER
1. Where do you feel weak in your faith?
2. Ask God how He wants to grow your faith this summer. What does He want to do in your heart?
3. Thank God for what He has shown you, and pray that it would become a reality in your life.
