(**Edit note: On Dec 31st, 2018, I released a word that Ezra, Nehemiah, Malachi, and Esther contained the template for the coming season. Below is just one snippet of what our family was delving into and discovering during our family worship time. Ps 25:2 – It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; and the honor of kings to search out a matter.)
Vs 1-5 – Ezra came from a godly lineage of those who valued holiness in the midst of compromising times. Sons of Zadok refused to compromise in Ezekiel 44:15, and were blessed with the privilege of ministering to God while the compromisers that God forgave were left ministering to the people. Phinehas received a covenant of peace because he boldly upheld God’s commandments to the point of thrusting a javelin through a fornicating leader of Israel and his whore. (Numbers 25) He was from the lineage of the high priest Aaron, a rightful heir to the priesthood. This was the man that God chose to lead His people out of Babylon. And God will do the same thing today. The new leaders that will emerge to replace the old ones will be marked by holiness, not as a religious legalistic duty but because they’ve been branded by the Fear of the LORD from the inside out.
Vs 6 – Ezra chose to leave Babylon. He could have stayed but he chose to depart and chase after all that God had promised him. He was a ready scribe – an excellent teacher of the Law of God, the Torah as I call it. The king granted him ALL his request because God’s favor rested upon him. You don’t access God’s favor, nor His heavenly storehouses, when you lack integrity and purity in your daily life, both in public and behind closed doors. Are we pursuing integrity without blemish? Are we chasing after the holiness and purity of God, without excuse, loving the praises and approval of God more than the praise and approval of your peers? This isn’t a matter of a “works-based theology.” God’s love is without question. The question is – do you actually love God with all your heart, mind, and strength, or merely with your wagging tongue that got disconnected somewhere from your heart? You shall be known by your fruit, not just your words.
Vs 7 – The remnant left in the 7th year of King Artexerxes reign. The time of perfection had come, would people see it? Would they have the eyes of Issachar to possess the land while it was ripe for the taking instead of seeing with their natural eyes how vicious King Artexerses was to those that ticked him off?
Vs 8 – He arrived in Jerusalem in the 5th month (Month of Av, tribe of Simeon – the month to hear and be concerned. AV = “father” – to will, to desire; a month that was marked by unbelief and judgment falling on 9th of Av.) By God’s grace (#5) upon him, Ezra arrived at his destination.
Vs. 9-10 – It took Ezra 4 months to travel from Babylon to Jerusalem. It wasn’t a walk in the park, it took time, sweat, and perseverance to reach his destination. He purposed in his heart to seek the Law of the LORD. He didn’t just learn about it but he took it a step further into application and then multiplication. Jesus told us in Matthew 5:19 that those who do and teach the commandments of God to others will be called great in the Kingdom of God. Those who disobey His commandments and fail to teach them to others will still be in the kingdom of God by the skin of their teeth through the salvation of Jesus Christ but they will be the least. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to be a street sweeper in God’s kingdom. I want to reign in power and authority! When demons are cast out, it’s because the kingdom of God has come upon them. So to increase our power and authority levels so we don’t get skunked like the 7 sons of Sceva, we need to obey God’s commandments from our hearts and not merely with vagabond lips.
Vs. 11 – Ezra had enough influence in society that he had kings writing him letters. Not only was he a priest but as a scribe, he was also learned in the commandments of the LORD. Not every priest takes their priestly duties seriously but Ezra did, even though he was living in the land of captivity, preparing himself for one day when he would be able to properly perform those priestly duties. Because he was prepared when there seemed to be no way, God was able to use him when the way opened up.
Vs. 12 – Artexerses is called a king of kings and is declaring perfect peace to Ezra. This section leapt out as the words of Jesus spoken prophetically through Artexerses. His name means “I will make the spoiled to boil. I will stir myself in winter.” Food spoils when it is left lukewarm at room temperature. Boiling is HOT and is excellent for killing bacteria. Purifying fires will burn away the chaff and bring forth pure gold. God is going to move dramatically by the end of Winter, which this year ends March 20th, 2019. Exciting times!
Vs. 13 – The decree of invitation has been given to go up to Jerusalem. However, it is ultimately our choice whether we are willing to leave behind the land of captivity and step out into the new land of freedom that requires integrity and wise stewardship, a place that requires accelerated growth triggered by change.
Vs. 14-17 – The King of Babylon freely offered silver and gold as well as the freewill offerings of the people unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem. God dwells in us, therefore Jerusalem is a symbolic picture of our hearts.
Vs. 18 – The expectation is that there will be such an abundance of provision beyond the completion of their task to rebuild the temple, that the King gives permission to use the rest to do whatever seems good to those that go up, as long as it lines up with God’s will.
Vs. 19 – The priests who were departing captivity would be responsible for delivering the vessels given to them in captivity to Jerusalem also, not only themselves. (Cross reference with the good shepherd vs bad shepherd teaching.) They carried the burden of stewardship to ensure each one of those precious vessels would reach their destination also.
Vs. 20 –23 – Ezra was given special access to bestow out of the King’s treasure house. We have heard many prophesies over the last 4 years about God’s storehouses in various fashions (finances, scrolls of mysteries to be revealed, body parts, etc) but seen very little widespread fruit. Is it possible because we have not walked in holiness like Ezra, nor purposed in our hearts to know, do, and teach the Law of God? The least in the Kingdom of heaven, much like any other kingdom on earth, will not have access to the keys of the treasure houses. Ezra was given the king’s authority to ask for and receive of the treasurers beyond the river and expect it to be handed over speedily. The king was fully aware of the consequence of delay would be the wrath of the Most High God and warned of such. Ezra would be blessed in his coming in and his going out as per Deuteronomy 28, because he himself obeyed God’s commandments.
Vs. 24 – How much difference would it make if you didn’t have to pay income tax, GST/HST tax, or tolls? Not only did Ezra have access to whatever he needed, his cost of living was also reduced! Do we really have a grasp at how awesome God’s abundance can be or do we put Him in a box? God is able to do infinitely more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us so that he will receive the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations. (Eph 3:20-21)
Vs. 25-26 – So often Christians are told “Do not judge!” as per Matt 7:1. Due to a lack of understanding, that verse, which means “Do not condemn,” has been slyly used by the devil to convince the church that discernment is bad and disobedience should be tolerated in the name of “loving them.” Nothing is further from the truth! Here Ezra is commanded to set up magistrates and judges across the river – for those who have crossed through the waters of baptism and repentance and into a relationship with the Most High God. It is the fear of the LORD that keeps us joyfully within the boundaries of God’s covenantal laws. And for those who do not obey God’s commandments will suffer swift judgment of death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment. This isn’t just an “old testament thing” because Paul strongly warns in 1 Cor 5:13 to “expel the wicked man from among you” so that the yeast of his sin doesn’t contaminate the rest of the brethren.
Vs. 27-28 – We are so blessed to be living in a season where God is putting in the king’s hearts to beautify the house of the LORD, which has lain in defiled ruins for decades. Now the question is, will we be a part of the exodus from Babylon and return to Jerusalem, to ascend the holy hill with clean hands and pure hearts? Will we be some of the chief men to go up with the company of Ezra’s Modern Day Temple Builders?
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