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The Return Journey - Exiled No More 7-8

The Coming and Work of Ezra Fasting and Prayer for Protection

After this, in the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra son Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we of , son of , son of , son of , might deny ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe son of , son of , son of Amariah, son of Azariah, journey for ourselves, our children, and all our possessions. son of Meraioth, son of Zerahiah, son of , son of For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and , son of , son of , son of , son cavalry to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we of the chief priest — this Ezra went up from Babylonia. had told the king that the hand of our God is gracious to all He was a scribe skilled in the law of that the LORD the who seek him, but his power and his wrath are against all who God of had given; and the king granted him all that he forsake him. So we fasted and petitioned our God for this, and asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was upon him. he listened to our entreaty.

Some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and The Return Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants Then we left the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first also went up to , in the seventh year of King month, to go to Jerusalem; the hand of our God was upon us, Artaxerxes. They came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from was in the seventh year of the king. On the first day of the first ambushes along the way. We came to Jerusalem and remained month the journey up from Babylon was begun, and on the there three days. On the fourth day, within the house of our first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the God, the silver, the gold, and the vessels were weighed into gracious hand of his God was upon him. For Ezra had set his the hands of the priest Meremoth son of Uriah, and with him heart to study the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach was Eleazar son of Phinehas, and with them were the Levites, the statutes and ordinances in Israel. Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui. The total was counted and weighed, and the weight of everything was The Letter of Artaxerxes to Ezra (7:11-26) recorded.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who put such At that time those who had come from captivity, the returned a thing as this into the heart of the king to glorify the house of exiles, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve the Lord in Jerusalem, and who extended to me steadfast love bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s as a twelve male goats; all this was a burnt mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my offering to the Lord. They also delivered the king’s God was upon me, and I gathered leaders from Israel to go up commissions to the king’s satraps and to the governors of the with me. province Beyond the River; and they supported the people and the house of God.

Questions

1. Why was it important to establish Ezra’s lineage?

2. Scribes were important and influential – what would you consider to be the three main duties of a Scribe?

3. Why do you think that “some of the people…” went up to Jerusalem instead of all the people?

4. How do you prepare your heart for the Lord?

5. Why do you think there were no sons of Levi to be found in Ezra’s entourage? What did Ezra do about the lack of Levites?

6. Why did Ezra call for a fast? Is it important today to continue the ritual of fasting? Why or why not?

7. Why do you think Ezra was “ashamed” to request an escort from the King of Persia?

8. What may have been some of the dangers the Jews faced as they journeyed back to Jerusalem?

9. What dangers to we face today in our spiritual journey?

10. Was it important for Ezra to present the King’s among his fellow-countrymen in the various regions of the province?

Application for the Book of Ezra

“For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel” Ezra 7:10

Ezra was a priest born into captivity, unable to serve for there was no Temple. Within this pagan background, he devoted himself to the study of God’s Word. He was devoted to recording the history of his people with accuracy and truth. His continued prayers and meditation prepared him for the role of leader, organizing a return journey to Jerusalem with about 2,000 fellow Jews. The joy of Ezra’s life was his opportunity to read God’s Word before the Jewish people who had returned to Jerusalem.

What challenges do you face in practicing God’s Word?