Anytime one studies a Book of the Bible it is helpful to know the writer. (Understand please that the Real Author of all Scripture is God the Holy Spirit!) By writer I mean the human who held the pen, who placed the words on the scroll. And in the case of our present study, it is (nearly universally agreed) Ezra himself.

In Ezra 7:6 he is called a “scribe.” That means … one who is an expert in the Law (of Moses) and (also) an astute student of the whole Bible. As much as was extant in his day.

Our Ezra here is also a preacher, as we shall see.

An expository preacher, one who explains the Text as he delivers it to the congregation.

Furthermore, Ezra is a “priest!”

All scribes were by no means priests!

In Ezra 7:5 our little hero’s lineage is traced all the way back to Aaron, the first High Priest of Israel! Talk about a goodly heritage!

In Nehemiah chapter 8 (that being a companion Book of Ezra) we see Ezra in action. There we see Ezra with the Bible in his hand! Reading an elongated Portion (maybe the whole Book of Deuteronomy) of it publically! Then expositing it (teaching it) to the congregation!

In fact, Nehemiah 8:8 has Ezra and his company “giving the sense” of the Word of God and “causing the people to understand” Holy Writ!

This is preaching/teaching “line upon line,” or “precept unto precept,” as depicted in Isaiah 28:10 and 13. Despised by the world, but loved by the children of the Lord.

This is a pre-figuration of 2 Timothy 4:2 as well. “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

I suggest that in our journey through the Book of Ezra we shall see this man of God preaching and reproving and rebuking and exhorting, a “well-rounded” ministry!

Wow!

“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.” Ezra 7:10, surely now we know a little more about the writer of the Book of Ezra.

An early American Preacher named Phillips Brooks once defined preaching as: “the Proclamation of God’s Word mediated through the phenomenon of human personality.” I would add, “godly” human personality.

If so, Ezra was quite a Preacher!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Dr. W. A. Criswell (in our generation) preached systematically all the way through the Bible in a fashionable Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas … taking him 18 years and 6 months to complete the exposition! That’s Ezra style preaching!

Serious minded old Dr. Alexander Maclaren preached essentially through the Bible in Manchester, England in the last generation, taking him forty-six years to do so! At one Church … Union Baptist Chapel in Manchester!

Matthew Henry did the same thing, taking him twenty years to so so, says his biographer.

Long live the “Ezra” types still behind the pulpit yet today!

Amen!

 

Yes, we’re going to begin a systematic journey through the Book of Ezra. At least chapter by chapter, and in each chapter we shall be concentrating on a paragraph of verses.

But why have I called this Portion of Scripture “little studied?”

I think that is generally true of the Old Testament when compared to the New Testament. The vast amount of preaching these days (at least in America) is from the 27 Books of the New Testament. (Yet the Old Testament is equally inspired!)

Then even in the Old Testament I sense that the Books of History receive the least attention. The “narrative” Books, Genesis and Numbers and Joshua and Judges and Ruth, etc. always have been (and probably always will be) more easily studied. “Everybody loves a story,” they say. And long ago (sadly) narrative preaching upended doctrinal preaching! (And Ezra does contain some doctrine, although its particular emphasis is quite silent now as well.) Plus, the poetic Psalms and Proverbs get more attention than anything in history, ancient history, as it relates to the Word of God. The Prophets too (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Hosea, etc.) remain at least somewhat studied these days. But again, NOT the Books of History! (How long has it been since you heard a series of Sermons from 2nd Chronicles? Ever? Yes, 2nd Chronicles which ends the same way that Ezra begins!)

And certainly Ezra is (while loosely telling a little-known story) primarily historical in nature.

You will see what I mean as the days progress, Lord willing.

It is often thought (probably correctly) that Ezra-Nehemiah make a Unit of Scripture. Same time frame, same locations, closely knit heroes! But even between the two … Ezra is the loser when it comes to popularity, frequency of study, analysis!

So, tomorrow morning we shall being with an introductory Lesson, then chapter by chapter.

Ezra … I am already excited!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

It was early Thursday morning, before sunrise I mean.

Debbie and I had the car nearly packed, ready to drive from Michigan to Georgia.

And I stepped back over to the Church, where I had preached in Revival Services, over five hours of verse-by-verse exposition I am told.

I walked into the empty, quiet sanctuary, auditorium.

And it “hit,” not a rare feeling, rather quite common (to an evangelist) I suppose.

Weekly, in my case.

My heart was sad!

Yes, sad.

This set of scheduled Revival Services had come to an end.

Was over!

And I was somber, almost melancholy!

I know. There is another Revival scheduled soon, sometimes within a day or two.

New Texts (from the Bible) to preach!

A different Pastor to seek to encourage.

A new congregation, perhaps equally as eager for the Truth of God’s Word!

But still, sad!

Look at this particular Church’s Bible reading pattern for the last three years! Glory to God! Or: “the LORD be MAGNIFIED!” Psalm 40:16

There is something about being with a Bible-hungry people for a week makes you “fall in love” with them, with their desire to grow in Christ!

Is there a verse, I wondered, that makes this “feeling” feasible, Biblically permissible?

Maybe.

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” Philippians 1:3

I even feel this way about the folks who regularly support our Ministry, using that thought of remembrance to trigger a prayer for that individual or Church.

Even as Paul, describing himself, said to Timothy … “Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy.” 2 Timothy 1:4, “greatly desiring” means “craving” essentially!

Now let me be clear.

I had that feeling last week in Illinois.

And will next week in Alabama.

God’s people sure can “get into you heart!”

I guess in a way I fell like Paul did in 2 Corinthians 11:28. “Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of ALL THE CHURCHES.” I too have a care and concern and love for “all the Churches” where God lets me preach!

I must close.

Do YOU love the Christians God has placed in your life?

Are YOU dedicated to your Pastor, his encouragement and well-being?

Do YOU miss fellow Believers in Christ when you won’t see them again for perhaps a year?

Just a thought today … on what might be called “Christian emotion,” in a (I pray) right sense!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

I finally (after 13 1/2 hours in the car, yesterday being a travel day) wrote a Lesson (more of a Bible “thought” really) last night (about 10:00) which most of you have not yet read, or so I suspect. I hope you’ll take the time this morning to do that, study my thoughts about the “snow.” (My favorite “snow” verse, too!)

As for today’s “nugget,” I am driving to (really through) Atlanta and then east to the Conyers area (where my motel is located for the next 3 nights) … and once arriving there, I shall (Lord willing) write today’s Lesson.

Pastor Hollingsworth and his Wife Linda, photo made last year.

I am so looking forward to the Christmas Revival … tonight through Sunday Evening in the little City of Between, Georgia. At the Baptist Church of Between, with Pastor Lynn Hollingsworth and his people..

By the way, I already think I know what the Lord wants me to discuss with you later today.

Pray for safety as I drive, please.

And, thank you!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

This month’s newsletters and CD Sermons were mailed this week (Wednesday) from a place called Howard City, Michigan. You (our supporters) should be receiving yours any day.

Written at 10:36 PM … Well, better make that promised Lesson tomorrow morning now. I am exhausted! Today’s drive (Atlanta having snow and ice) took over five hours! It should have taken two hours, tops! I’ve never seen such traffic snarls!

 

Our day began with the phone alarming at 5:00 this morning! And an 11 1/2 hour trip ahead of us, from Newaygo, Michigan to Tunnel Hill, Georgia! After a precious week of Revival, I might add.

Ready to load!

Ready to leave!

Do you see the snow?

Not as much as some years, but still snow!

Surprisingly, this sight (the snow) triggered the thought for today’s Bible nugget.

God is the Speaker, questioning Job the old patriarch, godly man that he was. “Hast thou entered into the treasures of the SNOW? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail?” Job 38:22

Now …

I’m writing you at 9:45 this evening, after the Lord has given us a safe trip home.

We drove several hours through that snow, heavy at times … heading south.

Which gave me plenty of time to consider it … the “snow.”

And what unique “treasures” God may have had in Mind.

The Hebrew noun translated “treasures” is “otzsar,” meaning “storehouse!”

Once in fact it is even translated (in the King James Version) “armoury!”

There’s no telling what value snow contributes to life on earth!

But for me tonight, as tired as I am, just knowing the Creator of that frozen powder (no two flakes ever alike) is enough to consider.

A meditation about “snow?”

Yes, and here is my favorite “snow verse” in all the Bible …

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as SNOW; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell