Ezra 7:1-8:20
Finally, Ezra enters his own story today. Just as an overview, let me remind us of a couple of things.
First, Ezra will be leading a second “return” of people to Jerusalem, but his is a full 80 years after the first return under Zerubbabel and 57 years after Zerubbabel finished building the temple. Everything Ezra has written up until now is review. Ezra will never meet Zerubbabel in Jerusalem or on earth.
Second, Artaxerxes is the son of Xerxes (Ahasuerus). Xerxes is the guy who married a young Jewish girl named Esther. Esther probably wasn’t Artaxerxes’ mother; but Artaxerxes knows her and Mordecai well, and he has lived during the time God saved the Jews through Esther. Xerxes, the father, issued a decree in all of Persia that the Jews would be a favored people. This might explain some of his upcoming actions.
Third, Ezra’s king, Artaxerxes, had commanded that the work on the city be stopped. It was stopped by force. I’ve speculated that this might have been during the time that Xerxes, his father, was warring against the Greeks and Artaxerxes was in charge of domestic affairs. Artaxerxes now seems very favorable toward Ezra and allowing the Jews to worship in the temple, but not to rebuild the city. Still, he seems impressed by Ezra. In fourteen years, Artaxerxes will have a very dear and trusted cupbearer (probably like the head butler of his palace and household security). Because of his love and trust for Nehemiah, he will send him to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Fourth, Ezra’s main purpose for the book is about to begin. He has recapped the grace of God in rebuilding the temple, now he will tell of the grace of God in saving the people from corruption and enabling them to actually worship God at the temple. In every generation, even today with us, God raises up leaders to refocus His people on following Him in His purpose.
Ezra 7
Vs. 1-11 Some of this is autobiographical on Ezra’s part.
Notice the phrase regarding the hand of God and see how often you find it.
V. 7 It is hard to say when Artaxerxes actually stopped the rebuilding of Jerusalem. It was certainly before this event with Ezra, since this was in his seventh year. Actually, he also seems strangely “favorable” to Ezra and to the Jews.
I’m just speculating here. Usually a king co-reigned with a son, often for a decade or more. Since Xerxes, Artaxerxes’ father, was busy losing 2 million men to the Greeks, Artaxerxes was probably taking care of domestic matters. He could have issued the decree to stop the rebuilding of Jerusalem during the Persian invasion of Greece and before all the problems of the book of Esther. Then, if the events of Esther took place, this was a major event in the entire Persian Empire that brought an end to Jewish animosity and also brought great national favor to the Jews. After Esther, the Jews became an honored people in Persia, and Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, became a very important and trusted aide to Xerxes in Susa.
Vs. 12-26 This letter is a testimony to the grace of God. Once we read Daniel, a letter like this will make much more sense.
Vs. 27-28 The question to ask is, “How did God put this into the heart of the king?” Again, reading Daniel will give us some perspective on how active God was in that mid-eastern world on behalf of His people.
Notice here that Ezra is writing himself into the narrative in the first person.
Ezra 8:1-20
These are the people who went with Ezra. There would be about 4-5 thousand people going with Ezra. Notice that Ezra was clearly the leader of this venture.
For us as disciples reading this, we need to be alert to the fact that God is always working. In that ancient world, God was doing huge things behind the scenes. In our world, in our lives, where we live, God is still working and doing things we can’t see, but we should be looking for these things and expecting His working as we follow Christ in the harvest.
1 Corinthians 4
This is a pretty cool chapter, especially when Paul “vents.” (No pun intended)
Vs. 1-5 Notice that Paul was being criticized and judged. Do you see how Paul politely “fires back” at his critics?
Vs. 6-7 Apparently Paul and Apollos had already discussed this matter. In chapter 16 Paul says that he tried to convince Apollos to visit Corinth, but Apollos wasn’t for it. I’ll bet they discussed this matter too.
What are the things that are written that we “go beyond,” that are meant to keep us from pride? Look at Romans 12:3. God assigns us our faith and our gifts. The church in Corinth had lots of pride because of the gifts, thinking they had superior insight. This pride affected all sorts of areas in the church.
Vs. 7-13 These are fantastic verses where, I think, Paul gets a little emotional. If you want to try this, read the verses out loud several times and sort of act them out, like you were in a movie. After a few times you get into them and get some understanding for how Paul might have dictated them.
V. 9 The “spectacle” in view here are the victims marched through Rome and led into the coliseum for the games.
Vs. 11-13 This is a fantastic recruitment ad for becoming a disciple, following Christ in the harvest.
Vs. 14-21 You could read these verses out loud too.
V. 15 is sort of sarcastic. Paul had begun this church and led many to Christ. These other teachers put themselves forward as “guides.”
V. 16 This is one of two places in the letter where Paul will tell the people to imitate him (11:1). As disciples who make disciples, this should also be our charge to those we lead. Our responsibility is to mature and become imitators of Christ.
V. 17 The critics apparently went after Timothy. Notice the words…everywhere in every church. Back in chapter 1 Paul says something like this and there will be a few other mentions of churches everywhere. This must have had something to do with the accusation against Paul. In chapter 16 Paul will tell them to go easy on Timothy when he comes to visit and work with them. Actually, Timothy might have carried this letter.
Vs. 18-21 I wonder what that fight would have looked like.
Unfortunately, what we are reading here is the “norm” for following our Lord in the harvest. Most of the resistance and hindrance that I have seen comes from within the church, not from outside. Part of being a proven disciple requires dealing with the resistant and immature in the church, working through the church to reach the lost and make disciples who make disciples. Since the Lord doesn’t give us the option on giving up on church, we need to allow our love for Christ and obedience in following Him, to take us through the conflicts to the place where we find likeminded believes who we can work with to see people saved and see disciples made.
Psalm 30
A couple of things are interesting in this psalm.
Notice the alternating between crying out to God and the desire to praise the Lord.
V. 9 This “logic” is used several times in the psalms. It’s like, “How can I praise your name among men when I’m dead. You wouldn’t want that to happen, would you? So save me!”
Vs. 11-12 are the high point and verse 12 really should be at the heart of every disciple. Our glory is to sing His praise for His mercy, steadfast love and deliverance.
Doesn’t verse five remind you of a song? I have this idea that usually the person who writes a song sings it best. Watch and see. The guy singing this song also wrote it. When you read this psalm and listen to this song, you can imagine that the apostle Paul would have agreed too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHDix8HHWCg
Proverbs 20:28-30
How would you put all three of these verses together?
I see steadfast love as something that is proven to us by God over all the years of our crying out and learning to wait on Him. That comes with experience and time and maturity…and hopefully with age. Young men can glory in their strength and endurance, but maturity with Christ brings a different kind of strength and endurance. We learn to appreciate the rebuke and allow it to tame our rebellious hearts and the body of death so that we can follow Christ better.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.
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