Ezra the Scribe, as did Sheshbazzar several years before him, led a delegation of (released) Jews from Babylon to Jerusalem. Essentially ending the “70 year captivity” prophesied by Jeremiah “at the Word of the Lord.”

Here’s a one verse description of their trip home. “For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.” Ezra 7:9

Look, do the math!

It took a total of four months to traverse the route … on foot no doubt!

I wonder if the returning pilgrims though of Psalm 121! “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” I have  no doubt they had memorized this Poem, and recited it (perhaps) daily as they trekked across the terrain.

Anyway, I have already today revealed the “truth” that has seized my heart.

“Four whole months!” Ezra’s march lasted … “upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem.”

And a “dangerous” trip no doubt.

“Four months,” with elderly men and women along with their children and grandchildren (even some infants), what a group! (People whose hearts God had touched, to go back to Judah and her Capital City Jerusalem.)

Yes, serving God often takes “time!”

The gap from start to finish is not always “small, little!”

Moses was 40 years in the wilderness, training to lead God’s Chosen out of Egypt!

Paul too, 3 years in the Arabian desert, learning at the University of the Holy Spirit!

And Jesus? About 33 years on earth, aiming and arriving (and conquering) … at the old rugged Cross of Calvary!

Anyone reading here today on a “journey?”

From defeat to victory?

From prayer requested … to prayer answered?

From salvation to maturity?

From any “Point A” in your life to “Point B?”

Remember, the great God who can instantly do whatever He pleases … can also (if He deems best) … take lots of time to fulfil his Will!

So today we’ve talked about WAITING.

And I close with this … “They that WAIT upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31, a promise straight from the Lord God Almighty!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

“Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes WAIT upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.” Psalm 123:1-2

 

Ezra 7:6 is as “loaded” a biographical verse as I remember anywhere in Scripture.

Honestly!

“This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.”

I realize that back on December 12, 2017 (in the second Lesson of this Ezra series) I referenced this verse, when I introduced you dear readers to the man Ezra, but these divinely inspired Lines need further attention today.

Did I tell you then? That the name “Ezra” means “help,” no doubt! In Hebrew spelled “ezra” (all the way from Eve being Adam’s HELP meet in Genesis … to God being Israel’s HELP in Hosea! A total of 126 times, I believe. But “ezra” is used as a proper noun, a name, only 22 times.)

Ezra the helper!

That’s a good testimony within itself!

But there’s more … “he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses.”

The little noun “scribe” (in Hebrew “saphar”) actually means “one who counts or writes” or even “declares” as in “teaching” others. In essence, a student of God’s Word! And a disseminator of that Book as well! Spreading God’s Truth!

But the intriguing adjective “ready” is noteworthy too. “Mahiyr” is only used 4 times in the whole Old Testament! It means “quick, prompt, speedily,” to me it has connotations of “eagerness!” This godly man loves his work and pours all his heart and strength into it!

Then we learn Ezra was a man of faith, a prayerful man, one who was not afraid to ask the King of Persia for supplies and provision for the work at hand! For we are carefully told: “the king granted him all his request.”

Which, as we shall soon see, included “silver and gold … with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem. That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.” Verses 15-17.

Wow!

Then lastly today, we learn Ezra had the smile of God all over him! Inundated with the Grace of the Almighty! Blessed, apparently, beyond measure! Back to our Text: “the Hand of the LORD his God (was) upon him.” That’s a euphemism for some powerfully abundant blessings! Nehemiah loved this clause too.

What a man!

What an example!

Folks, God ALWAYS blesses the man (or woman) who truly loves (and obeys) His precious Word!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

As in Psalm 1, the man who … “delights in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night … (then) he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Thrilling!

 

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!”

 

The word I’d like to emphasize or illustrate today is “intertextuality!”

It’s not particularly a spiritual term, having a vast secular use as well. The dictionary defines it as: “the interrelationship between texts, especially works of literature; the way that similar or related texts influence, reflect, or differ from each other,” directly quoted from an online source.

Today I’d like to use part of Ezra 6:22 to reveal the Bible’s beautiful (and ingenious) way of utilizing intertextuality, to great advantage, as an aid to our learning God’s Word. As a help in our growing spiritually too!

“… for the LORD had … turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.”

The King of Assyria is a merely code name for the current King of Persia, who also ruled what was once Israel’s arch-enemy, Assyria. By the way, that Persian King was Darius.

He helped (strengthened) Israel?

His very words: “Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered. And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail: that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.” Ezra 6:8-10, what a list, what provision!

But WHY did the King do all this?

Other than wanting and needing prayer for himself and his sons?

“THE LORD HAD TURNED HIS HEART!” From Ezra 6:22, a direct quote!

The verb “turned” (in Hebrew “sabab”) means “to turn around.” Or “to beset, to encompass!” Plus the verb is “causative” in Hebrew, suggesting that God Himself had a good reason for doing this, that being “the welfare of Israel, of Judah!”

Now, surely with none of you readers doubting this historical fact … I proceed to show you a prime instance of intertextuality.

Proverbs 21:1, written in Solomon’s day, teaches: “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” Wow! (Israel had this great Truth around 400 years prior to God’s once again enacting it with the gracious King of Persia!)

Though in Proverbs a different verb is used (in Hebrew) for “turned,” the meaning is essentially the same. “Natah” means “to stretch, to wrest, to pitch,” as well as the 16 times it is translated “to turn.”

Ezra 6:22 echoes Proverbs 21:1.

So here we have one Text utilizing another Text in the same Book, in the Bible, God’s inspired Word!

This phenomenon occurs thousands upon thousands of times in Scripture!

So that one can learn a lot … by comparing Scripture with Scripture!

Paul, in First Corinthians 2:13 says: “the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

Wow!

One book, the Bible, really a Library!

Yet 66 separate Books within it’s covers!

Written over a period of 1600 years!

By 40 different men!

Yet, inter-textually, bearing the same message!

What a Miracle!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I stand amazed!

 

We often reserve that phrase for the great Book of Nehemiah, “the joy of the Lord.” (Nehemiah 8:10 … “For the joy of the LORD is your strength.” So true!)

Yet that’s exactly what I have titled today’s Lesson, “the joy of the Lord.”

But based on an Ezra Text, written at the Feast of Passover, the very week the (newly completed) Temple was dedicated! “And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity … did eat (the Passover lamb), and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days WITH JOY: for THE LORD HAD MADE THEM JOYFUL.”

Wow, Ezra 6:21-22.

God had given them “gladness,” the idea behind the Hebrew word “simchah” used here. It is actually translated “joy” 44 times in the Old Testament, King James Version.

Here’s my point today … at this event, this celebratory Passover, it’s 100% joy, apparently! Everyone participates in the delight! In fact, our Text says GOD HIMSELF “made them joyful!”

Now, go back just a few years, when the foundation of this same Temple was being laid … many “wept,” instead of singing! “But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient (old) men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, WEPT with a loud voice.” Ezra 3:12

What?

Yet, even the very beginning of the Temple construction there was joy … at least for many in Judah! Back to Ezra 3:12 … “and many shouted aloud for joy.”

Here’s what I am saying, when the Temple rebuilding first began … some shouted and some cried, the pessimists thinking this new Temple was ‘insignificant,” certainly when compared with the former Temple, Solomon’s!

Joy, but only partial joy among the Israelites.

But about 20 years later, when the Temple was complete and the first Passover instituted … the joy has now become universal, 100% so among the Jews!

God has quieted the crying, the weeping!

And instead has given, to even the most dejected, shouts of praise and gladness and thanksgiving and joy!

Hallelujah!

Reminds me of Psalm 30:5 … “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” That’s the way it is, most often, with the Lord!

Looks like between start and finish of the Temple … God wiped away some tears! (He shall do so again, yet in the future! “And GOD SHALL WIPE AWAY ALL TEARS FROM THEIR EYES; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:4)

Yes, HE can still do so!

Take away tears and give, instead, joy!

Yes, God plans yet again … “to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” Isaiah 61:3

Praise His Name!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

And what kind of joy is this? Well, according to Simon Peter … “joy unspeakable and full of glory.” See 1st Peter 1:8 for the full quote.