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August 5, 2022
Revelation, Study Subjects, Uncategorized

A New Home Study Scripture: Revelation 21: 1 – 9 Background Scripture: Revelation 21: 1 – 27 Hebrews 12:22-29 Lesson 10 August 5, 2022 Key Verse He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. Revelation 21:4 INTRODUCTION The vast majority of humankind experiences a longing for ‘home’ whenever they are away, no matter how humble or even how dangerous ‘home’ might be. There is an innate sense of belonging that tugs at our hearts and gives us a yearning for home. At some point in the Christian-life believers begin to appreciate that they are in fact pilgrims and aliens on this earth. This is so because the congregation of God defines “home” as being with God. True believers are for the present away from “home” in the fullest sense, and eventually they begin to long to be with Jesus in their new home. This ‘home’ is specifically described for us in our Study, for it is a real place, with the real God. A large part of the concept of home revolves around the idea of relationships between those living in a common place and comprising a family. This more so for Christians, for the supreme blessing of our new ‘home’ is that God will dwell among His people and we will experience an intimate fellowship with Him, beyond anything previous. Heaven will be most of all, being in the presence of God. (Ezek 37:27; 48:35). With this thought care must be exercised for the message of Revelation in chapter 21 is not what people have always been taught would be the case. In Revelation 21 people do not go to heaven which is “up there” as most people have been taught but rather that God intends to come down to earth to dwell with the human beings that are in His family. The new Jerusalem will descend from heaven for God intends to make His home among His people. Note that we are entering into a very complex world where there is much academic and non-academic scholarship because many people have heard about Revelation and its discussion about the end times. There are very many fanciful interpretations of the end times and there are many who think that they know everything about it, producing all kinds of charts, strong and powerful lectures and so on. But these are generally very incorrect in parts. Human beings nowadays proudly seem to think that they have a handle on prophecy and they ignore the fact that the ancient Israelites who were deeply involved in studying the Scriptures made many mistakes in their interpretations. We are falling into the same trap that they did and we are making the same basic mistakes that they made for we have as human beings very limited understandings of the things of God. When God comes with the new Jerusalem there is no prediction about the end times, no rapture, no punishment, for God comes to the home of humanity to live with His people. It is critical that we understand that Revelation presents ideas that are very contrary to those in our contemporary world where people try to predict the end of the world. So we are talking about a worldview that is different from that in Scripture. We should recognize that Jerusalem has been the focus of Jewish identity, faith and hope, and all their dreams and aspirations will be fulfilled but the Apostle John tells us that Jerusalem will manifest the election of a New People and a New Covenant. It is now the case with the New Creation that God Himself will have His presence and His hand upon everything and therefore we know that this New Home will be a home like no other. Very importantly, in addition to all this, is that the New Creation is formed by God’s direct speech and after this New Creation begins God says, ”See I am making all things new”. The New Creation must totally replace the painful world and its deadly disease of anger, sickness, evil, revenge, exploitation, rape and abuse of the weak and vulnerable. Note however that we who claim to be believers are called on to make a choice. Believers are called on to be on the side of God and to be part of the new creation. Believers must make the choice to turn to God or if they wish to be destroyed to turn to the world. Turning to the world will lead unbelieving people and the fearful and cowardly unbelieving people who say they are Christians who focus on entertaining people rather than offering them new life in Christ to shape up or else. The worldviews presents two choices. The worldview sponsored by the world blinds people now living the same way that the people that are referred to as living in the system of Babylon found themselves blinded during the time of the Apostle John. Believers are therefore warned and at the same time encouraged. One writer states: “Revelation challenges all Christian not to settle into the contemporary global empire but to have a working understanding of a new heaven and new earth”. The choice is a serious one that has to be made by all professing believers. Life will reflect the truth inside you. Life must reflect the truth inside all believers. The nature of God is so glorious, that by definition, being with Him involves being in a place that is grand or palatial beyond our wildest dreams and our Study will look at such a place, the ‘New Jerusalem’. Hopefully we will begin to understand that it is all that we can imagine and more, according to John. Our discussion of Heaven is designed to make us understand that our destination is well worth the pain and suffering that we are now experiencing. We will see that the travails of living a transformed ‘born again’ life, is a small price to pay for the “guaranteed” glory that awaits us. The record of Scripture goes full circle, all the way from the perfection of the Garden of Eden, the sin of man that ruined it all, to the New Heaven and the New Earth, a state even more glorious than that of the Garden of Eden. This Study will hopefully make clear that Satan is a tempter, that everything he offers is a fraud and an illusion. Our conceptions of eternity fall far short of what the Bible tells us about our ‘home’. In our present bodies of sin we cannot fully understand, or appreciate, or even long for our real “home” the way we should. It is described in terms which seem almost inconceivable. Every single human writer of Scripture who has attempted to describe Heaven and our new Home, has been clearly frustrated. They were mere humans, they could not properly depict this new dimension of existence. So we are always told, this thing in heaven is like this, or has the appearance of that. None of them seem to have a firm handle on things. This should give added impetus to the diligence we must employ in our discussion about Heaven and our new Home, as its existence and character is vital to our faith. Our hope is based on being with Jesus in our new Home. This is the ground of our faith. This is not to deny that the fear of hell and eternal torment should be an incentive for us to turn to God, but as Hebrews 11: 13-16 tells us about the people of God who went before us, this type of fear was not what motivated them: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” In order that we might properly understand and appreciate our New Home, we should first look at that other ‘city’, the other ‘home’ that the Apostle has told us about. This other City is full of enticements. Under its beautiful covering is a bewildering morass of sin. It is called Babylon, the “mother of harlots” and it exists to cover the deadly nature of sin. Revelation 17:1-6 describes this for us, and shows us that Babylon represents undiluted evil, a concentration of wickedness and corruption. It enticed all men throughout the entire human history by: -sexual passion and pleasure -the love of and desire for power -the intoxication of alcohol, drugs and anything else which take men into an altered state of consciousness, allowing them to escape into fantasy and away from God – attractive clothing, gold, precious stones and things that inculcate in men and women an excessive concern to adorn themselves and draw attention to themselves -a horrible mixture and array of perversions and violence which men find attractive. Note that this City and ‘home of perversion and filthiness’ is beautiful and attractive in its own way. It looks beautiful, offers power, escape into fantasy and allows men to do outrageous things. Rather than beauty and opportunity, chapter 18 reveals the real condition of the ‘harlot’ and note her real destiny. The great prostitute is sitting on a scarlet colored anime, full of blasphemous names, having 7 heads and 10 horns (17: 3) symbolizing 7 kings and 10 kings who will war against the Lamb. But the Lamb will overcome them for he is Lord of lords and King of Kings. Note also that these 10 kings will overcome those that are with the Lord Jesus Christ, called and chosen and faithful (1714), But this woman who has on her forehead MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH will with her colleagues have an end. We are not ignorant of what will happen to them for John was told about Mystery Babylon and her colleagues: “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is”. The ‘city’ or Babylon is indwelt by demons, every unclean spirit and all the forces of darkness, (Revelation 18:1-2). This harlot system says nothing about God’s justice, the inevitability of His judgments nor the eternal and bitter torment that awaits all who practice rebellion and wickedness. So we cannot stress too much that that ‘home’ or ‘city’ only offers valueless things, things that will be wiped out, rejected by God, discarded as useless and thrown away. The possessors of the things cherished in Babylon will lament. All that ‘city’ offers is a deception; it’s demonic and it is filthy. We start from the understanding that the future ‘home’ of the people of God is all that the harlot’s City of Babylon is not and more. Our Study contains the ultimate good news for all Christians; the tabernacle of God is with men…God will be with His people in a special way. This fellowship existed in a limited sense with Adam in the Garden of Eden, with the Israelites in the ‘Tabernacle in the wilderness’ and then in the Temple, hence the reference to the Tabernacle (13:6; 15:5). It also existed partially when Jesus “tabernacled” (“dwelt”) among people (John 1:14, 18; Col. 2:9). It exists today in a spiritual sense as God inhabits the bodies of Christians individually (1 Cor. 6:19-20) and the church corporately (Eph. 2:21-22). The final scenes of Revelation unveils the ‘eternal state’ which is the last of the ‘last seven’ things, (chapters 21-22) and it is a natural culmination to God’s plan for the universe and mankind, coming as it were after the ‘Great White Throne Judgment’. All accounts have been settled and the ‘curse’ pronounced in the Garden of Eden has been lifted. The scenes depicted in chapters 21 and 22 are the zenith of God’s great plan for His creation. They are a fitting end, a climax and a grand finale, as John saw the ‘New Heaven’, the ‘New Earth’ and the ‘New Jerusalem’; John saw our ‘new home’. John deals with the origin, architect and builder (vs. 1-2). When a declaration is made that God will be with His people and be their God (v3-4) the language is reminiscent of that used in His covenant with Abraham, with David, and in the ‘New Covenant”. This will be the ultimate fulfillment and consummation of those promises and as far back as Abraham, our New Home occupied the mind of God’s people. The notion of actually being with God in a concrete sense should be a constant in the thought of every believer. More so because it is the very presence of God among His people that guarantees their eternal happiness and bliss and the banishment of even a trace of sin. The Scriptures exhort us to such an end and the thought itself has a cathartic effect on the soul, (1 John 3:1-3) right now in the present. There will be no trace of sin or any of its ugly effects (vs. 4); no pain, sorrow or death. Believers along with the entire creation yearn for such a time and place. The renewed physical universe will be pristine in its purity, as the sovereign Lord of the Universe, the Alpha and Omega emphatically makes it happen for believers. All that believers could possibly desire will be satisfied in the freely given ‘water of life’. John is instructed to officially record what he saw and the scenes are to be considered accomplished, in light of the One making the declarations. Conversely recalcitrant and incorrigible sinners will be barred and have their place in the ‘lake of fire’ and this also at the edict of the sovereign Lord. All non-believers and those who rejected Jesus Christ go to their place in the ‘Lake of Fire’. Those whose names are in the ‘Book of Life’ inherit the ‘New Earth’ and the ‘New Jerusalem”. The book is closed on sin and rebellion against God and our Study opens a new and eternal chapter of glory and bliss for those that ‘overcome’. THE TEXT We must now note that chapters 21 and 22 contain almost all the Bible records concerning the Eternal State, the time when time will be no more in existence. The Old Testament prophecies picture a time of great blessing and refers to a Thousand Year reign of the Lord which comes before this last great event. Very little is said in the Old Testament about Heaven. But here we are told that following the Great White Throne Judgment which John records in chapter 20 an entire new creation comes into being. We are no brought full-circle to the beginning of the Bible again for in Genesis 1: 1 we were told:” In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”. But now we are told that a new heaven and a new earth are coming. Verse 1. The ‘new heaven and new earth’ is a term for the universe (Gen.1:1) as a whole and might refer to a radically transformed and made-over earth and heavens. Some believe that the present earth and heavens will not be annihilated. They argue that the word for ‘new’ means recently made, fresh, recent and that the emphasis is on the qualitative difference between the old and new. As with much in the Book of Revelation, there are some differences of opinions among scholars as to whether or not the present earth is completely destroyed or it will just experience a radical transformation. Some are quite passionate in arguing that the world will never be destroyed but will be “remade”. We should be aware that there are Scriptures such as Luke 21:33 where Jesus says that heaven and earth shall pass away but His words will live forever. 2 Peter 3:10-13 also seems quite emphatic when he says: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” Psalm 102:25-28 states: “Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.” ….“The children of thy servants shall, and their seed shall be established before thee.” (See Isa.65:17). Either way the result is a dramatic change in quality from one level to a higher form. This habitation of the people of God, given their ‘glorified’ bodies, will be heavenly and perfectly suited as the heavenly City of God, the new Jerusalem. …the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; (Matt. 24:35). Paul employs similar language in 2 Corinthians 5:17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new (kainos) creature: old things are passed away (parerchomai); behold, all things are become new. Paul did not mean extinction or annihilation, but transformation. On the other hand, it is pointed out that the ancient Hebrew word in the Old Testament passages used for “create” means “to create out of nothing”, instead of refashioning existing material. In any case, the heavens and earth will be radically different and gloriously reborn. It’s worth remembering that the ‘New Heaven’ referred to doesn’t mean the heaven where God is enthroned. The Bible uses the word heaven in three senses. The first heaven is the earth’s atmosphere, the “blue sky.” The second heaven is outer space, the “night sky.” The third heaven is the place where God lives in glory. When the Scriptures speak of a ‘new heaven’, they mean a new “blue sky” and a new “night sky,” not a new heaven where God dwells. …and there was no more sea. This is a curious statement which some suggest should be understood symbolically. They cite the negative image of the sea in the book: the origin of evil (12:18; 13:1); (2) the nations that persecute the saints (12:18; 13:1; 17:1-6), (3) the place of the dead (20:13); (4) the location of the world’s idolatrous trade activity (18:10-19). It was also seen as a menacing barrier, a likely grave for those who braved it and a separator of people groups and nations. John would have been painfully aware of this view given his exile on the island of Patmos. In other places the sea represents the disorder, violence and unrest that mark the present creation (Ps 107:25-28; Isa. 57:20; Ezek 28:8). Here the sea is a metaphor for that which spawns and facilitates evil and is necessarily not part of the new order. Another view sees such a radical change in the elements, that there would be no need for water which presently occupy over seventy percent of the earth’s surface. It is also argued that the sea, which is highly saline and which covers more than half the planet, is God’s great antiseptic to cleanse the earth and make life possible. It is felt that the ocean purges, preserves and cleanses. But in the new heaven and new earth that will not be necessary for there will be no pollution. Verse 2. The ‘old’ is passed away and John sees the ‘new’. The first feature of the New Jerusalem is its character; it is called ‘the holy city’. It is set apart for the people of God and nothing that defiles can enter. This is in sharp contrast to the earthly Jerusalem which has existed from the book of Genesis through the ‘Tribulation’ period and which is called Sodom and Egypt (Rev.11:8) and offended God on all fronts. The city is not only new, but it is holy and clearly different from every earthly city. Despite the striking differences between the ‘old’ and the ‘new’ there is still some correspondence, if only in name. This is the Jerusalem of hope (Hebrews 12:22), the Jerusalem above (Galatians 4:26) and the place of our real citizenship (Philippians 3:20). The concept of a holy city, the New Jerusalem, is very different from the ‘ultimate cities’ of other religions. This is certainly not the Hindu “Nirvana”, a rather ‘blank’, vague, mystical, other worldly kind of existence. This is a place of bustling activity, people going in and out, people interacting with each other constantly, an exciting life. It is definitely not as other religions teach. As one writer notes: “It is no ‘flight of the alone to the Alone’ but life in the redeemed community of Heaven.” This is a place for people to be together, and to be with their God. It is a city, not a limited community with few people, for cities are places to where many people come, live, and enjoy themselves. This is not isolation. The ‘New Jerusalem’ descends out of heaven from God and so it is essentially a heavenly city. This means that many of its features are not going to be like anything on earth. The stress is that it is from God and stands in contrast to Babylon whose architect is Satan. This is why Jesus made the following statement. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. The city is said to be ‘prepared’, the same word that Jesus uses, (John14:2). This is the city Jesus is preparing for His ‘friends’. The meticulous planning and care, the desire to please that is so typical of a bride preparing for her husband gives only an inkling of the love and care Jesus employs in creating our final home. Its splendour is beyond imagination, seeing it is the city of the Eternal King. John sees the city in a descent to the earth and there is much speculation about whether or not this is a literal city. The latter verses of this chapter seem to be the description of a real place and Christians are certainly looking for a real future home. The author of Hebrews speaks of the heavenly Jerusalem as the abode and hope of the saints (Heb. 12:22-24). The bride and husband imagery speaks to the idea of consummation and unbroken intimacy. The figure of the bride stresses the permanence of our eternal home, the same as marriage is designed to be permanent. As a bride is beautifully adorned and decked-out for her wedding, so this city is striking and beautiful. As a bride is to be chaste or pure, so too this is a holy and pure city. This is clearly a perfect city. Interestingly the city is described in the same language as the redeemed church, both are said to be the bride of Christ. Note that this is totally unlike the harlot city of Babylon. Verse 3. And I heard…is a phrase that has so far in the vision been followed by some important declaration and in this case, likely the most profound proclamation is made. …the tabernacle of God… “Tabernacle” stands for “dwelling place, a place of abode,” or of one’s “personal presence.” The deepest longing of the Christian heart is to be with the Lord; this is the crown jewel of all that the saints have been promised and this is what John hears in this verse. God will be with His people in the fullest sense. Note the thought is repeated in this same verse for emphasis. “God Himself shall be with them” (Isa.7:14). Our bodies should shake with delight when we read about our Savior being with us in an intimate and present relationship. Now we begin to understand a little better why one name for Jesus is “Emmanuel” which of course literally means “God with us”. This is when the implications of that Covenant name will be fulfilled. This also of course reminds us of God’s statement about his people in Jeremiah 24:7. “they shall be His people,” is the result of His presence among them. This news depicts the most intimate and close fellowship with God in a perfect and unbroken way and on a face-to-face basis. The relationship and fellowship will far exceed the knowledge of His presence and ‘indwelling’ which believers can know today. God will be openly and visibly in our midst, personally ministering to our needs. Now note that this will be an eternal Sabbath since the Lamb of God of God is going to be with His people physically and spiritually. We meet God in a special sense on the Sabbath, the 7th day as God is established it, but now we will be meeting with Him at all times. So the Sabbath has a very deep meaning for it was a time when men would rest from their labors and commune with God. Now the full meaning of the Sabbath will be evident. We wish that people would enjoy it now and bask in the fellowship that they have with God on this special day that God has created. This brings us to the reason why God created man. He created man in His own image and likeness and He certainly went far beyond what the angels expected that He would do to save man. The essence of God’s desire was that He create man in order that they would live in close fellowship with Him and have a special and unique kind of relationship. So we read that in the Garden of Eden the Lord God walked in the garden in the cool of the day, giving man the extremely high privilege of companionship. This led the psalmist to ask “What is man that thou art mindful of him?” So now we see the culmination of God’s desire. We will definitely need to be in our ‘glorified bodies’ to be part of this scene and until then the full scope of all this is beyond our comprehension. “But just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9). The language is similar to that used in the unconditional Covenants and here we have the ultimate expression of those promises. It was to Abraham, David and Jesus God promised would be His sons and He would be their God individually. Verse 4. Here we have the results of God being with us summarized in the absence of the effects of the curse from the Garden of Eden. All that is mentioned here is as a result of Adam’s sin. In the ‘eternal state’ there is not a whiff of sin or any of its effects, the former things… the old world and its order. In fact, “the former things’ shall not be remembered or come to mind” (Isa. 65:17). We gain more in Jesus than we ever lost in Adam. God’s visible and personal presence among His people will banish any possibility of unhappiness. Pain, sorrow and misery are to some degree the experience of most people, even true believers. Of course, the more we walk with the Lord and rest in His goodness and care, the greater our peace and joy even under extreme pressure, but even then, there will still be pain. The emphasis is on the comfort of God and not on any kind of remorse on the part of the saints. The thrust of these verses is that it is God’s visible and personal presence that gives this perfect happiness and blessing and not simply the removal of the sources of our problems. Note the personal nature of the language. We are told that God Himself will personally do a series of actions that will “wipe away” every tear from the eyes of His people. So the sorrows and troubles that we have, the worries about what we will remember, and what we won’t, the things that we think that if we regard them in heaven we will cry, all these God will take away. The Text indicates that there will be no tears shed in heaven the presence of God, whether from our past failures, or from the failures of others that we know. God’s comfort will have made everything new. There will be no remorse in the New Heaven and the New Earth. All hello, yeah you again soon Verse 5. Behold…calls attention to an important pronouncement; God will bring a new creation into existence. John is to note and pay attention to the fact that only God, the One sitting on the throne, can make all things new. Fittingly it is the Sovereign Lord that is in view, since ‘new creation’ is in view. Creation is the personal province of God. I make… (I am making.) This is so certain that it can be viewed as already being in progress. One scholar comments on the implications of this: “Now, “the voice out of the throne”. Three times God speaks, “And he who sits on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new”. What a magnificent statement that is: “I am making”, a divine word, “I am making all things” not some things “all things”. Another test, another reference to his deity or the attestation of it. And then, “I am making all things new”. Only God can do that. This is a divine utterance of divine authority and power. You go over the book of Revelation, and I’ll put it all together really quickly. On us there is a new name, in us a new song, around us in new Jerusalem, under us a new earth, over us a new heaven, before us always new revelations of the never- ending love of God. And go back to the great events of salvation history and in each 1 of them, from the creation on through to the cross, the burial, the resurrection, and the Second coming, always new revelations of the never- ending love of God: “I make all things new”. Write carries the sense of urgency and importance, do it now! The command is underlined with the assurance; the words are faithful and true. John is probably so astounded by these words that he forgot to write and must be told to do so. We note that he has already tried to worship angels. This is a great and important matter for the people of God and is recorded so that it could be kept forever in our consciousness. Since these events will take some time to occur, it would be necessary for people to have this word from God and be able to read it, memorize and continually talk about it. Obviously it is inconceivable that God would ever instruct that something be written and then ever backs away from it; so we have the fullest assurance of its truth and certainty. Verse 6. “It is done”. One writer comments in part on this phrase as follows: “It means, “to come into being, happen, become.” Depending on the context, it may mean, “be made, done, performed, etc.” The perfect may be used to emphasize the accomplishment of something from which a present state emerges (consummative perfect) or it may stress the results, the present state accomplished by the past action (resultative perfect). It would seem that the context supports the new creation. This is the view of the NIV Bible Commentary which says, “Using the same word that declared the judgment of the world finished, God proclaims that He has completed His new creation: ‘It is done’” (cf. 16:17). Though the new creation is still in the future, these words solidly affirm the creation of all things new as though already accomplished. And what’s the basis of this? The sovereign independence and eternality of God as the Alpha and Omega, the first and last word on all things”. God’s eternal purpose in Jesus is now accomplished. … that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth; in Him (Eph. 1:10). At this point, all things have been resolved or “summed up” in Jesus; it is done! All things are now new, the plan is complete, there is no more sin. Redeemed man is now in possession of more than Adam had. …him that is a thirst…speaks metaphorically to God’s ability to overwhelmingly meet the deepest needs of his people. Drinking and thirst are common pictures of God’s supply and man’s spiritual need. …him…these would be those who recognize their need, the spiritually paucity of their soul and come to Christ as the source of the water of life”, ( John 4:10; 7:37-39; Isa. 55:1). It is also the gospel message, a gracious (freely) offer of salvation to unbelievers. “the fountain of the water of life”… ultimately refers to the complete satisfaction of life that will come to the child of God in the eternal state. The people of God have been given the title of the sons of God and are now into their inheritance. Whatever God has is now made available to them freely and forever. Verse 7. A full inheritance is promised to the one who overcomes, all the blessings of the new creation. The ‘overcomers’ are those who quench their thirst by simple faith in Christ and as a result become God’s sons. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4-5). Yet another special promise is made to the overcomer; he will have complete and unbroken fellowship with God. Note, all of God’s people, Old and New Testament saints alike, will inherit the blessings of the eternal state, nothing will be lacking. “I will be his God and he will be My son’ is also found in 2 Sam 7:14. There it was addressed to Solomon, King David’s son and was a key component of the ‘Davidic covenant’. It was a statement of singular honor, that signified a special, intimate relationship that included privilege and ruling authority. This covenant had its ultimate fulfilment in Jesus. Verse 8. A striking contrast to the ‘overcomers’ are those in this list of the excluded. There is a certain finality in these verses; this is the final state for the creation, the redeemed, their relationship with God and all that pertains to true believers. Likewise, the lake of fire is the final state for all those who rejected God. They are characterized as the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters and all liars. This is not a list of those who occasionally commit sin of whatever stripe but concerns the eternal sinfulness of unbelievers. These are terminal cases. They outright reject Jesus and thus seal their fate. Jesus spoke to this condition: Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins”, John 8:24. Unbelievers die in a state of sinfulness, forever they remain sinners in God’s eyes and are consequently barred from the ‘new creation and consigned to the lake of fire. Believers, on the other hand do not remain in a state of sinfulness because they are justified by faith: “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin” (Rom. 4:8; Rom. 8:33-34). This verse brings us to the attitude of the reluctant judge. God outlines for us three attitudes that come from our hearts and which will make men miss this beautiful city. It is these three attitudes that lead to the visible deeds which characterize those that are lost. First he talks about the cowards. They come first on the list. They chose self and safety in the system of Babylon. They do not want to take on the yoke of Christ but like the wicked servant was afraid to work for their God. They feared to confess that Jesus was Lord and would not follow the example of Zacchaeus the publican (Luke 19:1-10). Next on the list comes the unbelieving. They know that the gospel message is true, for God has built that recognition into their conscience, but they don’t want to hear from Christ and refuse to pay attention to the evidence. They turn their backs on the truth. The next attitude of heart is directed to the vile or the abominable. They are literally “foul”, and so they live on filthy literature, actions, and things. Given this attitude of heart, it is logical that the other wicked and contemptible acts follow. They would be murderous, for there is no love in their heart. They would follow after harlots, practice fornication and adultery, immerse themselves in occult practices and witchcraft, calling on demons to help them achieve the desires of their flesh. Since they reject the true God they would be idolaters, either placing themselves or Satan on the throne of their lives. Since they do not know the truth they would be liars and all die in a state of sinfulness and forever remain sinners. They would die a natural death, but afterwards they would experience the agonies and terrors of the ‘second death’, to die and to be always dying in torment. Verse 9. We are now introduced to one of the 7 angels who had poured out the 7 bowls filled with the last plagues on the harlot city of Babylon. It is therefore clear that John and the angel are making an intentional contrast between Babylon the Great which had fallen because of the last plagues and the new city of God which the angel will now show to John. This is now God city and the city is described as a bride of the Lamb. Babylon was a earthly, satanic and as one writer said an illegitimate city. In contrast this city is the heavenly city, the divine city, the ideal city. Now John will be taken to see that New Home that God had always intended man, and we now address all believers, to have. CONCLUSION In view of this we must call on ourselves to pay the price now and book our ticket for our final destination. The cost of not booking our destination now will be too high. There will be too much misery for the dammed. What is worse is that the damned will know that they and they alone have prepared themselves for their torment because of their sins. John’s vision of our eventual destiny should be a great comfort to Christians. We know that Jesus has conquered death and is even now preparing a place of unimaginable bliss for His people. There is no need for Christians to fear death, as it is only an experience on our way to our ‘new home’. Let us live in the knowledge of the security of our new home, pursue the kingdom of God and pray for its coming. Let us also seek to be faithful in the present, serving in society as salt and light and striving to lead others to Jesus, who is life, peace and blessing. Heaven or the lake of fire awaits every person. Trust in the finished work of Christ to secure your home in the New Jerusalem and spend eternity with God. He is waiting for you. God the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, and the angels are beckoning you to come to your new Home.

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February 11, 2022
Ezra, Study Subjects, Uncategorized

LAW AND ORDER Law and Order Study Scripture: Ezra 7:1 – 10, 23 – 26 Background Scripture: Ezra 7 Lesson 11 February 12, 2022 Key Verse For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. Ezra 7:10 INTRODUCTION Our Study Scripture and Lesson raises several issues for our consideration. It points out the need for skill, focus, determination, and the giving of priority required of those teaching the word of God. God calls different people with different skills and different levels of education and focus to work in His kingdom but it is clear that some situations require specific skills which God will provide to those He has called. In order to remove any sense of pride in those who are working for God Scripture tells us that those who are in positions of teaching are going to be judged more than other saints for the teachings in their work must reflect in their lives. It is clear therefore that it is not just a matter of using words when one teaches but it is a matter of action, showing an example to others in one’s personal life. That is exemplified in our Study today. The real issue is that when one serves for the Lord God Almighty servants are dependent on Him for His blessing for human beings are totally inadequate to meet the demands which must be met. Scripture notes God blessed all His servants, men such as Abraham, Joseph, Jacob, and David. In our Study Lesson today we see another man whom God blessed and we can see how he taught and lived and how he accomplished what appears to be an overwhelming task. In our Study Chapter therefore we see that Ezra this skillful priest and scribe was clear in where his strength came from. He advises us that if we want to have God bless us we must study the word of God so that the good hand of God would be upon that person. So we read: “For Ezra had sent his heart to study the law of God, and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel”. In addition then our Lesson intends to teach us that studying the Law of God is essential if one wants to serve God and be blessed by Him. Then with the good hand of God on such a person the teaching of the Law of God must be aimed at glorifying God for everything. This teacher must practice what is taught in the Law of God. But there are several other important lessons for the people of God for we will see in this Study how God influenced the policy established by a pagan king and his advisors and how it benefited the people of God. It is therefore important to know that national policy in different kingdoms all fit eventually with God’s interests. Though there are many people in pagan courts and in courts that do not accept the law of God their concerns will be made by God to fit with the concerns of God. No believer therefore has to fear that they can live and work to establish the wishes of God no matter what their situation is. We see this exemplified in the life of Joseph in Egypt, in the life of Daniel and his friends in Babylon, in the life of Nehemiah in the Persian royal court, and now in the life of Ezra. We therefore cannot ever use the excuse that we have to succumb to the pressure on us from unbelievers who are in control of essential areas of our lives. We have been given the wisdom and the protection and the blessing of God, and we know that God’s will, in due time will prevail. Scripture assures us that the wrath of men will praise the Lord and the remainder of wrath He will restrain. Even though Jews were in captivity they managed to reach positions that were highly regarded in these several pagan unbelieving Royal Courts. They certainly seemed to have use their influence to advance the wishes of God. God was with them in all that they did to advance His interests. Our Lesson Study accordingly presents the Scribe and teacher Ezra as a model on how to develop to be a good teacher of the Word, how to teach, what to teach, and what to DO. If we today want the good hand of the Lord to be with us, and if we really want to see God’s blessing on our personal life, our church life and our national life, we will learn much from this Study. Ezra could’ve lived a very comfortable life with high status in the Persian court but the spiritual state of the exiles that had returned to the land of Israel placed a heavy burden on him and he was willing to give up his situation and he faced the hassles and hardships to bring about reforms that would benefit the people of God. We today should ask ourselves the question as to what we are prepared to do when we look around us and see gaps and the need for reforms in the life of the church and in the personal lives of the brethren. Are we willing to put the laws of God front and center in everything that happens? This can however be a very risky and challenging business. Our Study Lesson focuses on the seventh year of the reign of King Artaxerxes Longimanus, Ezra the Priest and Scribe returned with certain priests, Levites, and other Israelites from Babylon to Jerusalem, furnished with a Persian Royal commission to provide for the worship of the God of Israel, and the observance of the Law, according to the ordinance of God, by the community. This work is carried through into Ezra 7 and Ezra 8. We must be careful not to underestimate the difficulty and danger in the mission that Ezra faced. In this mission he began to execute some very difficult and unpleasant moves which included sending away such heathen women as were married to Israelites. The context of his commission from the Persian king Artaxerxes is recorded in the original Imperial documents in Aramaic recorded in that kingdom. It was this same King that ordered the rebuilding of the work on the walls of Jerusalem to cease as recorded in Ezra 4:7-24 but something obviously happened to change the mind of this pagan king who was preoccupied with other issues in the kingdom. The enemies of the people of God had wanted to present the people of Israel there in the Land to this King in the worst possible light. But it seems clear that the Jews in high places knew that they should keep in their minds the well-being of the fellow Jews and they succeeded m persuading the king that there was a need for Jews in Judah and the surrounding area to be properly taught the law of God so that God would bless the Empire and keep it in good order. This pagan king therefore had a desire to keep the gods on his side to keep the area safe from rebellion and so he accepted that if a Scribe such as Ezra was sent to teach the law of God, God would not only think well of him and his empire but the people would be able to lift themselves out of poverty, be able to ay the required tribute, and be able to maintain the sundry requirements of Temple worship. A skillful scribe such as Ezra and the great administrator named Nehemiah would certainly have consulted with this king prior to him giving such a commission. According to Ezra 5:3-17 the king accepted the advice of the governor Tattenai to base what decisions he made on previous commitments made by the Emperor Darius, and therefore this ruling Emperor gave his approval to improving conditions in Judah and the surrounding area. We know from the books of Ezra and Nehemiah that there were complaints and controversies between the returning Jews and some of the pagans in the area and so it was necessary to stabilize the situation. It is clear that this King which we note was not a man converted to the religion of Israel, wanted to keep the gods of each conquered nation on his side to keep the region beyond the River safe. In line with this tendency in the Persian empire God turned his heart leading him to appoint a person like Ezra who seem to have been a minister of state and so well-versed in the law of God. The authority that he gave to Ezra was massive. The responsibility and the power given to Ezra was tremendous. One scholar tells us: “We do not know whether Ezra was already a minister of state as ‘the Scribe of the Law of the God of Heaven’ or whether this was a title given to him at this time so as to indicate to all that he was acting on the king’s authority”. The extent of the powerful decree given by the king and the seven counselors as recorded in the documents of the Persian court which are available to us shows that as one writer states: “. He was authorized to take with him all of the ‘people of Israel ‘who wished voluntarily to return with him. Ezra 7 :12-13.. Ezra was sent to inquire into the religious situation in Judah and Jerusalem, concerning which there was clearly concern (Ezra 7: 14) Depicted as fulfilled in chapters 9-11. He was taking to Jerusalem the gifts of the King and his counselors, together with the free will offerings of others, in order to make satisfactory offerings to the God of heaven…. He was to deliver to the house of God in Jerusalem valuable specials for use in that house (Ezra 7:19) Demonstrated as fulfilled in Ezra 8: 33-34). He was given his authority to call on the king’s officials for whatever should be needed for the house of God to certain prescribed limits. (Ezra 7:20-22). He was to announce freedom from all taxes for temple personnel, presumably having the authority to ensure that the order was carried out (Ezra 7: 24). He was to appoint magistrates and judges to ensure that the laws of God were carried out satisfactorily by all the people Beyond the River (presumably all who were recognized as subscribing to them), and to teach all those who did not know them (Ezra 7-25) with authority to punish as he decided right, even up to the death penalty (Ezra 7 : 25 ). Demonstrated as fulfilled in chapter 10 .6 with full names of transgressors given. God obviously made it quite clear from the King’s authority given to Ezra that all the Persian officials in the area had to recognize Ezra’s authority. It will be helpful for us at this stage to recall the testimony of the powerful king Nebuchadnezzar who ruled over the kingdom of Babylon but who came to this conclusion he testified about in Daniel chapter 5:34-35. He stated after his punishment meted out to him by God: “And at the end of the time I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up my eyes to Heaven, and my understanding returned to me ; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever. For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the Army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, “what have you done?” We can be sure that the ruling Emperor Artaxerxes knew about Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony for it might have been recorded and available to this Persian kingdom that succeeded the Babylonian kingdom. THE TEXT Verse 1 – 5. This passage as mentioned previously details the return of Ezra the Scribe from Babylon to Jerusalem and his entry upon his official duties there. The previous leaders Zerubbabel and Jeshua we will suppose, by this time to have grown old, if not died. Haggai and Zechariah, prophets to the first group of returning exiles after the 70 year exile predicted by Jeremiah the prophet seems to have finished their testimony. They prophesied during the chapter 4 recorded resistance to the rebuilding of the Temple. What follows in these verses is a chronological order connecting Ezra to Aaron the chief priest. As in like fashion it is not a complete genealogical order but highlights the major connections in the priesthood line between the two vary notable men. Ezra is introduced to us by way of his genealogy to establish that he was from the priestly line and a descendent of the high priest before the Babylonian Captivity. His pedigree is given in detail showing that he was a direct descendent from Eleazar the son of Aaron. It is pretty much the same as the genealogy in 1 Chronicles 6:1-15. Note that the genealogy has been set up to present Ezra’s credentials as the son of Sadock the high priest in David’s day. His descendants were approved by Ezekiel 43: 19 and 44: 15. Genealogies must not be important to us today but to the people of Israel it was most important for Ezra to establish that not only was he a well learned and skillful scribe but that he had all the needed impeccable credentials that were required by God to represent Him in such a task as this. So we remind you that the genealogies about the Lord Jesus Christ is critically important for they establish that Jesus as prophesied came from the line of David as promised. In addition Jesus’ line is traced back to Adam and Abraham to show that He was a genuine man. It is sad that we do not study these genealogies carefully to learn what they teach us. We have a different mindset when it comes to things in Scripture that look difficult. But we must note that nothing in Scripture is there casually. It has a tremendously important purpose. In addition, given these credentials and his skill and capability in teaching and interpreting the law of Moses which Yahweh the God of Israel had given, the Emperor felt comfortable to give Ezra everything that he required for his task. Ezra was given in fact a blank cheque. Between the dedication of the Temple in the sixth year of Darius and the arrival of Ezra in Jerusalem, a period of fifty- seven years is said to have elapsed. The ruler of Persia at the end of that period was Artaxerxes, who is also known to history as Artaxerxes Longimanus, the successor to Xerxes, the king who married Esther. The events of the Book of Esther took place between Ezra 6 and 7. One writer notes that this Artaxerxes Longimanus, known by the Greeks as ‘Macrocheir’, and by the Romans as ‘Longimanus’ was the son of Xerxes and his long reign included both the commencement of Ezra’s public work and the later scenes in the life of Nehemiah. (Adeney). Ezra and Nehemiah jointly exercised their respective offices at Jerusalem (Nehemiah 8:9; Nehemiah 12:26; Nehemiah 12:36), and so Artachshasta of the book of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:1; Nehemiah 5:14; Nehemiah 13:6) can be no other than Artaxerxes, is decisive of this point: for in Nehemiah 13:6 the thirty-second year of Artachshasta is mentioned. Ezra the son of Seraiah is thought to be a reference to Ezra being the grandson or great-grandson of Seraiah the High Priest (before the captivity) that was put to death by Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah ( 2 Kings 25:18). As such that would put roughly a period of one hundred thirty years as being elapsed between that catastrophe and the journey of Ezra to Jerusalem. A a grandson of Seraiah, namely Jeshua, who held the office of High Priest, had accompanied Zerubbabel in the first caravan of returning exiles, and this identifies Ezra as a grandson in all probability, and descended too from a younger son (thought to be Jozakak), the older branch being in possession of the pontificate. Verse 6. Firstly, one needs to understand the position of a Scribe in Ezra’s day as it is a position that greatly contrasts that of the scribes in Jesus’ time. The term “scribe” does not mean merely a penman, nor even an attorney well versed in forms of law and skilled in the method of preparing public or private deeds. He was a rabbi, or doctor, learned in the Mosaic Law, and in all that related to the civil and ecclesiastical polity and customs of the Hebrew people. Scribes of this description possessed great authority and influence. They seem to have taken over the important and influential role of prophets sometime after the return from the exile. As seen, part of the duties of a scribe was to preserve the Word of God, to teach the Word of God, and to administrate the Word of God (in the sense of interpreting and applying it). “As messengers of the will of God, they took the place of the prophets, with this difference: instead of receiving new revelations, they explained and applied the old. Of this new order, Ezra was at once the founder and type.” (Morgan) Ezra was very much conversant with the Scriptures, especially the writings of Moses. He had the words ready and was well acquainted with the sense and meaning of them. It is to be noted and feared that learning ran low among the Jews in Babylon; but Ezra was instrumental to revive it. He was raised up of God, and qualified and inclined to do this. Kidner notes that in Jewish tradition, Ezra’s is regarded as a second Moses. Thus all generations have reason to call him blessed, and to bless God for him. God sent to the Jews prophets and scribes, Matt 23 34. Ezra went under the latter denomination as previously mentioned. Ezra was a man of great piety and holy zeal. He had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord. That which he chose for his study was the law of the Lord. The Chaldeans, among whom he was born and bred, were famed for literature, especially the study of the stars, to which, being a studious man, we may suppose that Ezra was tempted to apply himself. But he got over the temptation; the law of his God was more to him than all the writings of their magicians and astrologers, which he knew enough of with good reason to despise them. He sought the law of the Lord, that is, he made it his business to enquire into it, searched the Scriptures, and sought the knowledge of God, of His mind and will, in the Scriptures, which is to be found there, but not without seeking. He made conscience of doing according to it; he set it before him as his rule, formed his sentiments and temper by it, and managed himself in his whole conversation according to it. This use we must make of our knowledge of the Scriptures so as Ezra we will be happy or have joy to know that we do what we know of the will of God. Ezra set himself to teach Israel the statutes and judgments of that law. What he knew he was willing to communicate for the good of others; for the ministration of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. But observe the method: he first learned and then taught, sought the law of the Lord and so laid up a good treasure, and then instructed others and laid out what he had laid up. He also first did and then taught, practised the commandments himself and then directed others in the practicing them; thus his example confirmed his doctrine. He prepared his heart to do all this, or he fixed his heart. He took pains in his studies, and thoroughly furnished himself for what he designed, and then put on resolution to proceed and persevere in them, and thus he became a ready scribe. Moses in Egypt, Ezra in Babylon, and both in captivity, were wonderfully fitted for eminent services to the church. Here it is noticed, but with a pious acknowledgment of the divine grace and goodness which disposed the royal mind in favour of Ezra’s patriotic objects. Verse 7. Ezra went up to Jerusalem with a number of Israelites, priests, and Levites. This occurred in the seventh year of Artaxerxes. It is taken as a fact that Jerusalem when Ezra made his travel there was already repopulated by the Jewish people from their exile for about 20 years. Only as mentioned it seemed that some Israelites chose to remain in captivity for a longer period of time. Verse 8. This occurred in the seventh year of Artaxerxes, and reached Jerusalem in the fifth month of that year, after a travel of four months. Verse 9. When Ezra went many more went with him, because they did not desire to stay any longer in Persian territory. The journey would have taken the time specified due to the slow pace and easy stages that must have been taken if the caravan had a lot of poor people, women, children, and all their household gear with them. In verse 6 to verse 9 we can witness how kind the king was to Ezra. He granted him all his request, whatever he desired to put him into a capacity to serve his country. How kind his people were to him. This was the direct result of God acting on the hearts of the people of the kingdom of Persia to serve His will. We should notice how kind God was to Ezra. He obtained favour from his king and country by the good hand of the Lord that was upon him. Every creature that God makes belongs to Him, and from Him our judgment proceeds. We must see that the events that shall occur in the hand of God, and therefore we must see the hand of God in the events that do occur, and acknowledge Him with thankfulness when we have reason to call on His good hand. Verse 10. “Here is a fine character of a minister of God: He prepares, he fixes, purposes, and determines, with his heart – with all his powers and affections, to seek the law of God, and to do it himself, that he may be properly qualified to teach its statutes and judgments to Israel.” (Clarke) The Living Bible translates this verse in this manner: Ezra had determined to study and obey the laws of the Lord and to become a Bible teacher, teaching those laws to the people of Israel. Note that the word “law” is Torah or instruction. So the secret of Ezra’s influence is really his devotion to the instruction of God, the first five books of the Scriptures as well as all the other Scriptures which was available to him. When we read that Ezra had set his heart this means that this involves “his whole being” which he had dedicated before his travels. He was not a person who thought that he had something important to do and then devoted a study to make that travel successful. He studied in seeking, which means that he made a quest. Then we see from this verse that Ezra set his heart to “do” the law which meant that he did not just seek to know the law but he set his heart to putting it in practice. He would show his calling to teach the statutes and rules contained in the law. If you decide to set your heart then it means that you are turning yourself to the word of God intentionally. It is not just a spontaneous thing. We know that because of human nature this is a challenge often times for you do not know what you would find when you seek the word of God. Often we find something in it that we have never seen before even though we have read the particular passage from the word of God many times. So expect to find insight and direction and encouragement when you are challenged by seeking the word of God. Bear in mind that the treasure that God has provided for us has in it many mysteries but the most important of these mysteries is the gift of God Himself. So He’s really waiting for you in the Scriptures and He is satisfied and very appreciative and will reward those that set their heart on seeking Him in His word. When you seek God you will find out who He is, what He is doing, what He will do, and what He has already done for you and the world. Note also that when you seek after God the Father you will find Christ for the Father has revealed Himself in Christ. Christ is revealed in the New Testament but He was anticipated in the Hebrew Scriptures of the Old Testament. When you set your heart to seek God and to do the “Word” you will see the glory of God and the Spirit of God will transform you so that you will become more like Christ, living, thinking and acting more like Christ. Do not think that this is so difficult at all for when you start you will find that life will become very different and stable for you. So you are commanded not to be anxious about life. This is very important and that is why the writer of the book of James in 1:22 tells us that we must be doers of the word and not hearers only. The more you do the more you will find that the commandments are not burdensome according to 1 John 5:3. There is tremendous blessing if you set your heart to teach the Word. But note that are tremendous blessing for working for God in other areas of ministry. You might not have to be as skillful as Ezra was but you will be able to impact a lot of people if you are prepared to pass on what has been meaningful to you from the Word of God. But remember that if you do not seek the Word you can’t do the Word and you can’t teach the Word. If those things are not in place all you will be is a hypocrite. The facts about seeking and doing as stated by Ezra means that everything is a cycle and they mutually reinforce one another. Verse 23. The ruler of Persia, King Artaxerxes charges Ezra to let nothing be wanting that was requisite to be done in or about the Temple for the honour of the God of Israel. It should be noted how honourably he speaks of God. He had called him before the God of Jerusalem, but here, should it be thought that he looked upon him as a local deity, he calls him twice, with great veneration, the God of heaven. Even this heathen king, might have taken the time to view the Word and Law of God, which, it is likely, he had read and admired. He speaks to Ezra and says, let whatsoever God has said be done. However, at the end of it we need to note how solicitously he deprecates the wrath of God: Why should there be wrath against the realm? The neglect and contempt of religion bring the judgments of God upon kings and kingdoms; and the likeliest expedient to turn away His wrath, when it is ready to break out against a people, is to support and encourage religion. The king’s motivations are clear, however, God’s motivations are also clear, and His Will, shall be done. We must not fail to secure our peace and prosperity, not that God would let that occur, in their case and ours today. Let us take care that the cause of God is not starved, by the neglect of men and the actions of men. Verse 24. He exempts all the ministers of the Temple from paying taxes to the government. From the greatest of the priests to the least of the Nethinim, he states it shall not be lawful for the king’s officers to impose toll, tribute, or custom upon them, which the rest of the king’s subjects had to pay. This put a great honour upon them as free denizens of the empire, and would gain them the respect as favourites of the crown. It gave them liberty to attend their ministry with more cheerfulness and freedom. We can suppose it was only what they needed for themselves and their families, and the maintenance of their ministry, that was hereby allowed to come to them custom-free. If any of them should take occasion from this privilege to meddle in trade and merchandise, they justly lost the benefit of it. Verse 25 & 26. He empowers Ezra to nominate and appoint judges and magistrates for all the Jews on that side of the River. It was a great favour to the Jews to have such nobles of themselves, and especially to have them selected by Ezra’s nomination. All that knew the laws of Ezra’s God (that is, all that professed the Jewish religion) were to be under the jurisdiction of these judges, which intimates that they were exempted from the jurisdiction of the heathen magistrates. These judges were allowed and encouraged to make proselytes to teach the laws of God to those that did not know them. Though he would not turn Jew himself, he cared not how many of his subjects did. They were authorized to enforce the judgments they gave, and the orders they made, conformable to the law of God (which was hereby made the law of the king), with severe penalties—imprisonment, banishment, fine, or death, according as their law directed. They were not allowed to make new laws, but must see the laws of God duly executed; and they were entrusted with the sword in order that they might be a terror to evil doers. CONCLUSION Note that the blessing of God comes to those who study and obey His word. This is an important command but it was a simple one for it would protect against Satan, his people, and all of those that were mixed up Jews who compromised with the teachings of the Word of God. It is not easy to encourage people to conform to the Lord Jesus Christ. But note that sometimes God sets up powerful people to trust your character and integrity. You should therefore live wisely among people so that they would recognize your gifts in teaching the Word of God and demonstrating by your life that you are a person that will bring blessing to them. Remember therefore that God will make away for His people. The journey might be long and difficult, but sometimes it is not as difficult as your mind might make you imagine it to be. Satan will make us afraid even of the shadows that are not real. Ezra acted when faced with this difficult task not because he was confident in himself but because he was confident in the Lord. He believed that God would make a way. Don’t forget that if you study and set your heart to know God you will become a powerful servant as Ezra was. When you look at this chapter you will see that God’s fingerprints are all over it. Ezra recognize that the hand of the Lord God was on him and so he acted. It is interesting to note that Ezra did not travel with a large group of soldiers to protect him and the people as Nehemiah did. Ezra testified that he had told the king so many wonderful things about his God that he was ashamed to give the king the impression that he did not trust Yahweh to protect him. So he traveled with a tremendous amount of money and with very vulnerable and marginalized people with him without extensive military protection. So we know that he trusted God. He never wanted the pagan king to think that he was being a hypocrite when he told him that his God was the greatest of all Gods. So think carefully about what you’re saying about God and live up to what you have been saying about God. Recognize that the grace of God and human effort goes hand-in-hand. You cannot trust human strength. That would be a mistake. But you cannot and should not make the other great mistake in forgetting that God operates through human beings. Therefore do not think that just because you do not have the strength, education, the knowledge or the physical beauty you think is important, that you cannot do marvelous things for God. God is willing and gracious to work with us, and so we are fellow laborers in the kingdom of God. May we therefore remember the kind of God that we worship and if you do not remember get to know Him. We pray that you will seek Him, and do what His laws require. Then you will be like Ezra the great servant of God.

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