Ezra 7:6-10; 8:21-23Prayer and Fasting

Call to WorshipSeek refuge in God!

Like green olive trees in the house of God, we dwell in the

steadfast love of God forever and ever.

Seek refuge in God!

We put our trust in God, because of God’s mighty deeds.

Seek refuge in God!

In the presence of the faithful, we proclaim God’s holy name.

Approaching GodFrom the demands and pressures of this past day, we come, O

Lord, seeking rest and renewal. Hear the cries of our hearts, our

prayers, and our needs.

Heal and restore us. For we ask this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.

IntroductionThe book of Ezra is composed of two sections: chapters 1–6 record

how the Jews returned from captivity to rebuild the temple;

chapters 7–10 describe how Ezra came back to Jerusalem and led

reforms.

IntroductionA period of some 57 years passed between the end of Ezra 6 (515

BC) and the beginning of Ezra 7 (458 BC). During this time, the

events described in the book of Esther took place.

IntroductionIt had been almost 80 years since the first return, and 147 years

since Daniel and his friends were taken to Babylon.

Ezra 7:6This Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the

Law of Moses that the LORD the God of Israel had given; and the

king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the LORD his

God was upon him.

Ezra 7:6Ezra wrote Ezra and Nehemiah. Ezra first appears in his history in

chapter 7 of the Book of Ezra.

Ezra was a priest (vv. 7, 11; 10:10), and v. 6 reports that he was

also a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses.

Ezra 7:6Some suggest this is the first mention of a scribe in the Bible, a

group Ezra may have helped create. He not only copied the Law,

but also taught it to others.

The scribes made sure their history up to that time was carefully

recorded to serve as a warning to subsequent generations not to

commit sins against the Lord or rebel against God’s laws.

Ezra 7:6We know from archaeological study that kings required careful

records to be kept of activities during their reign, and Ezra copied

some of these records as well as created some records to be sent

back to the king.

The Persian king is not given the credit for being generous; rather,

he was generous because the hand of the Lord directed his

decisions.

Ezra 7:6James Smith notes, “Ezra was able in some unexplained way to

secure an appointment from the king to return to Jerusalem as a

religious reformer.” This blessing surely came from God.

Ezra 7:7Some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites,

the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants also went

up to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

Ezra 7:7Artaxerxes, the king of Persia, approved Ezra’s leading the Jews in

their return from Babylon to Palestine.

Scripture makes clear exactly how it happened that the king had

granted him everything he asked. Put simply, “The hand of the

Lord his God was on him” (v. 6).

Ezra 7:7Returning with him was a broad mix of Israelites—priests, Levites,

musicians, gatekeepers and temple servants. Especially mentioned

are those who would be serving God in the new temple there.

Ezra worshiped the true God and God directed his choices and

moved on others to give him what he needed to serve God or go

back with Ezra to serve God in Jerusalem.

Ezra 7:7Notice the word “some.” Not all of those who were priests or who

had other duties associated with temple worship returned with

Ezra.

Later, when Nehemiah returned, he brought more priests and

Levites with him back to Jerusalem.

Ezra 7:8They came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the

seventh year of the king.

Ezra 7:8It took the Israelites four months to travel 900 miles following the

trade routes to travel from Babylon to Jerusalem. Ezra named the

families and the towns to which they returned.

They spread throughout the towns of Judah and Benjamin in order

to work and support themselves, but they would gather at the

temple in Jerusalem to worship God.

Ezra 7:8It took the Israelites four months to travel 900 miles following the

trade routes to travel from Babylon to Jerusalem. Ezra named the

families and the towns to which they returned.

They spread throughout the towns of Judah and Benjamin in order

to work and support themselves, but they would gather at the

temple in Jerusalem to worship God.

Ezra 7:9On the first day of the first month the journey up from Babylon was

begun, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to

Jerusalem, for the gracious hand of his God was upon him.

Ezra 7:9During four months of travel, no doubt Ezra kept a daily journal

and continued to study the Law of God so he could lead God’s

people rightly.

Ezra 7:9The Book of Ezra gives the reason he succeeded in all of his

endeavors; first, because God is gracious (the people did not

deserve this opportunity to return to Jerusalem), and second, God

directed, guided, and protected Ezra and the people each day.

Ezra 7:10For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD, and to do

it, and to teach the statutes and ordinances in Israel.

Ezra 7:10Why was God’s hand on Ezra? Ezra had made the choice to study

the Law of the Lord and after diligent study God knew that Ezra

was ready to teach others to do His law.

Ezra 7:10Ezra had also made the choice to obey the Law of God as he

learned it; therefore, he would teach by example as well as by

word.

Ezra was, then, prepared to persuade to obey and enforce God’s

law, even among the disobedient and unlearned in Judah.

Ezra 8:21Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava that we might

deny ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for

ourselves, our children, and all our possessions.

Ezra 8:21Ezra now wrote in the first person. Before they left Babylon, Ezra

declared a fast day for all those returning to Jerusalem.

They prayed for a safe journey and the protection of children and

their possessions (which included immense wealth when they took

items set apart for temple worship).

Ezra 8:21Remember that the Day of Atonement was the one fast required of

the people each year (see Leviticus 23:32).

The people could add other voluntary fasts, however.

C. F. Keil explains, “Fasting, as a means of humbling themselves

before God, for the purpose of obtaining an answer to their

petitions, was an ancient custom of the Israelites (Judges 20:26; 1

Samuel 7:6; Joel 1:14; 2 Chronicles 20:3).”

Ezra 8:21Years later when Jesus was on earth, fasting was widely practiced.

John the Baptist’s followers regularly participated in fasting (Luke

5:33-35). Jesus himself fasted for 40 days and 40 nights in the

wilderness before beginning his earthly ministry (Matthew 4:2).

In the first-century church, people fasted when elders were

appointed (Acts 14:23) and before sending out Paul and Barnabas

as missionaries (Acts 13:1-3).

Ezra 8:21Not all those who fasted did so for the right reasons, however. Our

Lord condemned the Pharisees who bragged about fasting twice a

week, but whose hearts were far from what God wanted them to

be (Luke 18:12).

Ezra 8:21Being humble before God shows one’s spiritual dependence, his

acknowledgment that God is in total control. Ezra did not want to

ask for military protection (soldiers and horsemen) because he had

already publicly announced that God would take care of the people

as they returned.

In contrast, Nehemiah readily accepted a military escort on his

way back to the land (Neh. 2:9).

Ezra 8:22For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and

cavalry to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had

told the king that the hand of our God is gracious to all who seek

him, but his power and his wrath are against all who forsake him.

Ezra 8:22Ezra was about to lead a group of nearly 2,000 people across 900

miles of desert for approximately four months. He not only had the

responsibility of the people but he was also carrying an enormous

treasure of "...six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver

vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred talents; also

twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of

fine copper, precious as gold" (Ezra 8:26-27). $450,000,000

Ezra 8:22Ezra opens his heart when he admits that he didn’t want to ask the

king for military protection for them on the trip, since Ezra had

assured the king that God was with them!

Just as Moses did not request an escort from Pharaoh to help them

reach the Promised Land safely, Ezra did not request the protection

of a pagan king. Ezra acted on the truths he taught and trusted

God would keep them safe, which God did.

Ezra 8:22Ezra’s decision not to ask for soldiers to protect him does not need

to be binding on all people, for later, Nehemiah returned to

Jerusalem with soldiers from the king to protect him and those who

traveled with him.

Ezra, who wrote Nehemiah, did not criticize Nehemiah for a lack of

faith. God works differently with different people and in different

times.

Ezra 8:23So we fasted and petitioned our God for this, and he listened to our

entreaty.

Ezra 8:23Ezra told the king that God would be gracious to him if he served

God. He also warned the king that the power and judgment of God

is against those who turn from God.

He prayed and fasted and asked God to demonstrate the truth of

his teachings to the king and others, which God did when Ezra and

God’s people travelled safely to Jerusalem.

ConclusionsAfter seventy years of captivity and months of preparation and

travel, Ezra and the exiles finally arrived at home. It is both

encouraging and challenging to see the way Ezra prepared himself

and God's people for the journey back to Jerusalem.

We can only guess at the dangers and difficulties involved in the

four-month, nine hundred-mile journey from Babylon to Jerusalem.

ConclusionsOur text shows that as God’s people seeking to do God’s work, we

need to recognize that there are enemies and ambushes along the

way (8:31), and thus we desperately need “God’s hand over us” to

protect us.

The enemy is seeking to destroy us and our little ones (8:21) by

tearing apart families and by bringing down spiritual leaders.

LessonsFor the believer, fasting should be a sign of inward humility. (Ezra

8:21)

When in any need of anything, we should always start by asking

God.

Be sure that your actions before men do not negate your witness

for God. (vs. 22)

LessonsGod always hears and answers the prayers of His people, but not

always as they might expect (vs. 23)

The almighty hand of God guides and guards His obedient children

(vs. 31)

When God starts a plan, He always finishes it (vs. 32)

BlessingBe like olive trees in the house of God—green and flourishing, full

and strong.

We will grow strong in the house of God—deeply rooted, well

watered.

Be like olive trees in the house of God—seeking God’s refuge,

trusting God’s care.

We will dwell in the house of God and proclaim God’s name

forever!