#599 Scribes

Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, 2 son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, 3 son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth,4 son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, 5 son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest— 6 this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.

7 And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants. 8 And Ezra[a] came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9 For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. 10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

11 This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a man learned in matters of the commandments of the Lord and his statutes for Israel: 12 “Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven. Peace.[b] And now13 I make a decree that anyone of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom, who freely offers to go to Jerusalem, may go with you. 14 For you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to make inquiries about Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your God, which is in your hand, 15 and also to carry the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16 with all the silver and gold that you shall find in the whole province of Babylonia, and with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests, vowed willingly for the house of their God that is in Jerusalem. 17 With this money, then, you shall with all diligence buy bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and you shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God that is in Jerusalem. 18 Whatever seems good to you and your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do, according to the will of your God. 19 The vessels that have been given you for the service of the house of your God, you shall deliver before the God of Jerusalem. 20 And whatever else is required for the house of your God, which it falls to you to provide, you may provide it out of the king's treasury.

21 “And I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers in the province Beyond the River: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, requires of you, let it be done with all diligence, 22 up to 100 talents[c] of silver, 100 cors[d] of wheat, 100 baths[e] of wine, 100 baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.23 Whatever is decreed by the God of heaven, let it be done in full for the house of the God of heaven, lest his wrath be against the realm of the king and his sons. 24 We also notify you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll on anyone of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.

25 “And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God. And those who do not know them, you shall teach. 26 Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed on him, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of his goods or for imprisonment.”

27 Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, 28 and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me. Ezra 7 ESV

This is some time later than the original wave or migration from Babylon, much after Cyrus, this is now Artaxerxes reign. There is a people and a temple, there have been prophets in both the East and the West. The previous chapters have described a history from there, but now herein we meet Ezra, the priest and scribe. He is blessed of God, His hand is upon him, to know the law of Moses. He is also recognized by an earthly king, who has given him great liberty, again because of God's anointing. What is the three fold ministry of Ezra?

1. To study the word of God, this is a most underrated and neglected task. It is God's letter to us, explaining our position, the covenant, the breech, His everlasting love, Holiness, and redemption. It is only God's word after all, telling from ancient times the coming of Messiah. It is also the most abused and mishandled of edicts. Let the reader understand it is not a book of spells, of self help, of vanity or a buffet. It is the whole counsel of God therein. 

14Remind the believers of these things, charging them before God to avoid quarreling over words, which is in no way profitable and leads its listeners to ruin. 15Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth. 16But avoid irreverent, empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness,…2 Timothy 2:14-16

     2. To do it - being that it is from God, they must not be words lightly spoken, but rather understood to live by. Why do you study the Scriptures? To make me wise good sir, unto salvation, and wisdom being the practical use of knowledge, my actions should testify to what I believe. I read the Bible, not to change the world, but that I may be changed. 

11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience. 12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.…Hebrews 4:11-13

Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly receive the word planted in you, which can save your souls. 22Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. 23For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror,…James 1:21-23

    3. To teach it- A sign and a measure, for if you have learned then you become able, but if you receive such love it demands of your very soul that it be given. What did you come to believe in your studies, first about yourself and then about your fellow man? I know the work of the Spirit is required, but though he tills, one sews and yet another waters. We may have the privilege if we take the commission of speaking into men's hearts, being fishers of men, proclaiming the good news of the gospel. We do not decide who is saved or lost, we are told to go tell and trust God with all else. It is an act of mercy and love, that will always accomplish God's purpose. It won't return void. 

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”…Matthew 28: 18-20

1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.…James 3:1

Careful though, it's not just a job, a position, as some have come to believe. We are not called to manipulate the word for the cries of the mob, popularity, emotions, or wealth, so for those it is better to walk away. If you do not see it as a call to self denial, then you do not see it. 

He has a copy of the decree from the king, and Artaxerxes interest is the same as that of others, do this on my behalf, for you know your God better than I do. Again, pray for me, and this was a practice not to worship God alone, but hoping for favor, for peace, these kings wanted peace by way of many gods. Ezra recognizes that God is in control, that He has put this into the heart of the king. God has remained with His people in exile and allowed them to be a blessing even while they were being disciplined. Rather than any title of king or tidal king of nations, over many kings, I'd would rather be called the thief and like that thief upon the cross, say, "we deserve this, but this Jesus has done no wrong, Lord, remember me."