58 years after the completion and dedication of the temple, Ezra went to Jerusalem. He went to be the helper of the people. This so they could serve the Lord God of Israel in the proper and prescribed manner.
Ezra’s Call
Ezra 7:1-5 lays out the lineage of Ezra the Scribe. Ezra wasn’t in the direct High Priest office line. However, he was still a direct descendent of the first High Priest, Aaron. He was a wise and skilled teacher of God’s word. King Artaxerxes granted him all that he requested to return to Jerusalem. God’s Favor was upon him.
The name Ezra is Strong’s H5830ez-raw from Strong’s H5826aw-zar meaning to help, helper, succor – The primary idea being girding, surrounding; hence defending. Ezra is a type of the Holy Spirit. He went to help the people of Israel in their lives and serving God. He was a teacher sent to the children of God to help them return to Him.
John 14:26, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
Ezra 7:10, “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 was strong on one task alone – to teach the children of God to obey His law. He would seek to understand the Law and then do it. He would be the helper; their succour.
Ezra’s Mission
Ezra 7:13-20 is the outline of the mission Artaxerxes gave Ezra in his letter.
Ezra 7:14, “Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;”
The King and his seven counselors sent Ezra to Jerusalem to assist the people in their Return to God. The term ‘seven counselors’ intrigued me. I did a little digging and the Holy Spirit reminded me of Isaiah 11:2:
“And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him. The spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.”
These are six attributes of the Spirit of God, i.e. the Holy Spirit or ‘the helper‘. But the verse in Ezra 7:14 says seven counselors. After some more research and seeking the Holy Spirit lead me to John 1:17, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” And John 15:26, “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me:”
It was only with the ministry of Jesus that the seventh attribute of the Holy Spirit was clear; that of truth. For Jesus Himself IS the truth.
John 14:6, “Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
The Third Exodus
Ezra 7:15-18, “And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem: That you may 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. And whatsoever shall seem good to you, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.”
This was the second voyage or exodus from the Persian Empire. The first was by King Cyrus and lead by Zerubbabel and Jehoshua. It was similar to the Exodus from Egypt. The people of the country gave lavishly to the Israelites as they left.
Ezra 7:19-20, “The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem. And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king’s treasure house.”
King Artaxerxes opened the entire treasury of the Persian Empire to Ezra and the returning Israelites. This to ensure that they may fully and completely do the will of the Lord God.
Ezra’s Charge
Ezra 7:21-23, “And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily, Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?”
Ezra, the helper, had full access to all of the Persian treasuries on the other side of the Euphrates.
Ezra 7:24-26, “Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them. And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; teach ye them that know them not. And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him. Whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.”
Those who set themselves to the full service of the Lord God were tax and tribute free.
All of this was so the people of Israel would be worship God as He requires.
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