Ezra 7:1-28

God restores the nation of Israel to the land that He had promised to them.  God had used the king of Babylon to punish the children of Israel for their sin and idolatry.  They were taken captive and made to serve as slaves for seventy years.  During those seventy years the kingdom of Babylon was overthrown by the kingdom of Persia.  We can see God moving in the hearts of these Persian kings to allow the people to return to their lands, rebuild the temple and the city and the Persian kings paid for all of this building from the treasury.  Now God is using King Artaxerxes to send Ezra and others back to Jerusalem to teach the people and assure that the obeyed the Law of the Lord.  Not only did Artaxerxes permit them to return; he paid for their trip and made financial provision for sacrifices as well as maintaining the needs of the spiritual leaders.  We can clearly see that God not only knows how to use nations to discipline His children; He also knows very well how to use nations and kings to restore His children.

GOD RESTORED HIS PEOPLE THROUGH SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTION: God not only used the kings of Persia to restore the buildings in Jerusalem and the people to the land; He also assured that the nation would have proper spiritual instruction.  God provided this spiritual leadership through the person of Ezra who was a descendant of Aaron the original priest in Israel.  Ezra was a serious student on the Law; he was a faithful follower of the Law and he was a powerful proclaimer of the Law.  Ezra is the perfect example of what every spiritual leader should strive to become.  We must know God’s Word, obey God’s Word and teach God’s Word to others.  God knew that the best buildings money could buy would only become temples of idolatry without the faithful teaching of God’s Word.  We must be careful to make sure that our ministries are not focused on the construction of building but on the faithful instruction of God’s people.  Construction without instruction will inevitably lead to destruction.  

GOD RESTORED HIS PEOPLE THROUGH PHYSICAL PROVISION: Not only did the Lord restore a spiritual leader for His people, but He made physical provision for the spiritual leadership from the treasury of the nation.  Israel had not been in the land long enough to be able to support the spiritual leaders and the sacrificial system.  God knew that the needs of His leaders exceeded the people’s ability to supply, so He used the provision of the king.  It is amazing to see God’s faithful provision for His people and His work and His ability to move in the hearts of the kings of the world to accomplish His will.  It is obvious that the godly men and women who were taken into captivity had a profound impact on the people with who they lived.  These formerly idolatrous kings demonstrate great fear of and reverence for the Lord as well as a great desire to please Him.  No matter where the circumstances of life may lead us, God wants us to influence and impact the people around us.  We can serve Him faithfully knowing that He will always be faithful to meet our needs no matter how difficult or circumstances may seem.  Hudson Taylor said: “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.”


GOD RESTORED HIS PEOPLE THROUGH POLITICAL COOPERATION: Even though there was great opposition to the process of rebuilding in the beginning, Artaxerxes makes sure that there will be no more political interference from the other leaders in the region.  He requires that they cooperate with the work and make provision for the work.  However, Artaxerxes also authorized Ezra to establish political leaders in Jerusalem that would have the authority to punish those who rebelled against the Law of the Lord.  It is rare to find a king who is willing to share his authority with others.  God restored in Israel the right that they had to govern themselves according to the Law of the Lord.  No longer would the local politicians be allowed to threaten and discourage the children of Israel who were striving to rebuild their nation.  These local politicians were now required to financially support and even submit to the political leaders that Ezra would establish.  We can rest assured that we have the leaders that God intends for us to have.  The politicians of this world are established and appointed by God.

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