EZR 7Mamma. In this chapter we get another proof of the wonderful loving kindness of God to His people, notwithstanding all their unfaithfulness. For God made king Artaxerxes grant Ezra's request, which was, that he might go up to Jerusalem with all those who wished to bring their offerings to the house of the Lord.
Ezra was one who had kept the record of his family. He was descended from Aaron, God's first high priest. He was a scribe in the law of Moses.
A scribe was one who wrote copies of the law, and taught it to the people. Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord; and to do it, and he wished to teach the law to the children of Israel. This was true and faithful service.
The king of Persia wrote a wonderful letter to Ezra; for he said, that all those in his kingdom who wished to go up to worship might go, and the king and his counselors gave them silver and gold to take with them, and the king told Ezra to take all that he could get besides, through all the province of Babylon, and buy offerings for his God; and whatever he needed more he might take out of the king's treasure house. And he told Ezra to teach the people the law of God, and any one who did not do the law should be put to death.
Sophy. Was the king a child of God?
M. He certainly feared the Lord, and knew that He was the God of heaven, but he always spoke as if He were only the God of the Israelites who had power over all men. The king knew that God would avenge His people if he was unkind to them. He said: Why should there be wrath against the king and his sons?
S. Was Ezra surprised at the king's kindness?
M. Yes. But he knew it was God who made the king so kind, for he said: Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who has put such a thing into the king's heart. Then Ezra gathered all the chief men of Israel to go up with him. He brought them to the river Ahava, and stopped there for three days, that he might see all the people who were with him, and when he had counted them he found that there were none of the sons of Levi in the company. So he called together some of the priests who were men of understanding, and told them to go to Iddo the chief, and to ask him to send ministers for the house of God. So they brought a man of understanding, of the sons of Levi, and eighteen others, besides the sons of Merari, and the Nethinims. Then Ezra proclaimed a fast at the river Ahava, that the people might be sorry before God, and that they might seek of Him a right way for themselves and their little ones.
S. What is a fast?
M. To fast means to take no food. It was an expression of sorrow for sin; fasting is always connected in God's word with prayer, because it was refusing what is necessary to a man, as food is, in order to be dependent on God. Ezra felt that there were enemies all around them; and he thought it would be dishonoring to the Lord if he were to ask the king of Persia for a band of soldiers to protect them; for he had told the king that the hand of God was upon all those who seek Him to do them good. But Ezra knew that they did not deserve anything good from God, so he invited the children of the captivity to seek the Lord with fasting and prayer; that is, with humbled hearts. They confessed that there was no good in themselves, but that God was unchanged to His people; and God heard their prayer.
Then Ezra weighed out all the treasures of the house of God, and gave it to the twelve most trusted of the priests to take care of, until it was weighed again in the house of God in Jerusalem.
S. Where is the river Ahava?
M. It is in Babylon. They were on their way to Jerusalem, and this chapter is describing how they went up, when God put it into Ezra's heart to bring up the people out of Babylon. God took care of them on the journey and did not let their enemies hurt them; so they came to Jerusalem and waited there three days; and on the fourth day they weighed the treasures again and found they were all right.
Then all those who had come out of the captivity offered sacrifices to the God of Israel; twelve bullocks for all Israel, for a burnt offering, and twelve he-goats for one sin-offering.
And they gave all the king's messages to his officers; so they were well disposed to the people to the house of God,
S. Were they building at that time?
M. No. Ezra, the priest, was trying to occupy them with their own state before God. We read that the princes came to him with the sad tidings that the people of Israel had not separated themselves from the evil of the heathen, and that the priests and Levites were as evil as the rest. They had married the daughters of the people of the land, and had learned their wicked ways. When Ezra heard this he rent his garment, and sat astonied till the evening sacrifice.
S. What does that mean?
M. He was so overcome by the news of the people's unfaithfulness, and he was so shocked and grieved by it, that he could only sit still and be silent, broken hearted before God until a sacrifice was offered. Then he got up, and having rent his garment, threw himself upon his knees fore the Lord, and prayed and confessed the sin of the people with tears and great sorrow.
When he had ceased a very great company of men and women and children came to him, and they all wept. But Ezra's sorrow was so great that he would neither eat nor drink.
Then they made a proclamation that every one should separate himself from evil company, or whatever had made him unclean, and if any one did not do so in three days he should be separated from the congregation of Israel. When they heard this, all the men of Judah and Benjamin came to Jerusalem, and God made a great rain to come, and they sat in the street trembling because of their sin and because of the great rain.
S. Were they frightened?
M. Yes; because God was wroth with them. And Ezra appointed men to go from house to house among the people to see that they obeyed the proclamation, that God's anger might be turned away.
You see how much sorrow the people of God may bring upon themselves by keeping company with wicked people and learning their thoughts and ways. David said, Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly; nor standeth in the way of sinners; nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.