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.

9 He had begun the 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 upon him.

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.

23 Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven must be done diligently for His house. For why should wrath fall on the realm of the king and his sons?

25 And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God, which you possess, are to appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people west of the Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach these laws to anyone who does not know them.

— Ezra 7:6, 9-10, 23, 25

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

King Artaxerxes’s official edict to Ezra, who was to lead a group of Israel exile to the land of Israel, communicated a call to diligent work, faithfulness to “the God of heaven.” And the king’s fear of God’s wrath should his dynasty hinder the work in any way. King Artaxerxes also instructed Ezra to appoint judges to enforce both the laws of God and the king. The king gave Ezra authority to allow those who served in the temple to forgo taxation. He also permitted Ezra to punish rebels by death, banishment, confiscation of their property, and imprisonment.

The king’s edict recognized Ezra as “the priest, a teacher of the Law, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the Lord for Israel.” How did an exiled priest influence this powerful earthly king? Ezra, without question, leaned on God’s wisdom, not his own. The faithfulness God birthed and bolstered within Ezra reaped amazing outcomes. Ultimately, God Himself set His favor upon Ezra and his efforts. God equips people who faithfully study and obey His Word to impact the world in remarkable ways.