James 1:2-4 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing

JOY AMIDST TRIALS.

Out rightly, Joy and pain are seen as contradiction of terms . Thereby, both are incompatible. Yet, in the Lord, there is joy in trials.

Trials aren’t optional. It’s not ‘if’ but ‘when’ it will happen. Nobody is exempted to its multi-faceted[variegated] occurrences. Job had described well the reality of trials by saying, “man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.”[Job 5:7] Thus, Peter had warned us to expect it, saying, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”[1 Pet 4:12]

The Covid-9 pandemic has had brought hardships to everyone. Somebody had commented though, it has caught so much attention than hunger in some parts of the world has been for ages now. Why? For the simple reason hat it has stirred everyone, rich and poor, black or white, easterners or westerners, alike.

Trials are designed and permitted by God for His reasons. To us who love God, all things are working together for good. And that ‘good’ is for us to be conformed to the image of His Son. [Rom 8:28,29] As the synergy of the elements in a medicine, God has calibrated every experience, pleasant or not, we could have to mold s unto Christlikeness. [see Col 1:28]

To this effect should everyone of us ‘count’ [consider] with joy in every trial we undergo. As we continue to trust Him, we become accustomed to bear the load in a longer period of time. This steadfastness [patience] makes us function maturely, unaffected by our circumstances. As Paul said, “we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” [Rom 5:2-5]

A man of mature character is like an anvil. Though the constant hammering, it doesn’t change.

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Ezra 10:13-17 ESV

13 But the people are many, and it is a time of heavy rain; we cannot stand in the open. Nor is this a task for one day or for two, for we have greatly transgressed in this matter. 14 Let our officials stand for the whole assembly. Let all in our cities who have taken foreign wives come at appointed times, and with them the elders and judges of every city, until the fierce wrath of our God over this matter is turned away from us.” 15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supported them.

16 Then the returned exiles did so. Ezra the priest selected men, heads of fathers' houses, according to their fathers' houses, each of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to examine the matter; 17 and by the first day of the first month they had come to the end of all the men who had married foreign women.

TOUGH YET TENDER.

People’s lives are messy including ours. And the bible had recorded This reality prompts the delicate balance between toughness and tenderness should be carefully observed. As the people took responsibility to rectify their wrongs, they realized they needed space and time to do it. There were a few who opposed. “Perhaps they were protecting themselves or their relatives. Perhaps they viewed the measures of separation as too harsh. Less probably they were fanatics who wished no delay in implementing the measure." (by Yamauchi)

While Ezra was wisely willing to accept the delay, he also held the assembly accountable to do what they agreed to do in the months after the great assembly. This whole process took many weeks, because there were so many men who had taken pagan wives. The inquiry was vital because they needed to examine if one of these wives had genuinely decided to serve the Lord God and to forsake her native religions.

The restorative process was done firmly. Yet, Ezra and his team were full of listening ears. Definitely, disciplines or chastening are painful but not punitive in purpose. “Love isn’t rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.” [1 Cor 13:5,6] Did not Paul say in Gal 6:1-2, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”?

Even as we live in this broken world with hurting people, either we are a part of the restoration or not. As believers, who have received the gospel, but unable to do anything is a sign of indifference, isn’t it? The gospel is the only hope for this world. [Rom 1:16] Not all of us could be at the frontlines but the Lord Jesus has mandated us to be involved even in prayers. “When he[Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” [Matt 9:37-39]

Perhaps today, you are dealing with hurting people around you. Like Ezra, we must involve in their lives in much prayer, first and foremost. As God brings conviction, we should be loving by showing the balance of toughness and tenderness.

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Ezra 10:6-12 ESV

6 Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib, where he spent the night, neither eating bread nor drinking water, for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles. 7 And a proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the returned exiles that they should assemble at Jerusalem, 8 and that if anyone did not come within three days, by order of the officials and the elders all his property should be forfeited, and he himself banned from the congregation of the exiles.

9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month. And all the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain. 10 And Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have broken faith and married foreign women, and so increased the guilt of Israel. 11 Now then make confession to the Lord, the God of your fathers and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives.” 12 Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, “It is so; we must do as you have said.

A COURAGEOUS PROCLAMATION.

Ezra has withdrawn from the crowd and spent the night without eating and drinking. Perhaps, in his deep sorrow, he has had an ardency only for God’s honor up to a point he lost his desire for food and water. In short, he was very desperate for God to intervene.

We have this country cliché that ‘When our cowardice is depleted, all that remains is courage.’ Both courage and fear are diametrically opposing emotions resulting from either praying or not, respectively. The problems were beyond Ezra’s control. He didn’t try to figure out how to address it by his wisdom and power. Instead, he sought God and surrendered everything to Him.

Prayer wasn’t one among the many options. It was his only option. There was no alternative. Unless God will do something, he and everyone else is doomed. They’ll either rise or fall at the mercies of God. Certainly, he who absolutely honors God will He honor. [1 Sam 2:30] If we believe that our battles are the Lord’s, prayers should be our weapons.

Undoubtedly, the courage of Ezra to announce his proclamation was the result of his prayer and fasting. He was bold in confronting them with clarity and unequivocally. The people were trembling as they gathered at the open square to hear him before the temple. The effectiveness of his ‘public ministry’ was the answer of his ‘prayer ministry.’

Let’s remember what did Isaiah say, that is;

“He gives power to the faint,

and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Even youths shall faint and be weary,

and young men shall fall exhausted;

but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

they shall walk and not faint.” [Isa 40:29-31]

Today let’s keep our prayer PUSH, that is, ‘Pray Until Something Happens.’

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Ezra 10:1-5 ESV

While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly. 2 And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, addressed Ezra: “We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this. 3 Therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the Law. 4 Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it.” 5 Then Ezra arose and made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel take an oath that they would do as had been said. So they took the oath.

A COVENANT WITH GOD.

Ezra had thrown himself down before the house of God[temple] in deep sorrow. It was a sight that had caught attention to many. This large crowd which included not only men but women and children, wept bitterly also. God was working so that there was a brewing deep conviction upon the people’s heart as Ezra. Thus, Shechaniah stood up and addressed to Ezra their full support.

As the spokesman, he said, “We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this. Therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the Law. Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it.”

"Confession of sins is a neglected doctrine. It only comes into its rightful place in times of revival, when the Holy Spirit comes in doubly-convicting power and makes it impossible for the erring believer to have any peace of mind until the wrong is confessed whenever necessary." (by J. Edwin Orr)

Prayer is powerful and effective in touching hearts. It moves the Hand that moves the world. It’s His delight in seeing His people humbly seeking His face that precedes His healing. As 2 Chron 7:14 says, “ if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Ezra neither did any coercion nor manipulation. He just humbly sought the Lord and revival of hearts happened. It was evidenced by their willingness and sincerity to vow before the Lord. Together they made a covenant to remove the sin [ put away their foreign wives] and follow the law. Certainly, Ezra did not suggest it, did he? Such repentance couldn’t have happened should God did not convict their hearts. The price is too high. Yet, they were willing to do it. It does prove how broken they were. Since some of the women had even borne children [v.44], we could think of the kids that suffered greatly for being separated from either their dads or moms.

Indeed, when God moves, nobody could stop Him.

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Ezra 9:6-15 ESV

“O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. 7 From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt. And for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as it is today. 8 But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant and to give us a secure hold within his holy place, that our God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our slavery. 9 For we are slaves. Yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to grant us some reviving to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us protection[c] in Judea and Jerusalem.

10 “And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments, 11 which you commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land that you are entering, to take possession of it, is a land impure with the impurity of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations that have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness. 12 Therefore do not give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters for your sons, and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.’ 13 And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, seeing that you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such a remnant as this, 14 shall we break your commandments again and intermarry with the peoples who practice these abominations? Would you not be angry with us until you consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape? 15 O Lord, the God of Israel, you are just, for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are before you in our guilt, for none can stand before you because of this.”

THE PRAYER OF EZRA.

Ezra’s credibility had been re-enforced by the sincerity and nobility of his prayers. He was grieving but not hopeless. He knew God had been angered but not detached to them.

He started with confession. He felt so ashamed because of their sinfulness. Did not others sin excluding himself? Yet, why did he confess the sins as if he sinned? The sins other did have affected everyone for they were one people. As a leader, he sensed it was a command responsibility. A sad reality seemed unfair for faithful leaders like Ezra. Perhaps, it was his love for his people that had prompted him to identify with them. Nehemiah did the same in his prayers, too. [see Neh 1].

According to Dr. D. Kidner, "Ezra had not even the heart to plead, as Moses had, that God's name would suffer in such a case. His prayer was naked confession, without excuses, without the pressure of so much as a request."

Before God, guilty people stand as a performer standing at the center stage being illuminated with lots of powerful floodlights. Nothing could be hidden. Thus, Solomon had wisely warned, “ Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”[Prov 28:13] Ezra, took ownership of the gravity of their sins without blame shifting, justifying or sugarcoating.

However somber, he wasn’t hopeless. He clung unto the mercifulness and loving kindness of God alone. For their evil deeds and for their great guilt, he acknowledged, that God, have punished them less than their iniquities deserved and have given them such a remnant. He realized nobody could stand before God. In other words, they could just prostrate and plead for His mercy.

Ezra 9:1-5 ESV

After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2 For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race[a] has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.” 3 As soon as I heard this, I tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled. 4 Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered around me while I sat appalled until the evening sacrifice. 5 And at the evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garment and my cloak torn, and fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God,

BEING GRIEVED.

When they were in Jerusalem, Ezra’s joy was replaced with grief. It happened when he heard that many of the Jews [including some priests and leaders] had been engaged with inter-marriage with the pagans around. As God’s chosen people, it’s a plain no-no. It was a declaration of their faithlessness, plain and simple. As Malachi had expressed how God abhorred this, by saying, “Judah has broken faith; an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the LORD's beloved sanctuary by marrying the daughter of a foreign god.” [Mal 2:11]

How did Ezra express his grief?

As soon as he heard about it, he tore his garment and cloak and pulled hair from his head and beard and sat appalled. He showed his deep sorrows and brokenness. Brokenness is a reality that most leaders have to deal with. For, even the best of people around him may fail and commit egregious mistake. Sadly, some are near to impossible to repair.

They must be tough but they must know how to be tender, too. Ezra did not lambast them. Instead, he first poured his heart before the Lord. He could have confronted the culprits right away, but he did not. Surely, this was a show of someone with power but under control. For God’s servants should show meekness, shouldn’t they? As Paul had said, “And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil” [2 Tim 2:24]

Brokenness is both a sign of weakness and strength. It shows that one is human. And, there is nothing wrong to shed tears. The Lord Jesus cried as a man when He was grieving for the death of His friend Lazarus. [see John 11:35]. He was carried with His strong emotions like Ezra. But, it was at the same setting that He had shown His power, wasn’t it? He brought Lazarus back to life. A few days later, He wept when He saw Jerusalem. “And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it.” [Luke 19:41].

Even, at the garden, in deep agony, He wept again. And through it, He became victorious to obey the Father’s will.

Interestingly, Ezra’s lament in fasting, with sackcloth and ashes did influence the others who feared God also. Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered around him while he sat appalled until the evening sacrifice. [v.4] Godly people are drawn to authentic and sincere people like Ezra, who mean business with God. They too were grieved to what grieved the heart of God.

Today, how do we react to the sinfulness of this world? Are we grieved? Or indifferent? Are we easy to take offense? Do we seek for God’s glory be upheld amidst the brokenness of this world? Are we full of anger upon seeing that others are living in sin? Or, are we full of compassion that drives us to seek the Lord’s mercy and grace upon them?

Ezra 8:24-30,34 ESV

24 Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests: Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their kinsmen with them. 25 And I weighed out to them the silver and the gold and the vessels, the offering for the house of our God that the king and his counselors and his lords and all Israel there present had offered. 26 I weighed out into their hand 650 talents[d] of silver, and silver vessels worth 200 talents,[e] and 100 talents of gold, 27 20 bowls of gold worth 1,000 darics,[f] and two vessels of fine bright bronze as precious as gold. 28 And I said to them, “You are holy to the Lord, and the vessels are holy, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the Lord, the God of your fathers. 29 Guard them and keep them until you weigh them before the chief priests and the Levites and the heads of fathers' houses in Israel at Jerusalem, within the chambers of the house of the Lord.” 30 So the priests and the Levites took over the weight of the silver and the gold and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem, to the house of our God.

34 The whole was counted and weighed, and the weight of everything was recorded.

FAITH AND PRUDENCE.

Contrary to the false notion of incompatibility, careful planning and faith are not in conflict. Some said that one has no faith if he spend time crafting a detailed plan. Or, the one who said he believes God must be only spontaneous. Many Christians do fall into this fallacy, don’t they?

Ezra knew how crucial was the guarding of the precious treasures for the temple. He must put the right people on the guard. They must be ‘holy people’, that is, men of integrity and character. In many cases, we fail to choose the right people to handle a vital job. We rush to look unto their colorful credentials and are deceived to focus on the superficials in people. Why did Ezra call for a fast? Surely, the Lord will show His will clearly to those who sought Him in fervent prayers. It’s sad that many churches and ministries are ruined by implosion. The problem isn’t traced from the outside but inside with people who are not consecrated before God.

Prudence is a gift from God. “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” [Prov 16:9] There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. [Prov 16:25] Man, indeed, is helpless unless God will give him the eyes to see.

Amidst the fog of confusions and uncertainty today, His wisdom and guidance are what we need badly. God had promised us, by saying, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” [Heb 13:5] Through this, is the encouragement that He will guide us always, a step at a time. Thus, we must heed Solomon’s counsel, that is, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” [Prov 16:3]

Today, let’s not forget to seek guidance through His words. As the psalmist said, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Unlike a flashlight, a lamp can just light one step ahead along the dark path. We shouldn’t bother, therefore, what will be our lives for tomorrow for God will direct us only a day at a time. Let’s not ruin our lives today but carrying the cares we are supposed only to face the next day.

Let’s believe that God is in control to things we can’t handle in life. And let us faithfully do what we need to do the best that we can. [Ecc 9:10]. The farmer believes his crops will be fruitful without his control but is faithful in ploughing and harrowing his fields. Similarly, let’s believe that God is in control of everything. Yet, let’s plan to do our best in everything in our hands.

Ezra 8:21-23 ESV

21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. 22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” 23 So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.

THE HAND OF GOD.

Having been supplied with everything needed, Ezra must be ready to go. However, he thought of the dangers before their enemies during their travel. He has had with them their children and precious goods. They needed the necessary protection.

He could had easily asked the king for a military escort. But, he did not for he felt ashamed. Why? He assured the king by saying, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.”

He was concerned about inconsistency. He had glorified God before the king to protect them. Thus, he must refrain to walk by sight, that is, to ask favor from the king for help. He has had to walk his talk. The exaltation of God’s name was his primary goal.

Moreover, Ezra, undoubtedly, has had a strong faith but was not presumptuous. His proclamation of a fast was the proof not a contradiction. A reliance on supernatural intervention without prayer is presumption. Prayer and fasting are both a show of deep humility and faith. Didn’t Jesus teach us that we have a Father in heaven? And, that the best way to express our faith in Him is our prayer? [see Matt 6:5-13] The issue in mind is that we should not put ourselves ahead of ourselves. Our steps are ordered by the Lord.[Psalm 37:23] Thus, we don’t take steps ahead of Him and ask Him then to protect us.

Today, the assurance of “the hand of God” upon us should give us courage before any challenges we face. But, we must take precaution in not taking it presumptuously like using a blank cheque imprudently. Hence, let’s not take any step ahead without seeking His guidance first.

Having seen all the great and wonderful things God did, Ezra wasn’t in a hurry to go after a long wait for freedom. Like him, we must not be too excited to forget to spend time in prayer. Simply stated, let’s walk with God by faith. As Solomon had wisely counseled;

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.” [Prov 3:5,6]

The hand of God is upon us always. Hence, let Him point us first to where we should direct our steps.

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Ezra 7:27-28 

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.

WHEN GOD MOVES HEARTS.

The decree of King Artaxerxes seemed too good to be true. His support, obviously, was exceptionally overwhelming. When he said to Ezra that ‘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’ [v.20] was a blank cheque of his support. Added to this was his protection from paying tributes and taxes and harassments. Thus, Ezra and his people did have all what they needed in building the temple of God, didn’t they?

Moreover, his endorsement for Ezra to teach the ‘laws of God’ to everyone was as icing on a cake. He said, “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. 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.” [v.25,26]

What had prompted the king to issue such a decree?

Clearly, it was because the Lord had put fear in his heart. Thus, the king had said, “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.” [v.23]. And Ezra had affirmed this by praising God, saying,” 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, and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty officers.”[v 27,28]

Consequently, Ezra was emboldened to step forward. Having been assured of God’s hand being upon him, he took courage to lead men to go up to Jerusalem. Courage is always a by product of the abiding presence of God. Most fearful people having been ascertained of God’s presence are transformed to become courageous people, are they not?

Thus, today, let’s not be pushing our way but trust that God will make His way. It’s only Him who can make doors either open or close. [Rev 3:8] Like Ezra, let’s wait upon the Lord. For God has promised, “

“ but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

they shall walk and not faint.” [Isa 40:31]

God is accomplishing His work in His time through people He moves.

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Ezra 7:6-10 ESV

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 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.

EZRA AND GOD’S LAW.

As a scribe, Ezra was skilled in the law of Moses. This did not merely signify a speedy writer or an excellent penman, but one who was eminently skillful in expounding the law. As explained further by Jamieson, Robert, D.D.; Fausset, A. R. and Brown, David, “The term “scribe” does not mean merely a penman, nor even an attorney well versed in forms of law and skilled in the method of preparing public or private deeds. He was a rabbi, or doctor, learned in the Mosaic law, and in all that related to the civil and ecclesiastical polity and customs of the Hebrew people. Scribes of this description possessed great authority and influence (compare Matthew 23:25; Mark 12:28).”

The Lord needs learned persons like Ezra only if their hearts are right like his. ‘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.’[v.10] The key was that the law of the Lord he knew in his head was also imbedded in his heart so that he desired to actualize the same through his hands. Then and only then, that he became an effective teacher to others. As this true saying goes, “We can teach by what we say, more by what we do but most by who we are.”

Certainly, he has had this heart even way before the Lord had brought them back to Jerusalem. Only the sailboats with its sail spread is able to catch the wind, isn’t it? The Lord is looking for ready hearts for Him to use. Thus, Paul had advised us, saying, “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” [2 Tim 2:21]

How we wish to see more ‘Ezra-like’ believers among ourselves, today. A kind of believer whose “delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” [Psa 1:2] Indeed, he is “the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” [Jas 1:25] The hand of the Lord his God would be upon him as Ezra. [v.6]

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