6 this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted Ezra all his requests, for the hand of the LORD his God was upon him.

7 So in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes, he went up to Jerusalem with some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants.

10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, to practice it, and to teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

— Ezra 7:6-7, 10

This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.

— Joshua 1:8

Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.

— 2 Timothy 2:15

He must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.

— Titus 1:9

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

God confirmed the burden He gave Ezra to return to the land of Israel by moving King Artaxerxes to support his plan. Because the Lord’s hand was upon His servant Ezra, he successfully assembled Israelites, priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, and temple servants to return with him to Jerusalem. The composition of the returning group attests to Ezra’s focus on restoring the spiritual life of His people.

Ezra’s qualifications as Israel’s spiritual leader included more than his bloodline. He served as a teacher of the law of Moses-well-versed in the priorities and practices God designed for Israel’s worship. Even while in exile, Ezra saturated himself in the Old Testament Scriptures. Not only did God’s laws frame Ezra’s own life and thinking, but he also “devoted himself” to teaching God’s laws to His people. When God’s Word frames our thinking, His ways will naturally mold our priorities and impact on others.