The return of Ezra
Ezra comes to Jerusalem
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.
Ezra’s ability and character provided even more important credentials for his role as a reformer. He was a well-trained, learned teacher of God’s law. He didn’t just study the law as a scholar, but he observed it as a believing child of God. Ezra was a good teacher because his thorough knowledge and devotion to teaching were coupled with his godly life. He taught others by example as well as by words.
Ezra provides a good example for all of us, whether we teach God’s Word as pastors, Christian elementary school teachers, Sunday school teachers, parents teaching our own children, or Christians teaching our neighbors by our example. To be effective teachers or examples, we need a correct and thorough knowledge of God’s Word. This comes only through the regular lifelong reading and studying of God’s Word. We can never graduate from our need to study God’s Word in daily Bible reading and in regular Bible classes. Yet Bible knowledge by itself is not enough. We need faith and love worked by the gospel. Such love motivates us to try to keep God’s law and to share God’s Word with others. Then we are not only hearers of the Word, but like Ezra, we become doers and teachers as well. May God so bless our study of his Word!
This brings us to Ezra’s most important asset as a helper of God’s people. It is found in the repeated phrase “the hand of the LORD his God was on him.” Ezra had all the credentials and ability, but he could succeed only if God blessed his efforts.
The same is true for us. Our efforts, no matter how wisely planned or how well-intentioned they may be, can only succeed with God’s blessing. We should work hard for the gospel. But we humbly depend upon God to bless our efforts with success through the power of his Holy Spirit.