STUDY, LIVE, TEACH
Opening Prayer
Loving God, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law” (Psa. 119:18).
Read Ezra 7:1–10
Ezra Comes to Jerusalem
7 After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, 2 the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, 3 the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 4 the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 5 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest— 6 this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him. 7 Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
8 Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. 9 He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. 10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica
Reflect
What does it mean to devotedly study the Word of God?Ezra is a beacon of faithfulness to God. Many generations earlier, his ancestor Aaron, Moses’ brother, was present to see the Law given to the chosen nation, and Ezra is now its champion.
There are three ways Ezra relates to the Law that we are told about in today’s passage. First, Ezra is “well versed” in the Law (6) because he has “devoted himself” to studying it (10). As people of the New Covenant, we live by grace, with the Law written on our hearts and minds by the Holy Spirit (Heb. 10:16). But we are to take the Bible as seriously as Jesus did (Matt. 5:17).
Secondly, Ezra was devoted to the “observance of the Law of the Lord” (10). It wasn’t dry, academic study; it was life-shaping. When we read the Bible, we should be ready to take action in response.
Thirdly, Ezra taught the Law to the people of Israel (6,10). Knowing it and living it, he was able to convey it clearly and persuasively so that it would call an entire culture to worshipful obedience.
Apply
Have you devoted yourself to study the Word? Can you help someone else learn to study the Word? We are called by Jesus to make disciples and teach them to obey everything he commanded.
Closing prayer
God, use me to grow Your kingdom through my understanding and modeling of Your Word.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.