Ezra 9:9

Ezra 9:9 says, For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.  Ezra said that even though they were bondmen, God had shown them mercy.  God may not always set us free from oppression in the world, but He will always be with us to set us free from the oppression of sin.  Ezra pointed out all that God had allowed them to do to restore the desolation of God's House and repairing the wall of Jerusalem.  The world can never stop us from doing what God empowers us to do. 

Verse ten adds, And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,  Ezra then asked what they could say after forsaking God’s commandments, which had led them into bondage in the first place.  If we find ourselves in the bondage of sin today as followers of Christ, it will be our fault that we are.  We have been set free, so what can we say if sin enters our life again?  All we can do is confess and ask for forgiveness.  Just because we are saved forever does not mean that we can sin with no guilt, and we must acknowledge our guilt and ask for forgiveness.  

Verse eleven continues, Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.  Ezra said the prophets had warned that the land God was giving them had been filled with uncleanness.  They were also commanded to remove all the uncleanness from the land.  

Verse twelve concludes, Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.  They were warned not to allow their daughters to marry the sons of the people there or their sons to marry the daughters of the people there, so that they could be strong, eat the good of the land and leave an inheritance for their children forever, but they had failed to do so.  We must be faithful to God alone, and that starts with accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.

Ezra 9:5

Ezra 9:5 says, And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God,  Ezra had spent the day with a heaviness in his heart and at the evening sacrifice, he got up and having already torn his garment and mantle, he fell on his knees and spread out his hands to God.  We as Christians should have a heavy heart about the condition of the world today, and we need to cry out to God in humbleness.  

Verse six adds, And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. Ezra said he was left blushing when he lifted up his face to God, because of the iniquities and trespasses of the people of Israel.  Since we refer to ourselves as a Christian nation, we should be blushing in shame and praying to God for forgiveness when we are seeing all the iniquity in the world today.  We should never just begin to accept it as normal, nor should we ever let anyone force us to accept what God has declared as sin to be acceptable.  

Verse seven continues, Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.  Ezra said because of the sins of the people of Israel from the beginning, from their kings on down to just the ordinary people, had been delivered into the hands of other nations, once again being a captive people.  If we call ourselves a Christian nation and yet turn away from God’s commandments, we should not expect Him to keep us free forever.  

Verse eight concludes, And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.  Ezra said God had left a remnant by His grace that were going to be allowed to escape from bondage.  We as followers of Christ have already escaped from the bondage of sin, and we are part of the remnant of God’s people today.  We need to thank Him daily and come humbly to Him for guidance and forgiveness if we do sin, and we need to lift up the nation to Him as well.  Of course, as always, it starts by accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.

Ezra 9:1

Ezra 9:1 says, Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.  Even after restoration of the Temple was completed, the people of Israel were still not following God, but were following the abominations of other nations.  Matthew Henry points out that to Ezra, everything looked good, but he was brought news that underneath things were not in accordance with God’s word.  We may have beautiful church buildings today, but if we do not follow the teachings and commandments of God, underneath the beauty is nothing but corrupt worship.  How things look on the outside is not what is important, but it is what is in the heart that really matters.  

Verse two adds, For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.  Those reporting to Ezra said that the people of Israel, even the priests and Levites, had been marrying their sons and daughters to those who were not a part of Israel, though had been told not to do this.  Of course, we don’t marry our sons and daughters to others, as they choose their own spouse, but as followers of Christ, we need to encourage them to marry a Christian.  Yes, a Christian can lead a non-Christian spouse to salvation, but too often it is the non-Christian who will lead the Christian away from obedience to God.  

Verse three continues, And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.  When Ezra heard this, he went into deep mourning, tearing his garment and mantle, plucking the hair off his head and out of his beard, and sitting down astonished.   I am not sure many Cristians today would be willing to go that far if they see something in the church that astonishes them by how wrong it may be.  I believe that too often we allow the things of the world to creep into the church, and when we see this, we are neither astonished nor do we repent.  

Verse four concludes, Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.  Those who trembled at the words of God because of the transgressions of those who had been carried away gathered with Ezra, and he sat astonished until the evening sacrifice.  If we are aware of sinful practices being allowed to go on in the church, we must gather together as believers and ask for God’s forgiveness in the matter and turn away from it and to God and His word.  Of course, the first thing that we must do is come to Jesus Christ and accept Him as our personal Savior and Lord.

Ezra 8:31

Ezra 8:31 says, Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.  Ezra and those going with him to Jerusalem were now on their way.  We may need time to prepare to do what God calls us to do, but eventually we must get underway.  We cannot just spend all our time getting ready.  God was with them and protected them on their journey, just as He is with Christians today on their journey to do what He has called them to do.  

Verse thirty-two adds, And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.  We aren’t told how long the journey took, though Matthew Henry says it took at least four months most likely, and after they got there, they stayed there for three days.  They were probably also getting organized during this time of resting.  If God leads us on a long and difficult journey, we might need a little time to rest and get organized and we might even have to wait for others who have been called to help us.  

Verse thirty-three continues, Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites;  Matthew Henry points out that these men had faithfully transported the silver and gold and the vessels, but were now ready to turn it over to others who would then be responsible for it.  If we are entrusted with the things used in God’s work, we need to be faithful in accounting for it, but we also must be willing t turn it over to others to be used for what God designates it to be used for.  I personally don’t believe that God ever calls on us to just hoard the money or even possessions that He blesses us with, and if we do, they are of no benefit in accomplishing His work.  

Verse thirty-four states, By number and by weight of every one: and all the weight was written at that time.  An accurate account was made of these things, and we as the church today must have people who will give an honest accounting of those things received by the church, and I believe we as individuals must give an honest accounting to God of how we have used the things He has blessed us with.  

Verse thirty-five adds, Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the Lord.  The people who returned from captivity also offered a large feast to God as both a burnt offering and a sin offering.  Matthew Henry says that the twelve bullocks and twelve male goats represented the twelve tribes and the ninety-six rams, or eight times twelve, represented the unity of the tribes.  He did not say what the significance of the seventy-seven lambs represented, but he did bring up that the eleven tribes having been divided were now reunited.  The Levites would have been dispersed between the two groups which made it eleven tribes. 

Verse thirty-six continues, And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.  They delivered the king’s commissions to his lieutenants and governors, and they then furthered the accomplishment of the people of Israel in restoring God's house.   Of course, it all had to start with the people of Israel repenting and returning to God in obedience.  Today, in order to do God’s work, we must come to Him in repentance and accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, and if you haven.t, my prayer as always is that you will do so today.

Ezra 8:24

Ezra 8:24 says. Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,  Ezra began to separate the priests into different divisions.  As a part of the priesthood of believers, God calls us all to a specific purpose, and I believe this will lead us to be organized in doing His work.  I hear people say that they don’t believer in organized religion, and if it is simply religion and not Christ that we are following, then they are right.  If, on the other hand, we are following the leadership of the Holy Spirit, I believe that He will lead us to be organized in our worship and service to Him.  God never left His people disorganized as long as they were following Him, and He still won’t today.  

Verse twenty-five adds, And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered:  Ezra then gave the offerings, the silver, gold, and vessels that had been given, to these priests.  We still need people to be responsible for the things given to God today to ensure that they are used for the purpose that He intends.  

Verse twenty-six continues, I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred talents;  Ezra the begins to list the things given to the priests.  He knew what they were given, and I believe intended to make sure that they didn’t misuse the gifts given to God.  God gives us each at least one gift today as Christians, and I believe He keeps track of how we use it, or them if we have been given more than one.  

Verse twenty-seven concludes, Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.  This verse just lists the rest of the things entrusted to the priests.  God knows everything He gives to each Christian today, and as a part of the priesthood of believers, we are charged with using whatever gift He give us for His glory, as just discussed.  

Verse twenty-eight states, And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the Lord; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the Lord God of your fathers.  Ezra told them that they were holy to God, or set apart from the world, and that these vessels were also holy, and the silver and gold were freewill offerings from the people to be used under the guidance of God.  I believe that everything we have as Christians should be dedicated to God and used for His work as He leads us to do so.  We cannot make offerings to God, which really, we are free to do or not and then expect it to be used only as we think it should be.  What we freely give, we should give up control of, as long as we know that we have given it to those who God has placed in charge in His church.  If they then misuse it, that is between God and them.  We can never make what we want it to be used for the determining factor in how it is used.  

Verse twenty-nine adds, Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the Lord.  They were charged with keeping these gifts safe until they brought them to the chief priests and Levites in Jerusalem.  Once more, I will state that we must keep the things given to God safe until they can be used for His work and glory by those He has called to be in charge of them.  

Verse thirty continues, So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.  They took possession of these gifts to take them to Jerusalem to be used in the house of God.  Whether we are the giver or receiver of things given to God, we must make sure that they are used for His purpose.  Of course, we must first give ourselves to God through a personal relationship with God through putting our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord. 

Ezra 8:21

Ezra 8:21 says, Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.  Ezra proclaimed a fast at the river Ahava so that the people of Israel who were returning to Jerusalem to repair the Temple might afflict or humble themselves before God.  If we are looking to God for help in any situation, we need to first humble ourselves before Him.  I personally have never fasted for religious purposes but should be willing to if the Holy Spirit leads me to do so, but even more than that, I need to always be willing ot humble myself before God.  I have known some people who took pride in fasting, and I believe that when they do, they defeat the whole purpose of fasting.  It should never be done to bring attention to ourselves in my opinion.  Ezra said this fast was proclaimed to seek God's guidance for all of the people, including their little ones and all their substance.  We need to seek God’s guidance in all that we do and for the use of all that He blesses us with, especially for our children.  

Verse twenty-two adds, For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.  Ezra said he was ashamed to require protection from the king when he had proclaimed the power of God over everything.  He said God’s hand was on those who sought Him to bring good to them and on those who didn’t seek His will to bring evil to them.  We as followers of Christ too often look to the government to help us instead of looking to God I believe.  Maybe we like Ezra should be ashamed when or if we do.  We need to put our faith in God to provide for our needs no matter what is happening in the world.  

Verse twenty-three continues, So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.  The people fasted and entreated God as they sought His protection as Ezra had instructed them to do, and so should we today.  

Ezra 8:16

Ezra 8:16 says, Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.  Ezra had the means to do the work on the Temple, but he lacked any Levites, the priesthood tribe to do the work, so he began to assemble the chief men of Israel together, and they were also known to be men of understanding.   He called eleven men to him, which I assume represented the tribes of Israel, minus the Levites.  As Christians, though we may come from different families, we need to be united in doing God’s work today.  We also need to be known as people of wisdom and understanding, which can only come from God.  God’s work is before us today, but the laborers are few.  Verse seventeen adds, And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.  Ezra sent these men to Iddo, who was the head of a school of Levites at Casiphia, according to Matthew Henry.  They were training but weren’t in any hurry to go and do the work evidently.  We need to put doing what God has called us to do ahead of training today.  This is not to say that training or education is unimportant, but if we train and are unwilling to go and do the work when called, it is of little value.  Verse eighteen continues, And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;  About forty Levites came back with them, specifically Mahli the son of Levi and Sherebiah with his sons and brethren, of which there were eighteen.  This made up half of the forty.  Ezra said that by God’s grace Mahli was a man of understanding.  True understanding, or wisdom must come from God, and we should expect church leaders to be filled with understanding from God.  Of course, as followers of Christ and a part of the priesthood of believers, we should also be filled with knowledge and understanding from God.  Verse nineteen states, And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;  Hashabiah and Jeshaiah also came and brought twenty men with them, making up the rest of the forty plus Levites.   Matthew Henry says they were willing to go but were reluctant to work.  Unfortunately, some people are still that way today, wanting the prestige of a position in the church more than they want to do the work,  Verse twenty adds, Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.  Of the Nethinims, who had been appointed by David to serve the Levites, there were two hundred and twenty who came to help.  This was over five times as many as there were Levites.  Matthew Henry says that although lowlier in the eyes of the world, they were much more ready to work, and sometimes today those who are viewed as lowly by the world are still more ready to do God's work.  Of course, they had to first respond to the call from God through Ezra, and we today in order to be a part of God’s kingdom and work must first respond to the call by the Holy Spirit to come to Him by putting our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.