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the  Preachers  blog

Blogs are posted every Wednesday

The Word of God (By Chris Barnes)

7/19/2021

 
Text: (EZRA Chapters 1-7) 

OBSERVE: In the first six chapters of the book of Ezra, we read about Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel led the first wave of exiles back to their former homeland sometime between 520-515 BC. This became a possibility in 538 BC after the Decree of Cyrus (King of Persia), which allowed the Jewish people to return to their homeland. Despite many barriers and struggles, Zerubbabel is eventually successful in rebuilding the temple although it provided only partial restoration of the prophetic hopes of the people.

There is then a 50 year gap between chapters six and seven. It is in chapter seven that we begin to read about the memoirs of Ezra who headlined the second wave of the exiles to the land in 458 BC. He was a priest and a teacher in the Torah, which made him a very important part of the community. His life is best summed up with one verse: “Ezra had determined to study and obey the law of the Lord and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel” (Ezra 7:10).

INTERPRET: The returning exiles needed someone who could teach the Torah, as many would have been unfamiliar with it during their time in Babylon. Ezra was chosen by God for this important task and had God’s good hand on him. Ezra came from a long line of priests, going all the way back to Aaron himself, the first high priest. To know, understand, obey, and teach God’s law was Ezra’s heart commitment, the direction of his life and the intention of his soul. Ezra was chosen by God to help bring spiritual renewal to the people, much in the same way that Jesus would do when he arrived. Jesus would perfectly fulfill Ezra’s agenda: studying the law form the beginning to end, doing it with perfection.

APPLICATION: Just like Ezra, Jesus’ heart and energy were attuned to studying the Word of God. At just twelve years of age, Jesus was discovered in the temple with the religious leaders listening and asking questions (Luke 2: 46-47). Also, like Ezra, Jesus was determined to obey the law of the Lord and his obedience was not automatic, it was authentic. And finally, like Ezra, Jesus taught the scriptures to the people of Israel. Ezra had provided the teaching that the people needed in order to understand, obey and share with others. It was not enough for the people to just be present in the land. Their physical presence alone would just lead to spiritual complacency, which again would have led them right back into exile. While Ezra pointed those he taught to the law of God and the God of the law, Jesus pointed to himself as the fulfillment of all that the law taught.

Today, we need to consistently learn about our God to be able to faithfully serve him and point others to Jesus. The scriptures provide us with this knowledge and we need to be diligent to learn the scriptures so that we can be faithful in our service and witness.

REFLECTION: Have you been determined to study and obey the Word of God?

PRAYER: Jesus; you said that the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher. And this is what my heart seeks most in my life – to know, obey and righty handle your Word of Truth. AMEN

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4mjFgCqZO8

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St Aidan’s Anglican Church
274 Campbell Street | Winnipeg, MB R3N 1B5
Phone: 204.489.3390 Email: staidans.churchoffice@gmail.com
  • Home
  • Worship Online
  • The Preachers Blog
  • Easter Services
  • Bible in a Year
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • The Re-Gathering
  • Youth
  • Cords
  • Prayer Requests
  • Request Pastoral Care
  • Give
  • Grocery Pick Up
  • Statement of Faith
  • Video Archive
    • 2023 Videos
    • Real Lives
    • 2022 Videos
    • 2021 Videos
    • 2020 Videos
  • Sermon Audio Archive
    • 2020 Sermons
    • 2019 Sermons
    • 2019 Sermon Series >
      • Gospel Centered Eternities November 2019
      • The Real Joy of Easter - Holy Week 2019
    • 2018 Sermons
    • 2018 Sermon Series >
      • Gospel Centred Church Spring 2018
      • A Gospel Shaped Church Fall 2018
    • 2017 Sermon Series >
      • The Servant King Christmas 2016
      • The Saviour King Lent 2017
      • The Victorious King Holy Week 2017
      • The Living King Easter 2017
      • The Brother King Fall 2017
      • Worship the King Advent 2017
    • 2016 Sermon Series >
      • Real Obedience Lent 2016
      • Unity of the Church
      • The Servant King Christmas 2016
    • 2015 Sermon Series >
      • Real Gifts 2015
      • Real Mission 2015
      • Mission Discerned
    • 2014 Sermon Series >
      • Real Church 2014
      • Real Lives 2014
    • 2013 Sermon Series >
      • Real God 2013
    • Sermon Archive From 2014 - 2017
  • Christianity 101
  • The Psalms Blog
  • Bible in a Year
  • The Re-Gathering