Ezra 7:1

Ezra 7:1 says, Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,  These next few verses trace Ezra’s ancestry back to Aaron, the brother of Moses and the chief priest in his day.  We really don’t have to trace our ancestry to any particular person to be a part of the priesthood of believers.  We simply have to be reborn through putting our faith in Jesus Christ, and this is the only relationship that will ever matter.  The next four verses will simply be listed, as they are a list of Ezra’s ancestors.  

Verse two adds, The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,  

Verse three continues, The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,  

Verse four continues, The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 

Verse five concludes. The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:  As already stated, these verses just trace Ezra back to Aaron.  

Verse six says, This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him.   When Ezra went back to Israel from Babylon, he was already a scribe of the law of Moses, or the law which was given to him by God.  Even in captivity, Ezra had studied and followed God’s law.  As followers of Christ, wherever we may be, we must follow God’s law.  He had requested permission to return from the king and had been granted permission to do so.  We must never allow fear of those in power to intimidate us.  

Verse seven adds, And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.  Several other people of Israel, including priests, Levites, singers and porters went with Ezra.  If we do what God has called us to do, we may inspire others to do the same.   

Verse eight continues, And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.  Ezra got to Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.  He had to wait some time before he was allowed to return, but he used the time still serving God.  It may take us awhile to get to where God wants us, but in the meantime, we need to simply keep serving God where we are.  

Verse nine states, For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.  It took Ezra four months to get back to Jerusalem, and we are told that the good hand of His God was upon him.  As Christians, no matter where we are if we are obedient to God, His good hand is going to be on us. 

Verse ten adds, For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.  Ezra set his heart on seeking, keeping, and teaching the Law of God.  This should be our goal as Christians today.  Still, the first thing we must do is accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.