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AUGUST 8
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 this 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.
Remember to look at the charts.
Ezra 7
Vs. 1-6 This is Ezra's genealogy. Notice the phrase regarding the hand
of God, and see how often you find it. Ezra was apparently a man of note.
Notice that Ezra was from Babylon. This might be important since Daniel and his
friends were key spiritual leaders in that area. Ezra would not have known
Daniel, but he would have been raised in the schools that Daniel and his
friends brought into being.
Vs. 7-10 This is a summary of the trip. You can tell by the tone of
what is said, that the emphasis of this movement of people to Jerusalem would
have very strong spiritual overtones.
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 and amazingly “favorable” to
Ezra and to the Jews and the spiritual emphasis of this mission. You wonder how
Artaxerxes came to hear of Ezra.
I’m just speculating here. Usually a king co-reigned with his son,
often for a decade or more. Since Xerxes (Ahasuerus), Artaxerxes’ father, was
busy holding parties and 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, when the events of Esther
took place, this would have been 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. I would think this would account for the change in Artaxerxes's attitude.
It was probably someone like Mordecai who brought Ezra to the king's attention.
Later, Artaxerxes will be unusually kind to Nehemiah.
Vs. 11-26 This letter is a testimony to the grace of God. Once we read
Daniel, a letter like this will make much more sense. Verse 11 seems like the
king's estimation of Ezra. This entire letter was a binding, legal document in
the Persian Empire and could not be altered.
Vs. 21-24 All of this provision would be necessary to accomplish what
Ezra had to do. If the priests and Levites were to serve the people, they
needed to be supported with food and money. Notice that there were no taxes
levied against the priests or Levites. Their service and leadership in Israel
was necessary, so they would not be burdened. We'll see in the book of Nehemiah
that supporting these men was a major challenge.
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. And too, the events
of Esther had occurred just before this. Through all of this history, the
spiritually perceptive saw the steadfast
love of the Lord guiding them through this time. Notice here that Ezra is
now writing himself into the narrative in the first person.
Ezra 8:1-20
Vs. 1-14 These are the people who went with Ezra. At this point, very
few were Levites. There would be about 4-5 thousand people going with Ezra.
Notice that Ezra was clearly the leader of this venture.
Vs. 15-20 Ezra had the company of travelers gather and camp north of
Babylon. This way they could organize and see who would be going, even to the
point of checking their genealogies. At this point, Ezra noted that there
weren't many Levites. The Levites had no possession in Israel and their primary
ministry revolved around the temple. They would be utterly dependent on the
Lord and the generosity and spiritual focus of God's people. For the Levites,
poverty was always around the corner. Following the Lord always takes faith.
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. I think this is what
abiding in Christ means.
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? The critics were pointing out
problems with Paul's service and poisoning the minds of the Corinthians.
Vs. 6-7 Apparently Paul and Apollos had already discussed these matters
of comparisons. In chapter 16 Paul says that he tried to convince Apollos to
visit Corinth, but Apollos wasn’t for it. Both of them seem to have understood
what the false apostles were trying to do by creating pride in the hearts of
the church people.
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 areas of the life of 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.
Apparently the Corinthians were being told they were complete and no
longer needed someone like Paul. Paul wasn't ready to give up.
V. 9 The spectacle in view
here is when Roman soldiers marched their victims through the streets of Rome
and led them into the coliseum to their death for the entertainment of the
spectators.
Vs. 11-13 This is a fantastic recruitment ad for becoming a disciple,
following Christ in the harvest. This is very close to what Jesus said His
disciples would need to live through. Although all of the eleven who were with
Jesus are said to have suffered martyrs’ deaths, Paul is the only one we see
living the life of suffering in following Christ. Much of Jesus' teaching to
His disciples became true and visible in Paul.
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, who were improving on what they said Paul had ineptly
begun. They had countless guides in Christ, but only one father. In a
perfect world, no one cares for you like your father. Paul was their
"father" as in the worker who God used to bring the church to life,
not in the sense of being their priest. All believers were directed toward the
Father, the Son and the Spirit.
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 be mature in
Christ 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 an accusation
against Paul, that he was teaching them things he wasn't teaching elsewhere.
The implication was that Paul was holding them back. This is what the serpent
told Eve in the garden, that God was holding them back from being all that they
could be.
Vs. 18-21 I wonder what that fight would have looked like. I'm sure
writing this was no fun for Paul.
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 has
come 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 of giving up on church, we need to allow our
love for Christ and obedience in following Him, to take us through the
conflicts. We need to come to the place where we find likeminded believers 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 that David
alternates between crying out to God and his desire to praise the Lord.
Vs. 1-3 This was probably written by David at the end of his life to be
sung at the dedication of the temple. David did a lot of preparation for the
temple, so having his praise heard at that event meant writing this song of
testimony. In his long years as king he had many remembrances of God's
deliverance during the long years of running and hiding. David had sinned and
failed people around him, yet his heart's passion was to exalt and praise God
publicly.
Vs. 4-5 This is the summary of David's life with the Lord, waiting for
His deliverance and learning of His steadfast love.
Vs. 6-10 David did become comfortable. The last instance of this led
him to number the people and bring judgment down on his people. Yet through all
of his problems, God forgave and saved him.
V. 9 This “logic” is used several times in 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 v. 12 really should be at the heart of
every disciple. Our glory is to sing His praise for His mercy, steadfast love
and deliverance.
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, 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.
Please Read
the Following Disclaimer
I'm writing the Reading Notes to and
for those who are following a One Year Bible and are 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, that is, 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 and important discipleship manual we have and it is the 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, or whom we are to be following. 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, as disciples, 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, 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 (BKC).
I read the BKC in doing background for the Reading Notes and refer to it quite
often. I also make reference to maps or charts in the BKC, though I will only
note where those resources can be found. Often you can do a search for these
and find them in Google books. Buying both volumes of the Bible Knowledge
Commentary would be a good idea.
I am not endorsing any particular
One Year Bible translation; in fact, I read something you probably don't, Die
Revidierte Lutherbibel, 1984. Unless noted, all Scripture quotes are from the
ESV Bible.
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. Often there is a breadth of opinion on certain events, both
historical and prophetic. Many of my views come from my church background,
theological training and my personal study.
I'm
doing this with discipleship in mind, meaning, I'm writing out thoughts that
will keep discipleship and our growth as disciples applied to what we are
reading. Remember, the real focus of the Reading Notes is to be a
supplement, a disciple’s commentary, giving motivation and insight so that we
will keep following our Lord in the harvest, reaching the lost and making
disciples, who make disciples. Being in
the Word every day, sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning directly from Him, is the
essential essence of being and making disciples.
May the Lord bless you as you follow Him in the
harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples. Dan
If you would like documents
containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
If you would like a full
presentation of discipleship read Simply
Disciples*Making Disciples.
Or if you are struggling with
insomnia and would like a long boring dissertation on disciple making, these
can both be found on https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
Reading Notes ©, Dan Kachikis
2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
The One Year Bible © by
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton Illinois 60189
The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of
Good News Publishers.
All charts/graphics/outlines
from the Bible Knowledge Commentary are used with the permission of David C.
Cook.
© 1983, 2001 John F Walvoord and Roy B Zuck.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary is published by David C Cook.
All rights reserved. Publisher permission
required to reproduce.
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