For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.
The story of Ezra is the story of the rebuilding of the spiritual lives of the people who were returning to Jerusalem after their captivity. Nehemiah would lead them into rebuilding the Temple. Ezra would lead them in rebuilding their hearts. They needed spiritual nutrition as much as they needed the physical Temple. God put in Ezra’s heart to be the one who would feed them. He would provide them with the spiritual nutrition they would need to make hard decisions and to worship according to God’s Word. It is important to note that Ezra purposed in his heart to study the Law, first. He knew he was going to be called upon to know the Law and to teach it to those who would return. This study work in captivity had to be down before the teaching work could be completed in Jerusalem. He purposed in his heart to study and to learn how to teach the Law. What would be the result of this effort? Would it bear fruit? If we dedicate to our lives to study God’s Word and to teach it, how will God use that? Note what the pagan king will eventually say to Ezra:
Ezra 7:25-28 (ESV)
“And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God. And those who do not know them, you shall teach. Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed on him, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of his goods or for imprisonment.”
Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem, and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the LORD my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.
When we dedicate our lives to study God’s Word, don’t be surprised if He gives us opportunity to teach God’s Word.
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