Today, after 35 Lessons, we finally meet the man named Ezra! Likely the man who wrote this 10 chapter Old Testament Book, in a way … his namesake.
And we must also remember that he is a PRIEST, as well as a Scribe, a student of the Law of Moses.
“Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, EZRA the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of AARON THE CHIEF PRIEST ….” Ezra 7:1-5
I realize this Text is not a complete sentence. Really it is a genealogy. Tracing the heritage of this godly man Ezra. But it is a notable genealogy! Look how far back the “line” goes … all the way to Aaron, the original High Priest of Israel!
Other great Preachers of the Old Testament were also priests. (And yes, Ezra was a Preacher, par excellence!) Ezekiel for example … as attests Ezekiel 1:3. “The word of the LORD came expressly unto EZEKIEL THE PRIEST, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.”
Jeremiah as well! “The words of JEREMIAH the son of Hilkiah, OF THE PRIESTS that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin: to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.” Jeremiah 1:1-2
But with Ezra, as with the two other examples I’ve cited, their MAIN WORK, MAJOR MINISTRY, seems to have been preaching the Word of God!
Yet Ezra did maintain his identity as Priest in Israel, based on a document from King Artaxerxes to the Jewish Leader himself … “Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto EZRA THE PRIEST, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.” Ezra 7:11
But what does a Priest do, back in Old Testament days anyway?
Primarily he would have represented the people … in the (spiritual) presence of Almighty God! He would talk to God on behalf of the Jewish congregation!
Furthermore, Priests also could speak to the people for God! According to Malachi 2:7 anyway. “For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for HE IS THE MESSENGER of the LORD of hosts.”
Wow!
But, and here is the good news for today, the “point” (at least indirectly) of the whole Lesson this Friday morning … today, after Jesus’ Death and Burial and Resurrection and Ascension … we no longer need priests to be “go-betweens” in the presence of God! To be a “link” in the God-man continuum.
Why?
Jesus has become our Priest!
“For there is one God, and one MEDIATOR between God and men, the man CHRIST JESUS; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1 Timothy 2:5-6
Hallelujah!
Or Hebrews 4:14 … “Seeing then that we have a GREAT HIGH PRIEST, that is passed into the heavens, JESUS THE SON OF GOD, let us hold fast our profession.”
Now, through Jesus, I can speak to God anytime! “Let us therefore COME BOLDLY unto the THRONE OF GRACE, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
Thank God for Ezra the priest.
But even more so praise and worship and delight in God … for JESUS our great High Priest!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
One more Jesus our Priest verse please … “Wherefore HE (Jesus) is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing HE EVER LIVETH TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THEM.” Hebrews 7:25
Which Truth calls for one more … “Hallelujah!”