Ezra 7:1-10 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,… The study of human character and of human life is not only an essential part of human knowledge, but of spiritual culture. Biography is a means of grace. We do well to follow in thought the lines along which the noblest of our race have moved: we are thereby attracted toward them, and grow up toward their spiritual stature. We may learn from the life and character of Ezra by considering - I. WHAT WE KNOW HE WAS AND DID. He was - 1. A priest, claiming descent, as we see, from Aaron (ver. 5); and we doubt not that he discharged, faithfully and conscientiously, the duties of the priesthood. He was, moreover, what came to be called - 2.A scribe (ver. 6), i.e. (1) a student, (2) an interpreter, and (3) a copyist of the law. Ezra "prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach," etc. (ver 10): These three functions of the scribe include the three most important duties a man can undertake: viz., (1) his duty to himself, in studying the will of God as revealed in his word, that he may have it in his own heart; and, (2) his duty to his own generation, in teaching his fellows what he has learned: in interpreting, in "giving the sense" (Nehemiah 8:8), in "teaching statutes and judgments" (ver. 10), i.e. in declaring and enforcing the great truths which God had revealed, especially those which affected the duty and the prospects of the Jewish people; and (3) his duty to his race, in copying, and thus multiplying and preserving intact the word and the very words of God. Ezra "gave his heart" to this (ver. 10), and the result was that he did it with conspicuous and commanding ability (Nehemiah 8). He was a "ready scribe" (ver. 6). 3. Administrator and reformer. He conducted the party whom he headed to Jerusalem in peace and safety (ver. 8); there he established himself as leader of the people, and set about the work of reforming abuses with a vigorous hand. His ardour led to a serviceable organisation and reform. He seems also to have been, as few strong-willed men are, a co-operator with others. He acted with Nehemiah, the governor, and it may well have been difficult to define strictly their respective offices. 4. Man of influence with his fellows. There was that about him, due to the elevation and disinterestedness of his character as well as to the vigour and robustness of his mind, which gave him strange influence with the king, so that he gave him leave to lead out a large return party, and also entrusted him with large powers in the commission. Men who, like Ezra, earnestly seek the will of God and do what they know to be right (ver. 10), and lay themselves out for "doing good and communicating" (Hebrews 13:16), are likely to have power with men. 5. Man through whom God wrought. "The hand of the Lord his God was upon him" (vers. 6, 9, etc.). His soul felt the quickening touch of the Divine finger, and it kindled with a sacred glow of piety and zeal. He was moved of God to attempt great things, and helped of God to achieve them. His life flowed on like a fertilising river, and did so because "all his springs were in God" (Psalm 87:7). Our character may contain much that is excellent, and our lives include much that is honourable, but except the "hand of the Lord our God be upon us," renewing our heart and blessing our life, we shall not be or do that which is pleasing to him or useful to our fellows. II. GENERALLY RECEIVED TRADITION RESPECTING EZRA. It is commonly believed among the Jews that he instituted the Great Synagogue, that he settled the canon of Scripture, that he himself wrote the books of the Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and (perhaps) Esther, and that he established the system of synagogue worship. This last arose about his time, and, if indeed due to him, is a work which laid his countrymen, and indeed us all (for had not the forms of the synagogue something, if not much, to do with the forms of the early Church?), under a heavy debt of gratitude. Ezra was a holy and zealous man, with a strong mind and a firm will, exercising a commanding influence on his contemporaries, making the word of God the basis and mainspring of his action, seeking and striving for the purity of the people of God. Some things he did we know. Others we know not of. We may not be so great and distinguished as he was. It may not be in our power to render such signal services as he did, or to leave behind us such a reputation as he has left. Yet in the essentials of his character and work we may be like him. We also may - (1) Be devout students of God's will as revealed in his word - "preparing our heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it." (2) Open our hearts to receive heavenly influences; gain by humility, docility, and prayer "the hand of the Lord our God upon us," so that he will dwell in us and work through us. (3) Make known the will of God to others, teaching in some sphere, higher or humbler, the word of God and the truth of Jesus Christ. (4) Co-operate cheerfully with others, yielding our preferences to theirs, being "of the same mind in the Lord" with those who are our fellow-labourers in the field of Christian work. And if we do this as did Ezra, we shall, like him, (5) do that which men will mark and praise, but much more that they will not record; much, however, that will not be unwritten in some book of God, and that will "in no wise lose its reward." - C. Parallel Verses KJV: 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, |
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