Devotionals for March 18, 2024
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READ
Ezra 7:6-10
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.
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.
REFLECT
Ezra is often presented as a model priest and pastor. In addition to being “skilled in the Law of Moses,” Ezra’s legacy also includes responding to the people’s sin with lament and co-suffering leadership (see Ez. 9). Ezra was not merely a theologian who could explain the Law to the people, but one who walked with the Lord from his heart. Indeed, the structure of Ezra’s ministry highlighted in verse 10 (”study…, do…, teach…”) has been viewed as an ideal model for leaders. It would be easy, especially for someone like Ezra, to neglect the doing part.
After all, someone who can interpret and teach the Law of God (think of your modern biblical theologian) may feel contented with this skill. Perhaps many of us feel that our knowledge of the word of God is enough to qualify us as leaders. This could not be more false. But a falsehood equally dangerous is to think that, so long as we do our best to live righteous, knowing the word of God does not really matter. To be an ambassador for Christ means knowing the gospel, living it out, and then showing others.
After all, someone who can interpret and teach the Law of God (think of your modern biblical theologian) may feel contented with this skill. Perhaps many of us feel that our knowledge of the word of God is enough to qualify us as leaders. This could not be more false. But a falsehood equally dangerous is to think that, so long as we do our best to live righteous, knowing the word of God does not really matter. To be an ambassador for Christ means knowing the gospel, living it out, and then showing others.
APPLY
Q: What does it mean that Ezra “set his heart to study the Law of the Lord?”
Q: Where in your life are you neglecting to “do” what you “know” God wants?
Q: What does teaching out of a life of obedience look like?
Q: Where in your life are you neglecting to “do” what you “know” God wants?
Q: What does teaching out of a life of obedience look like?
SING
PRAY
"Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy."
Lord, help us to walk with you before we teach others to walk with you. Amen.
Lord, help us to walk with you before we teach others to walk with you. Amen.