Ezra took God seriously, and God did wonders!
King Artaxerxes was the King of Persia in the days of Ezra. God made Artaxerxes the most powerful ruler on earth. The Lord gave him a heart to defend and support God’s work. Thus, King Artaxerxes gave Ezra silver and gold from his own treasuries for the service of God and urged those in his kingdom to do the same. Like a good Samaritan, Artaxerxes told Ezra, “Whatever more may be needed for the house of your God, which you may have occasion to provide, pay for it from the king’s treasury.” He issued “a decree to all the treasurers who are in the region beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, let it be done diligently, up to 100 talents of silver, 100 kors of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of oil, and salt without prescribed limit. Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it diligently be done for the house of the God of heaven. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?” He also exempted those who served in the house of the Lord from paying taxes, tributes and customs. He gave Ezra authority to appoint magistrates and judges who would teach the people the Law of God. Artaxerxes gave Ezra a letter stating, “Whoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether it be death, or banishment, or confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.” [2]
How did Ezra respond to what King Artaxerxes did? Ezra blessed the Lord, recruited helpers and got to work.
Ezra wrote, “Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the Lord, which is in Jerusalem, and has extended mercy to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. So, I was encouraged, as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me; and I gathered leading men of Israel to go up with me.” [3]
The Word of the Lord says, “Blessed are those who keep justice, and he who does righteousness at all times!” [4]
This truth is clearly revealed in Ezra’s testimony. He was a disciple of the Word of God [Jesus]. The Holy Spirit empowered him to understand and speak God’s Word.
When I was young, the Lord placed it on my heart to proclaim the Gospel to people in China. To God’s glory, I experienced favor from government officials on four occasions. These leaders could have incurred great loss for helping me but did so anyway. The Lord also gave me the opportunity to take part in a business meeting that was held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. I got to share the Gospel with a businessman right there in the building where laws have been issued against the proclamation of the Gospel. Glory to God!
Let us pray daily for the peoples of the nations that they and their rulers will turn to the Lord and serve Him. “Thy (Yours King Jesus) kingdom come. Thy (Yours Heavenly Father) will be done.”
I have eight maps on A4 paper which I carry with me during prayer walks. The Holy Spirit is the wind that powers my prayers. My eight maps have the names of the nations on them. My maps are of North America, Central America including the Caribbean islands, South America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Oceania including Australia and New Zealand. I know God is hearing my prayers. God has brought about so many wonderful changes recently.
Let us pray that people will:
Believe God’s Word and sing His praise – Psalm 106:12
Experience fullness rather than leanness of soul – Psalm 106:15
Not forget God their Savior – Psalm 106:21
Pray to God for those who are about to perish – Psalm 106:23
Not sacrifice sons and daughters to demons – Psalm 107:37
Not shed the blood of their sons and daughters – Psalm 107:38
Cry out to God – Psalm 107:44
Receive God’s mercy – Psalm 107:45-46
Give thanks to the Lord for His goodness – Psalm 107:8
Give thanks to the Lord for His wonderful works – Psalm 107:8
Have their hungry souls filled with God’s goodness – Psalm 107:9
No longer rebel against God’s Word – Psalm 107:11
No longer despise God’s counsel – Psalm 107:11
Be healed by faith in God’s Word – Psalm 107:20
Be delivered from destruction by God’s Word – Psalm 107:20
Be wise – Psalm 107:43
Understand the loving kindness of the Lord – Psalm 107:43
The Lord says, “His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin. He shall die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.” [5]
People need the Lord!
The Word of God and the Holy Spirit tell us that God is able to bend world leaders to serve His will. The King of kings in Ezra’s day, wrote him, saying, “Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it diligently be done for the house of the God of heaven. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?” God convicted King Artaxerxes. God also spoke to kings and leaders through His servants in the Book of Acts. Jesus promised that we would be brought before governors and kings for His sake. [6]
Humankind’s greatest need is to love God with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength. All goodness and all love flows from God. A soul without love for God is comparable to a zombie. The soul has the outer shell of person, but lacks that which makes it alive to God, namely the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit pours God’s love into people. The pouring happens as we believe in God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and make it our aim to tell people about Jesus. [7]
[1] Ezra 7:6, 10-11
[2] Ezra 7:12-26
[3] Ezra 7:27-28
[4] Psalm 106:3
[5] Proverbs 5:22-23
[6] Acts 24-26; Matthew 10:18; Revelation 10:11
[7] Romans 5:5; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8
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