This has been a week of re-connection and restoration.
We have reconnected with friends we haven't seen since before Christmas, to catch up and compare notes on our lives.
We have reconnected with the weekly church meetings and gatherings to return to normal ministry routines.
We have reconnected with healthy eating and physical activity - at least attempted to in the cold and temptation to sit and eat to stay warm!
The restoration part of this week is to put away the Christmas decorations, re-organize the fridge and freezer and generally put the household back to order.  Except for a few items to remind me of the season, most everything is restored to its proper place.
The other part of my new year's restoration is to spend quiet time with the Lord and get back into studying the Word.  I had begun in Ezra several weeks ago and then had a Matthew/Luke interlude of the Nativity accounts.  Now I am returning to Ezra and Nehemiah...
By Chapter 7 of Ezra, we finally meet the main character.  He was an exiled Israelite residing in Babylon.  "He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses...the hand of the Lord His God was on him."  (v. 6)  He appeared before King Artaxerxes of Persia and so impressed the King that he was soon sent on his way to Jerusalem with a contingent of  Levites, priests, singers, gatekeepers and temple servants.
Most of this chapter is the recorded letter of the king to endorse Ezra's work in Jerusalem.  "You are sent by the king..." (v. 14) God saw fit to use the Persian king to "send" Ezra to help restore the little nation of Israel.  Ultimately, God calls and sends His servants for ministry; He often uses human authorities to speak and confirm such a calling.  Ezra went with the blessing of two kings!
Later in this letter, Artaxerxes supplies the ministry with finances.  "Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisers have freely given to the God of Israel..." (v. 15)  God moved the king to be generous in underwriting this venture and also seeing that the items taken in the plunder of the temple in Jerusalem was delivered for their intended use.  Ezra had no worries about the financial needs of his work; again God was using human agents to supply His kingdom's resources.
Ezra was also given authority in Jerusalem to "appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates, all who know the laws of your God."  (v. 25)  The king was sending this exile to ultimately bring order to the chaos of Judah and specifically Jerusalem.  Reminds me of Matthew 28:18 & 19 where Jesus Christ commissions His apostles to represent Him and gives them authority.
And finally, I see in the last statements of this letter, that the king was giving Ezra permission- no, a commandment- to "teach any who do not know them" (laws of your God) in verse 25.  Ezra's job description was quite clearly articulated by the King of Persia. Ezra was greatly encouraged and gave God the credit and glory for such favour.  "I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me." (v. 28b)  With a qualified team and all the supplies he would need, Ezra followed the Lord to Jerusalem.
Cont'd...