Ezra 7:10 - Setting our Hearts on the Correct Things
Ezra 7:6, 10
“This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all he requested because the hand of the LORD his God was upon him….For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD, and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.”
Background: Israel has been allowed, after a 70-year exile, to return to Jerusalem and Judea during the Persian era. Those who chose to return, came back to a desolate city without walls for protection from enemies. They faced opposition from without, and temptation from within. Ezra had spent his time in exile in study as a scribe – and returned with one of the earlier waves of exiles to assist in rebuilding the city. Ezra called the people to righteousness, leading them to make difficult, national decisions on living a life of holiness before God.
If a book were written about you, where in the book would you be introduced? In my case, I presume chapter #1 would have some sort of narrative about a boy being born to Henry and Carole in 1971 in a dusty, desolate town in northern Montana. In the book of Ezra – we don’t see Ezra until halfway through the book – in chapter 7. It is there that we get the first impression of Ezra.
Verses 6 and 9 (also in Nehemiah 2:18) speak of Ezra’s success because of “the good hand of God” being upon him. Is this something you desire? Does this sound appealing? Verse 10 gives us that first impression of Ezra – a summary of his life – and, I submit, the reason for God’s good hand upon his life.
Ezra had “set his heart.” My son (age 20 of this writing) struggled with math in middle and high school. He didn’t get it, didn’t see the need for it, was constantly frustrated by it. He is a very intelligent young man, but math just ‘wasn’t his thing.’ After a year of college, he found his life purpose – Radiography. In looking at his more advanced coursework, I noticed a few classes of higher-level math. In asking him about these, he confidently told me “I’ll handle the math.” As I witnessed him taking these classes, I saw a different attitude than I saw in High School. He turned off the video games and social media to focus on solving a problem or figuring out a concept. He spent late hours in his studies. What was the change? He had a focus, a motivation, a drive to achieve a goal. He “set his heart” on passing that class. The ‘A’ grade he received showed the results.
What is it that occupies our time and attention? What is it, truly, that we have our hearts set on? For Ezra, the study, practice, and teaching of the law was not a hobby, nor was it a pastime, nor was it merely his profession. His entire life was committed to this end.
Ezra’s heart was set, first, on the study of the law of the LORD. The word “study” indicates a careful search. During the exile, when the trappings and ritual of the temple and sacrificial system were taken away, all Israel had was the Word of God. During the 70 long years of exile, it proved to be enough.
Secondly, Ezra’s heart was set on the practice of the Word of God. Ezra took God’s Word and put it into practice in his life. It took study to know it and understand how it applied to his daily life. Ezra wanted that direction. Study is of no value if there is no application.
Finally, Ezra’s heart was set on teaching the law of the LORD. Much of what the church is about is teaching, mentoring, and discipling. It involves the “training in righteousness” we see in 2 Tim 3:16. I was privileged, early in my adult life, to have some very significant mentors who showed me things about the Spiritual life I needed to learn: how to pray, how to witness, how to memorize Scripture, how to life a consistent life. Ezra took the teaching and practice of the Word and showed plainly to the people how it applied to them in their time – what it meant to them.
As Deacons at FBCW, I would challenge us to diligently seek the “good hand of God” on our lives, both personally and as a Deacon body. We do this by setting our hearts, devoting our entire lives, to the study, practice, and teaching of God’s Word.
“This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all he requested because the hand of the LORD his God was upon him….For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD, and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.”
Background: Israel has been allowed, after a 70-year exile, to return to Jerusalem and Judea during the Persian era. Those who chose to return, came back to a desolate city without walls for protection from enemies. They faced opposition from without, and temptation from within. Ezra had spent his time in exile in study as a scribe – and returned with one of the earlier waves of exiles to assist in rebuilding the city. Ezra called the people to righteousness, leading them to make difficult, national decisions on living a life of holiness before God.
If a book were written about you, where in the book would you be introduced? In my case, I presume chapter #1 would have some sort of narrative about a boy being born to Henry and Carole in 1971 in a dusty, desolate town in northern Montana. In the book of Ezra – we don’t see Ezra until halfway through the book – in chapter 7. It is there that we get the first impression of Ezra.
Verses 6 and 9 (also in Nehemiah 2:18) speak of Ezra’s success because of “the good hand of God” being upon him. Is this something you desire? Does this sound appealing? Verse 10 gives us that first impression of Ezra – a summary of his life – and, I submit, the reason for God’s good hand upon his life.
Ezra had “set his heart.” My son (age 20 of this writing) struggled with math in middle and high school. He didn’t get it, didn’t see the need for it, was constantly frustrated by it. He is a very intelligent young man, but math just ‘wasn’t his thing.’ After a year of college, he found his life purpose – Radiography. In looking at his more advanced coursework, I noticed a few classes of higher-level math. In asking him about these, he confidently told me “I’ll handle the math.” As I witnessed him taking these classes, I saw a different attitude than I saw in High School. He turned off the video games and social media to focus on solving a problem or figuring out a concept. He spent late hours in his studies. What was the change? He had a focus, a motivation, a drive to achieve a goal. He “set his heart” on passing that class. The ‘A’ grade he received showed the results.
What is it that occupies our time and attention? What is it, truly, that we have our hearts set on? For Ezra, the study, practice, and teaching of the law was not a hobby, nor was it a pastime, nor was it merely his profession. His entire life was committed to this end.
Ezra’s heart was set, first, on the study of the law of the LORD. The word “study” indicates a careful search. During the exile, when the trappings and ritual of the temple and sacrificial system were taken away, all Israel had was the Word of God. During the 70 long years of exile, it proved to be enough.
Secondly, Ezra’s heart was set on the practice of the Word of God. Ezra took God’s Word and put it into practice in his life. It took study to know it and understand how it applied to his daily life. Ezra wanted that direction. Study is of no value if there is no application.
Finally, Ezra’s heart was set on teaching the law of the LORD. Much of what the church is about is teaching, mentoring, and discipling. It involves the “training in righteousness” we see in 2 Tim 3:16. I was privileged, early in my adult life, to have some very significant mentors who showed me things about the Spiritual life I needed to learn: how to pray, how to witness, how to memorize Scripture, how to life a consistent life. Ezra took the teaching and practice of the Word and showed plainly to the people how it applied to them in their time – what it meant to them.
As Deacons at FBCW, I would challenge us to diligently seek the “good hand of God” on our lives, both personally and as a Deacon body. We do this by setting our hearts, devoting our entire lives, to the study, practice, and teaching of God’s Word.
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