Ezra 7:24

Ezra 7:24 says, Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.  All of the people involved in the ministry were exempt from paying taxes, from the greatest to the least.  We know that church property in America is exempt from taxes, but those involved in ministry are not, and sometimes they could use this exemption the most.  At this time, it was good for the king to provide this provision, which prohibited others from taxing them.  

Verse twenty-five adds, And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.   Ezra was empowered to appoint judges and magistrates under the guidance of His God.  Even though not claiming to believe in Ezra’s God, the king acknowledged His wisdom and authority.  We need people in government today who act under the wisdom and power of God.

Verse twenty-six continues, And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.  The king also gave Ezra power to punish those who would not obey God’s law, including the right to impose a sentence of death on them.  Those who call themselves God’s people but refuse to obey His commandments are a threat to all Christians because they may lead them astray as well and therefore must not be ignored.  We as followers of Christ have a responsibility to not allow any false teaching that comes into the church.   

Verse twenty-seven states, Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem:  Ezra now offers thanks and praise to God, giving Him credit for Artaxerxes giving the people of Israel the right and the ability to rebuild the Temple.  When good things happen for us today from whatever source, we must give God the credit.  Everything is His to start with, so whatever we are blessed with comes from Him. 

Verse twenty-eight adds, And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.  Ezra then said that God had strengthened him and had His hand on him as he gathered the chief men of Israel to go with him to do the work.  If we are to be successful in reaching the lost with the gospel today, it must be done under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and we must always give God the credit for any success we have.  Of course, the first step is not to just acknowledge Him as a God, but as the only God, and to make Him your God by accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord.  I know I say this quite often, but it really is the only way to salvation, and until we do accept His gift of salvation, all the studying of the Bible will not help us.