Ezra 7
After 6 chapters and a period of 58 years we finally encounter Ezra, a Jewish priest and scribe living in Babylon. His genealogy reveals a man of importance respected by his fellow Jews as he was descended from Aaron the original High Priest. Apparently he was also held in great esteem by the Persian King Artaxerxes who issued a decree appointing Ezra as the person responsible to him for his affairs among the Jews in Judah. The decree encouraged any Jews who desired to return to their land to do so under Ezra’s leadership. In addition, Artaxerxes' authorized funds and provisions to be given to Ezra to establish religious, judicial and educational systems in Judah in order that he might curry favor with Yahweh.
Ezra was a man of great wisdom, honesty and integrity for he was zealously devoted to the Lord. He knew that the Lord had moved the king to appoint him to lead another group of exiles back to Judah as part of His promise to restore His people to their land. Ezra revealed his personal motivation underlying his decision. He desired to study the Law of God, to apply that teaching to his own life, and then to teach it to others so that they too would know the revealed will of God. Such desires show us the importance of studying scripture. We must learn it so we may practice it in our own lives before we can even begin to think of teaching it to others.
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