Ezra 7 (Part 2) Bible Study (Ezra Sent to Teach the People) | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (2/13/26)

Well, good evening, Maranatha Bible Church. It is a wonderful time where we can gather on Friday night to open the word of God together to worship God as the body and bride of Christ. As we set our minds on Christ tonight, I'd like to read from Colossians chapter two. Colossians chapter two starting at verse number six. The apostle Paul writes, therefore, as you received Christ Jesus, the Lord, so walk in him rooted and built up in him the faith just as you were taught abounding in thanksgiving.

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him, the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily. And you have been filled in him who is the head of all rule and authority. You know, as a as a Christian, it can be overwhelming sometimes to think about everything that seeks to turn our hearts away from Christ. All the different world views and philosophies and false doctrines and deceptions out there in the world today.

And I found it interesting when reading this with this passage tonight, the Apostle Paul says, see to it that no one takes you captive. It's an imperative. He's telling the church, be vigilant. Be on your guard so that no one deceives you with with these deceptions, these false teachings out there. And I'm always reminded that Christ, when he gives us a command, when he gives us an imperative, he empowers us to do that.

And what does it say here? Just in the previous verses, it says, we are rooted and built up in him established in the faith just as you were taught. So as we gather for Bible study tonight, as we open God's word tonight, Truly, this is one of the weapons and one of the means that Christ has ordained for our protection, for our ability to watch out for the false doctrines that seek to ensnare us. Truly, when we can say the word of God, the word of Christ is my North Star, everything else is compared to the Bible, and I submit. I submit my desires, I submit my thoughts, I submit my feelings to the word of Christ.

That enables us to be vigilant and to be on our guard from any false teaching, anything that would seek us seek to draw us away from Christ. So tonight, as we hear the word of God proclaimed, as we sing the word of God, may it renew our minds, may it guard our minds, and through it, may we have this unshakable joy in Christ Jesus. Let's pray. Father, we thank you. Lord, we thank you for yet another opportunity that you've entrusted to us to to come before you and to give our worship to you.

Lord, we love you. By the power of your spirit, may we love you more with all of our heart, all of our mind, all of our soul, and all of our strength, for you alone are worthy. Help us tonight, Lord. Help us to discard worthless things. Help us to put down worthless treasures and desires and embrace you all the more.

Lord, let us hold tight to you tonight as you hold fast to us. Lord, may you be worshiped, may you be glorified in the praises of your people. May Jesus be exalted, and Lord, may we be filled with joy. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen.

Church, will you please stand and sing a new song to the Lord tonight?

My

my Christ assured. Steady anchor as we face the wake of In Christ alone, my hope is found. He is my mind, my strength, my

Let's pray together. Lord, we thank you that because of the power of Christ, there is no guilt in life and there is no fear in death. And that, Lord, we have absolute confidence that from our first cry to our final breath, you command and you determine and you lead us into a destiny that is far greater than any destiny that we can conjure up ourselves. Lord, you are a gracious savior, and we have come to know you more. We've come to fellowship with you.

Meet us in a special way this night. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Well, take a moment and greet someone on this Friday night bible study.

Would you? Joelle and I were at a conference in Florida the past few days, and, we were blessed. And, we saw many other people the evangelical world who have an equal love for the word of God. And so it was an encouragement to us. And, we're always thinking and praying for you when we are away.

Opportunities, but it is always good to be home. It's always good to be with family. And so, we're just going to continue to worship here in our giving. The ushers will assist us in that if it's on your heart to give. You can do that at this time.

And while that's taking place, I will do my best to give you a few announcements that you have to be mindful of. So if you are a member here at MBC, we have our members meeting on February 22, and that will take place after the Lord's Day service. So please don't miss that. Please do all that you can to be here for that. We're just so excited for us to be able to gather in that kind of a setting, hear testimonies, hear what's going on on your end, and hearing what is happening in the background of NBC and what we're seeing God do through this church and what we hope that he's gonna continue to do and new things that he's gonna do in this new year.

So this is something you wanna be a part of and it is for members. And if you wanna be a member here, that's something that God's laid on your heart. Just go on our website, go to the connect page, and you'll see, what we ask of people who who desire to be, members here, and it's quite simple. It's nothing more really than what the scriptures would ask of us. And it helps us know you a little bit more and it helps you know, how serious and what a privilege it is to be a member of any bible believing local church.

So that is always available for anybody who feels the the draw of the Holy Spirit to become a member here at MBC. Besides that, we have our rooted conference, the one day conference, the bible study seminar, call it what you want. I'm excited for this. We're praying into this and we're believing that it's going to equip, those who really wanna take their relationship with the scriptures on a deeper level. So, we have, a few spots left.

We're excited for how many people are showing interest, and, we're gonna announce this Sunday when the last day to register is because we gotta get an actual head count for the food that we're gonna be ordering for that day. So if you're hoping to kinda throw a a last second shot at the buzzer to get, here for that rude conference, it's not gonna happen. There's gonna be only a few days, left for that registration to remain open. So if you're on the fence and you have no reason, not to come, legitimate reason at least, just jump over the fence and, come here and and join us. With that being said, that's gonna be on on the twenty eighth.

So the Friday night before, there will be no Bible study, Just because there's going to be so much going into that. It's going to be not just Bible study. You're going to learn how to study the Bible. And there's going to be hours of practical instruction invested in that. And you're going to meet other people who also want to grow in God's word.

So it's a wonderful opportunity. I I I believe it's gonna bear much fruit. And, be praying for that if you're not gonna be here, and be praying for that if you are planning to be here. Well, we have come for the word of God. So let's turn in our bibles now to Ezra chapter seven.

And if you're already there, place your finger at verse 11 of that chapter. As you know, Ezra chapter seven introduces us, for the first time, the man Ezra. The man Ezra. We know that he's the author of this book but we are now seeing him in action for the first time in this section of scripture. And we learn much about Ezra in the first 10 verses of this chapter.

If you were there a couple of weeks ago, you will remember. And one of the main things that are highlighted about this significant individual in redemptive history is that he is from the line of Aaron. The Holy Spirit records for us in great detail his ancestry. And the reason why we are supposed to know his lineage is because the author wants us to be certain that there is divine approval behind Ezra's spiritual leadership, especially as he is now planning to make his way back to Jerusalem and guide and instruct and inspire the remit who had preceded him. And so Ezra wants us to know that God has called him to be a priest and that God has called him and given the authority to operate as a spiritual leader for this moment.

But that is not the only approval that Ezra wants us to know about. For the remainder of this chapter, he's about to inform us that he also received commendation, he also received consent from the king of the Persian Kingdom who's known as Artaxerxes. In fact, that's really what's going to be found here in the rest of these verses. It's gonna be a decree, yet another letter from a foreign king who is going to spell out his significant support for this man, Ezra, as he is planning to make his way back to The Holy Land. Now here's a question I have.

Why do we need to know about it? Why is it important for us to see a copy of the letter that king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest? And I believe the answer is quite obvious. The Holy Spirit through Ezra wants to show us, especially the immediate audience, the extent of God's approval of this man's mission and ministry. In other words, more than Ezra informing us that he comes from the priestly line, he wants to also show that the king of the Persian authorities is backing him up as well.

That God's sovereignly working on behalf of Ezra to this extent. And the result of that, at least the desired outcome is that the people of God would have greater confidence in Ezra's leadership as they hear about this testimony. Oh, not only is it coming from Aaron's line but even Artaxerxes is offering generous support and a grant and and all this backing for him to do exactly what he hopes to do. And I'm aware that up to this point in our study, we've looked at a couple of decrees from, royal individuals. Right?

We saw Cyrus's decree, the opening of the book of Ezra in chapter one. And then we saw Darius's edict in chapter six. And so now we come to another one and the temptation is that this is quite similar as you're about to read to what we've already discovered and so maybe we'll just skim past over it. And you've been here at this bible study long enough to understand that you should never ever do that even with texts that seem repetitive because there are unique qualities in this specific charge. And I wanna highlight at least one major difference between this one and the ones that we've already looked at.

So if you're there in Ezra seven, I told you to plant your finger at verse 11, but scroll back to verse six for a moment. We've already covered this couple weeks ago, but let's look at it again. Ezra seven verse six reads, this 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 on him.

So this summary is extremely helpful in clarifying the background of this edict. Unlike the decrees of Cyrus and Darius, Artaxerxes letter is a response to the prompting of a request by a man named Le Ezra. In other words, when it came to Cyrus and Darius, what moved them to move favorably for and on behalf of the people of God was a direct work of God. God himself intervened and he did something in their inner being to move them into action. Right?

It was a clear sovereign thing. But when we come to this point in in this letter and this king, we see something a little bit different. Not that God is not at work, we're gonna see that God is at work here. But more than that, everything that's about to unfold and be set into motion is due to the courage and the conviction of a single individual. In other words, Ezra approaches Artaxerxes and what Artaxerxes is going to give him permission for is a response to this man's faith.

So here's what this means for us. There are gonna be moments for the church and for individual believers where God will sovereignly intervene in a situation apart from our initial involvement. And in those moments, we have to recognize that he is opening a door and he is creating an opportunity to advance his purposes. And we as believers have to develop the alertness and the discernment to seize those moments when they come. Right?

We have to recognize that God at times will pave a way and we have to step on it and walk ahead, lest we forfeit an opportunity. But then, on the other hand, there are times when the Lord will only move when we move first. That's exemplified by Ezra. His example reminds us that there are certain things that will not happen unless we initiate. Initiate prayerful, scripture informed and wise actions that demonstrate what?

Our faith. That manifest what? Our eagerness. So listen very carefully. There are gonna be times where you and I have to wait on the Lord because there's nothing else you can do.

Like I've done everything. I've exhausted all my options and so God, you have to come through. And there are gonna be other times where God is actually waiting for you. And things will not take place unless you understanding who God is and what he asks of you, step out in obedience. Step out trusting the Lord.

And what we're about to witness in the rest of this chapter is God honoring the faith of this priest who had a desire that was awakened by his study of the scriptures to play a part in God's work in Jerusalem. So I hope that one observation will excite you to explore the rest of this letter and we're gonna seek to do that by reading it in sections. It's a fairly long one. So what we're gonna do is just take it bit by bit, stop, meditate, and reflect as we go through. So let's begin in Ezra chapter seven verse 11 down to verse 16.

Engage your minds. Don't allow yourself to be distracted at the reading of God's word and let's see what the Lord will say to us now. This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a man learned in matters of the commandments of the Lord and his statutes for Israel. Artaxerxes king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, peace. And now I make a decree that anyone of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom who freely offers to go to Jerusalem may go with you.

For you were sent by the king and his seven counselors to make inquiries about Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God, which is in your hand, and also to carry the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, with all the silver and gold that you shall find in the whole province of Babylonia and with the free will offerings of the people and the priests vowed willingly for the house of their God that is in Jerusalem. So we're gonna learn that Artaxerxes makes several demands in the case of Ezra and the people of God. And many of them are very familiar to the ones that we've already explored in previous decrees. But there is one that stands out from the verses that we just read and it's highlighted there in verse 14. Look at it one more time.

Artaxerxes says, for you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to make inquiries about Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God which is in your hand. Here's how this translate translates. Ezra, I am commissioning you and whoever wants to go with you to go and investigate those who preceded you into Jerusalem and I want you to figure out their spiritual condition. I want you to see if they are living up to the standard of God's revealed will. Now, we have to remember that Artaxerxes is giving permission and approval to what Ezra had requested.

Remember that. Right? Verse six? That's how we're we're gonna have to frame this letter with that as our basis. This is Artaxerxes responding to a list of requests that Ezra himself made, which tells us what is Ezra's top priority as he seeks to go back to Jerusalem.

Before anything else, what Ezra longs to do is to determine that after all these years, if the people who went ahead to Jerusalem are still abiding in God's law. And this already tells us what Ezra's main mission is. When we looked at Zerubbabel between chapters one and six, who went with the first wave of people from Babylon back to Jerusalem, he was called by God to focus on the rebuilding of what? The temple. Good.

We're gonna study Nehemiah after we finish Ezra. We're almost done. What's Nehemiah's calling? What what was it laid upon his heart to focus on? The rebuilding of the walls.

Ezra, the one in the middle, his concern, his passion, his drive is to build the people. The people of God. And that shows here in this letter. Go and inquire and see if the people are still abiding by the law, if they're still observing it. And this actually teaches us what true spiritual leadership looks like.

There there's a characteristic here that reveals the heart of a true leader in God's house. Conforming to Christ like this is not just a personal goal for a leader, they also possess the ambition for others to pursue it as well. They have this this drive, desire, passion that those who are under their care would grow consistently in Christ likeness. And with that concern, there is a commitment to help them pursue that. You know, know, I was looking at this and thinking about Ezra who not just had a passion for God's word but had a passion for others to love it.

And I began to just survey the New Testament especially. Is there any trace of that in spiritual leadership found

in

the new covenant and I mean Paul alone? And this verse sprung up in my heart. Do you remember what he said to the Galatians in Galatians four verse 19? He says, my little children for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you. What a remarkable thing for somebody to say.

This man, Paul, had this unbelievable sense of turmoil in the depths of his soul to such a degree that the only way that he make he can explain it is by relating it to one of the most painful things a woman can endure physically and that is childbirth. And what was the reason for this inner pain, emotional distress, this spiritual angst? What was the reason for it? Well, he learned that the Galatians, the people that he led to Christ have now pushed the Lord aside and have made other pursuits more central. And in their case, it was legalism.

You know, there are some professing Christians, you mean genuine Christians who will venture off into lawlessness, others into lukewarmness, and there are some like the Galatians who become attracted to legalism. This was the problem with with this church and here here's the core concern for Paul as revealed in that one verse. The formation of the truth and the character of Christ came to a standstill among these believers. And he he's he's being very transparent here. Up to this point in Galatians, he was very theological.

He's making all these different arguments and cases about justification by faith and trusting in the finished work of Christ and then he he gets very personal here. And what's remarkable is that the reason why he felt this pain is because he related to these Christians as a father with his children. Isn't that how he identifies them? My not just children, little children. I mean, if your children are grown, you relate to them differently than when they were young.

So he's very specific. He says, my little children. Can you imagine a spiritual leader addressing those who he ministers to in such a way? My little children. Why is he speaking this way?

Because he wants to convey something. You don't have to be a parent to know that when somebody has a child, everything in their life revolves around that child. And all the parents said amen. Any loving mother, any loving father understands that all their activities, all their responsibilities, all their plans orbits around the well-being of their child. And what Paul is saying here to them is, that's how I feel about you.

Listen, I saw you come to Christ. And it's as though he's saying, Through my preaching, my ministry, you were born again. And I wanna let you know something. When you were born again, something was born in me. A love and a care for you as a father would cherish their own offspring.

And listen, any loving parent can also testify that they would not remain settled, they would be deeply disturbed if their child never grew at a proper rate. Well, let's think about it physically. How would you feel if your son, your daughter never developed in their stature? They remain at the same height, the same weight, the same eating habits at a fifth grade level or at five years old than when they were five months old. W wouldn't that shake you?

Wouldn't that keep you up at night? Wouldn't that spring you into some kind of action? Well, let's let's think about it mentally. What what would you do if one of your children who was supposed to be in the eighth grade class is still in the third grade class sitting at the same desk because they show little interest, no interest in education, in studying, in developing? That would do something to you as well.

And here's what Paul is saying. I'm concerned because the formation of Christ that should be developing in you is not. Something has stunted your growth and it is the spiritual diet of false teachers who have crept into your churches. So you see what he's saying here? He's showing that he deeply loves them.

He deeply cares for them. He's concerned, not just with their salvation but their growth. And I'm saying all of this for you and I to be able to properly identify who who is a true biblical godly leader. Because there's all these strange ideas of what a leader in God's house should be. And one of the marks of a true leader is found in the same context where Paul says, my little children.

So just a few verses back he says in Galatians four sixteen, have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? That's the same breath. That's the same context. So Paul, if you put this together, wants to let them know that him confronting them in their error, to them they translate it as, you don't you don't love us and you don't care for us and you're not gentle with us. And a few verses later he goes, you're you're my children.

And any loving parent would prescribe what is beneficial to the health of their children even if their flesh doesn't enjoy it in the moment. So how do you know if a spiritual leader truly loves you? How do you know if a true a spiritual leader is truly committed to your sanctification and your walk with Christ? They're gonna speak the truth to you. They're gonna they're gonna develop an understanding of God's word first for it to be developed in them and then for it to be communicated to you.

And it's amazing that Paul even in this, we can't get into it, he contrasts himself with the false teachers. And he admits that the false teachers with the Galatians were very invested in them but for a different purpose and a different motive. Listen. There are false teachers out there who will intentionally avoid the truth and they may come off as loving and gentle and compassionate by doing so. And I want you to hear me very carefully.

A a person who manipulates, who massages, who avoids things that will benefit God's people in the name of a pseudo love, they don't really love you, they love themselves. They care about themselves. They they don't care about Christ being formed in you, they want you to benefit them. And if they have to avoid the truth, sometimes the hard truth in order to achieve it, they will do it to win an audience. And Paul is still reminding them, listen.

I love you enough to speak the truth to you, to wield the scriptures, to apply the the truths of the gospel and holy writ even if it disturbs you in the moment, if it shakes you, if it convicts you, if it cuts you, so be it. I care for you. And so I bring up Paul because I see something similar in Ezra. I see Ezra who is requesting something of the king of Persia and one of the top things is, oh, let me go back to check on them, on their growth. According to the law, here's Paul saying, you belong to me and I care for you.

And am I now your enemy because I speak the truth to you? You wanna know who who really loves you? Who's really called by God for your benefit? What do they do with the truth in your life? A leader is more than somebody who just spends time with you.

A leader is more than somebody who just answers the phone at the late hours of the night. Those things are wonderful but sinners can spend time with you. And sinners can help you in a time of need. But sinners don't care about Christ being formed in you. True leadership does and they will always use the word of God first in their own lives and as a reflection of their own encounter with it into the lives of those around them.

But Ezra is not just going back to examine the spirituality of the Jews in Jerusalem. He's also returning with an outstanding financial aid signed off by Artaxerxes. We already read it in verse 15 to 16 but he continues. So come back to the main text in Ezra seven. Look at verse 17.

We'll read down to verse 20. He goes on to say, with this money, then, you shall with all diligence buy bulls, rams, and lambs with their grain offerings and their drink offerings and you shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God that is in Jerusalem. Whatever seems good to you and your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do according to the will of your God. The vessels that have been given you for the service of the house of your God, you shall deliver before the God of Jerusalem. And whatever else is required for the house of your God, which it fall which falls to you to provide, you may provide it out of the king's treasury.

So this seems almost like an echo of the previous decrees. Right? Whatever you need financially, whatever you need for your offerings, whatever you need for your worship, we'll back it up. We'll support it. We'll provide the means for it for you to be able to worship.

But like what we just read earlier, there is something that stands out and it's in verse 18. Look at it again. Artaxerxes says, whatever seems good to you and your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do according to the will of your God. This is amazing. Artaxerxes tells Ezra that any surplus remaining from the donations is left to the discretion of him and the leadership of how it should be spent.

That's what he's saying here. He's really trusting in Ezra. And you get the sense that he's developed a relationship with Ezra for him to be able to do this. So we're just gonna give you all of this and whatever is extra, well, we just trust that you'll be able to know what to do with it. But there's an important caveat.

What is it? The last part of verse 18. According to the will of your God. So those are the guard rails. Those are the boundaries.

Now remember, Artaxerxes, as we're about to find out by the end of this letter, he's being moved by the Lord to give these commands. So that's just something about a principle that God is laying out. And one of the things that we can take from this is like the redeemed in Ezra's day, we must be mindful of the will of God even in our finances. And when Christians think about the will of God, seldom does money become a consideration. So many other factors rush into our minds when we think about what is God's will for my life.

But I see a reminder here in this story with Ezra. I see that God not only has a revealed purpose for our purity, for our worship, for our relationship, for our spiritual gifts, he actually has a plan for what you and I should do with our possessions. And it's very simple. Know what God's will is. Right?

That's all Ezra and his brothers needed to know. What what would God have us do with how God sovereignly and kindly and providentially places into our pockets, places into our bank accounts? And so you and I, I take this as a cue to develop and to train ourselves to be mindful of God's will in that area in that area. Let me just offer a very practical point of discipleship. I would encourage you to regularly pray and tell the Lord in that time of fellowship that all you have belongs to him.

Say it. Confess it. Admit it. And if you're married, do it with your spouse from time to time. Lord, all that we have is yours.

Every piece of furniture, every corner of this house, every dollar in our bank account, everything that we're saving up for our children, it's all yours. I'll tell you something, That will over time give you the proper perspective of your materials, of your possessions and go beyond that. Once you acknowledge that joyfully and with excitement and with faith, ask him from time to time, okay, Lord, what would you have us do with our money? What would you have us do? And this is just one simple act that will help you and I detach ourselves from the things that wanna grip our hearts and our affections.

And more than that, you'd be amazed to know how the Lord will impress your heart to invest in his kingdom and for eternity. If you're serious about this, if you wanna excel in this grace also, invite the Lord into it. Invite the Lord into it and you will know a holy joy and delight in an area that you thought might have been stressful or tempting, oh, it can become glorious. So even Ezra here was told by the king who ultimately is being instructed by God, I'm giving you this and there are some things that you have to, with non negotiables, confront and deal with, but even what's extra, keep God's mind and will in your mind and in your will. And that will make you and I that much closer to being conformed to all that God has for us.

Well, we would think that Artaxerxes will now move on from these orders regarding financial support, but he still has more to say. In fact, it's the majority of this letter. So let's read from verse 21 down to verse 23. And I, Artaxerxes, the king, make a decree to all the treasurers in the province beyond the river. Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of God of heaven, requires of you, let it be done with all diligence, up to a 100 talents of silver, a 100 cores of wheat, a 100 baths of wine, a 100 baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much?

Whatever is decreed by God by the God of heaven, let it be done in full for the house of the God of heaven, lest his wrath be against the realm of the king and his sons. Now again, this seems repetitive. We've seen this with Cyrus. We've seen something similar with Darius. And this is impressive.

For a Gentile to be this generous should move us. You would wish if you were there when we were studying first and second Kings that this would be the pattern for the kings in Jerusalem and Israel, but that wasn't the case. Right? You actually have more kings bankrupting the house of God, withdrawing from the house of God then investing into it. And here you have a pagan and he says, let's support this.

Let's get behind this. However, that's not what we're supposed to take from this. I think what's worthy of meditation is Artaxerxes' motivation for his contribution to the house of God. The last part of verse 23, look at it again. Lest his wrath be against the realm of the king and his sons.

Now, some would look at this and applaud Artaxerxes. Here's a man who understands that if a nation, if a government, if a land rebels against the true God, then they open themselves up to his discipline, which is true in many cases. But I don't think that's what we're supposed to take from this, at least primarily. I believe Artaxerxes is revealing what's stimulating him to do this. And he has a very narrow limited understanding of the God of Israel.

He does acknowledge that he is more powerful than all these other deities. You can debate if he had his faith and trust in this God but there's actually greater evidence that he probably sees Yahweh as a local deity more than anything else. But notice, he sees his contribution as an insurance policy more than anything. So he understands this, this God is powerful. I even admit that he's the God of heaven.

He says that more than once. And so just to play it safe and just to protect me and my kingdom and my family, I'll do what I can to show my support. In other words, Artaxerxes is ultimately moved by fear. Fear of punishment. Can I tell you something?

There are a lot of professing Christians who serve, who give, who abstain with similar thinking. They do what they do for God because they fear they will be punished by God if they don't. And that's all that gets them going. That's all that keeps them. That's all that holds them back from venturing into this or into that.

Dread. This looming sense that at any moment, God will press that red button and he will strike my life with some kind of plague, some kind of disaster. And so day in and day out, week after week, service after service, they're afraid. They are afraid of God. You know, I was looking at this and I thought about even the numbers that are registered here of what Artaxerxes gave to the house of God.

And I thought back to another person who gave to the house of God but with a completely different ambition in mind, with a completely different motivation in mind. David. Now we study first and second Kings. We didn't look at the entirety of first and second Chronicles. But one of the things that stand out about the end of first Chronicles is you have this extensive display of David's investment before he dies into the house of God.

And when you look at some of the verses, especially in chapter 29, it it so stands in contrast with what we find here with Artaxerxes. Let's go there. First Chronicles 29, look at verse 10. I mean, we're just getting a sample. In first Chronicles 29, look at verse 10.

It says here, therefore, David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. And David said, blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel, our father, forever and ever. Yours, oh Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, oh Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all.

In your hand are power and might, and in your hand, it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. A different tune, wouldn't you say? Whole different perspective, wouldn't you say? Well, let's look at it a little bit more.

Look at verse 17. I know my God that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart, I have freely offered all these things and now I've seen your people who are present here offering freely and joyously to you. Why is David doing what he's doing? Oh, it's gratitude.

Pleasure, freely. With a revelation of who God is and what he has done, how he is the fountain of all the blessing that David has enjoyed. And you see what David is saying here, me giving back to God isn't anything. It's all from him anyway. So he he has this deep awareness that God is the source of everything good.

And this is his response to God's goodness. And you and I will never know the joy and delight that Christ wants us to have in our walk with him. If anxiety about judgment is the grounds of your godliness, Is there a place for us to have a holy fear of God? Yes. But for you to live in this trepidation and the sense of, I don't know if God loves me today, and you're more convinced that God is wanting to judge you than love you and embrace you and bless you, things gotta change my brother and sister.

The misery that you're managing is not the will of God. That is not Christianity. And there's something else that I find in this chapter. We actually have the detailed account of what David gave when he contributed to the first house. Look at verse three of first Chronicles 29.

Moreover, in addition to all that I've provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own gold and silver. And because of my devotion to the house of my God, I give it to the house of my God. 3,000 talents of gold? Of the gold of Ophir and 7,000 talents of refined silver for overlaying the walls of the house? And for all the work to be done by craftsmen gold for the things of gold and silver for the things of silver, who then will offer willingly, consecrating himself today to the Lord?

I I don't wanna read too much into this, but I wonder if there's something to be said about the grandeur and the extravagance of David's giving because he was operating under a different revelation than Artaxerxes. And if that is true, then what a profound lesson for all of us. That desiring to please God because of who he is, because of what he has done first will produce more worship and more sacrifice and more obedience than you and I simply being in dread of him. We love because he first loved us. I mean, that's the order.

We are responding to what God has done first. That he set his love upon us while we were sinners, while we were dead, while we were enemies. And you constantly have to remind yourself of that. You and I, as much as we should express our love to the Lord, our contentment in the Lord, our desire to please the Lord, that's all wonderful. That's biblical.

But we should find greater satisfaction in singing about Christ's love for us and what he has performed on our behalf and how he has pursued us. You know, I was speaking with a friend the other day and we're having a conversation about this very thing. About how to arrive to a place in your walk with Christ where you can shake off the condemnation once and for all. And that you can live under the light and the truth and the glorious reality that I am truly loved by God. He loves me.

He died for me. He actually has affection set upon me. It's not just this contract. It's not just this mere duty. And although God is motivated ultimately for his glory, yes.

Don't cancel out the glorious truth that he actually loves you. And he loves me. And he wants us to be fueled by that. Not just in accepting it, but living for him. Yes?

Do you remember the last words that Jesus said to the woman who was caught in adultery in John chapter eight? Does anybody remember? What was that statement? It's very famous. What did he say before that?

Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more. What came first? The revelation that Christ no longer condemns her. That Christ doesn't condemn her.

And from that understanding, she would be able to sin no more. You're not condemned. If there is anybody in that moment who is worthy and authorized to pick up a stone and stone her, it was Christ. He had no sin. Everybody in that crowd was a sinner.

Christ wasn't. And yet in that moment, he gives her grace. And from that experience, says, now go and sin no more. Is that why you don't sin? Is that why I don't sin?

Because I realized that I'm forgiven? That I'm redeemed? That he paid my debt? That he he set his love on me when I was rebelling against him? Only then, only then will you know new heights of holiness and adoration and ministry and dedication.

Artaxerxes, look, I'm we're doing this just so we we don't want trouble with this, God. And that's how some Christians live. You're doing what you're doing just so you don't get in trouble with God. No sense of fellowship, no sense of endearment, no sense of relationship. Oh, that's not God's will for you.

Run away from that. Don't settle for that. Ask God through his word to help you live in the light of his love. His majesty, yes. His holiness, yes.

His purity, yes. But his kindness and his goodness toward us who don't deserve it. Oh, I can go on and on but there's still more to this letter that we have to explore. So So let's come back to chapter seven and let's look at verse 25. As Artaxerxes concludes his thoughts here, he gives his final remarks addressing Ezra directly again.

So he says in verse 25, and you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province beyond the river, all such as know the laws of your God, and those who don't know them you shall teach. Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed on him, whether for death, or for banishment, or for confiscation of his goods, or for imprisonment. Interestingly, Artaxerxes highlights how Ezra possesses the wisdom of God in his hand. Did you see that in verse 25? It says here that he has the wisdom of God Artaxerxes understood that the law of God was an expression of the wisdom of God.

I mean, he had that comprehension. And I think that's amazing. I think there is wisdom to be found in the old testament law. That's at least a nudge. It's no less true today.

And if anything, this should be an encouragement for us to look at the mind of God in every portion of his word. I mean, you look at Psalm one nineteen. What is the psalmist rehearsing and rejoicing in? The law, the law, the law. He's not talking about Ephesians.

Right? He's not talking about the gospel of John. We have the privilege of, you know, the completion of God's revelation. But the law, even in the law, yes. Don't don't avoid those things.

Seek God's mind, principles in God's law even and you'll be wiser. But we we must move on. Look at verse 27. This is interesting because in the same chapter that introduces Ezra, we find him writing in the first person for the first time. Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers so the letter is done.

It it's it ended at verse 26. Now Ezra speaking, blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors and before all the king's mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me. So this is strong evidence that Ezra is the author of the book of Ezra. He's writing in the first person.

He is now giving his own commentary and he chooses to give it at this juncture of this account. I love it. The first time Ezra speaks in the first person in this book, he's praising God. And all that we know about him up to this point is that he studied the law, he did it, he taught it. I mean, he was immersed in the scriptures.

He was a diligent scholar. He he he found this to be his ultimate treasure and delight. And then the first time he speaks in the form of writing, he is worshiping. One of the ways you know the word of God is working in you that is that it will lead you to worship. I know some people who have an an incredible handling of the scriptures, but they're not worshipers.

They just have big heads. But there isn't a tenderness about them, there isn't an excitement in them, there isn't a passion, there isn't a sense of song, it's just information stored up here. And they know how to argue and they know how to debate and they know how to file these things and connect these truths. Ezra, he spent years looking into the word of God and the first thing that we see about him when he starts speaking is praise. Enthralled, moved by who this God is.

But more than that, we learn in verse six that all of this was a response to Ezra's request to the king. Now, he had the audacity and he had the boldness to say, I see God's plan for his people. I wanna play a part of it. And and so he goes up to the king. And this is the result of it.

And yet, he gives God glory for all of it. So he glorifies God. There is human agency at play here, but he lets us know in the beginning of verse 27, blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king. This wonderful marriage between our ability to do things and God's working sovereignly and providentially. And there's so much that we can unpack from Ezra's personal comments.

I wanna just leave you with one inspiring and hopeful insight. Think back to Artaxerxes attitude towards the things of God and the people of God. I mean, if you were to summarize it, it would simply be this. He respected God's appointed service servants and and supported them. He didn't look down on the priest.

He didn't look down on the Levites. He actually revered them to a certain extent. He acknowledged the God of Israel and his law being profitable and worthy to teach. He was generous and he was willing to invest in beautifying God's house. He recognized the value of worship and contributed to it in his own way.

And he saw disobedience as a serious thing. He even put things into law for those who would choose to turn away from God's word. This is moving for a Gentile like Artaxerxes. And the question I have is, how did these concerns and convictions captivate Artaxerxes heart? Ezra gives us the answer.

God put him in there. God put him in there. Do you believe you can put it in your heart? Think about it this way, if God was willing to deposit such things in the heart of a pagan, how much more for the one who yearns for the Holy Spirit to rewire and realign and inspire your heart and mine? Is he reluctant to do so?

Is he hesitant to do so? Or is he willing to do so? Oh, he is more than willing. If God is willing to do such a thing in this kind of a heart, what about the one who longs for Christ and longs for godliness and holiness to become a greater reality. He can listen.

He can put it in your heart. If you think that's just too good to be true, if you think it's that simple, listen, it is more of a reality than you have imagined. So again, I'm sitting back and I'm meditating on new testament examples of this and there's a simple verse in second Thessalonians in chapter three in verse five. It's a prayer that Paul prays for these believers. You know what he says?

He says, may the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God into the steadfastness of Christ. What does that mean? I'm praying that God would maneuver your heart and mold it and shape it and clean it so that it is more set on the love of God and on the steadfastness of Christ. People debate, is Paul asking for their hearts to be more set on God's love for them or their love for God? What about both?

Can he do both? He can do both. And what I wanna say to you and me at the end of the study is do not underestimate the power of coming before the lord regularly and asking him to place his will, his desires, his wisdom, and his affections in your heart. He's willing to do it. He won't give you a stone if you ask for bread.

He won't give you a scorpion if you ask for a fish. And if you want more of the Holy Spirit, he's gonna give you more of the Holy Spirit. Let's ask him for it. Shall we? We thank you, Lord, that yet again on another Friday night, you have convinced us that all scripture is breathed out by God.

So much was said, so much was read, and we trust that as we've done all that we can for this study, you will do abundantly more than we can ask or imagine. And Lord, though many points were made, we take that last one and we bring it before you as a church. And we ask you, Lord, that if you so worked in the heart of Artaxerxes to look favorably favorably upon the things of God and the people of God, though limited in his own way, would you do more work in our hearts? May you direct our hearts to the love of God. For those in this place, Lord, who struggle to believe that you cherish them, and that you care for them, and that you love them to the point of dying for them.

Whatever obstacle stand in the way of experiencing that love, we pray that you would use this bible study to shatter every lie, to destroy every hindrance. And for their understanding of who you are to expand. So we pray that all unholy fear, all ungodly dread, all terror and anxiety regarding judgment, We pray that all that would wash away and we would realize that the price Christ paid was far too great for us to live in such a way. But convince us, Lord, our hearts are deceitful and we fluctuate. So bring us to the place where we are confident.

And Lord, like Ezra, as a result of studying your word, we now worship you. We we will now give you our voices and sing your praises. Help us every single week to leave here with greater adoration and love for you as a result of what we learn about you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Amen. Alright church, let's stand together and let's rejoice in our God.

God

So, again, I wanna mention something from that last point. If you are somebody who struggles with really believing that God loves you, one of the things that you can do to change that is because there's some people who so have such a skewed view of God, they can't even read their Bibles properly. They can't because they have this perception of God that filters everything and it's a negative lens. Here's what you would do. Look for verses that speak about God's love, his affection, his humility, his grace, and memorize.

Memorize a verse or two because what that will do is that it will, develop a defense mechanism in your mind, in your heart. So when invading thoughts come, they'll be shot down by truths that you've compacted in your heart. I'll tell you, the past few days, I've been memorizing the last words of Jude. Now to him, who's able to keep you from stumbling, to present you blameless in the presence of his glory with great joy. That, wow.

The Lord is one, able to keep me from stumbling, and two, not only present me in the presence of his glory justified. That's amazing in itself, but even blameless. Blameless. And not only blameless, that I can stand before God with great joy. Oh, I I've been I'm still chewing on it.

The juices are still flowing. And, you know, the beauty of memorization is that you tuck it in your heart and you bring it wherever you go, wherever you are. You can be waiting at the the doctor's office, whatever in line, and you could just not to him who's able to keep you from stumbling. To present you, blame us in the presence of his glory with great joy. And you worship.

You worship. Maybe that will change things. I trust that it will. If you're really serious of seeing a revolution in your relationship with Christ, take take these words seriously. Lord, we thank you.

We thank you. We thank you that you have given us everything we need pertaining to life and godliness. Everything we need. It's accessible to any of us. We don't have to climb some mountain.

We don't have to punish our bodies and become monks in order to tap into a new level in our walk with God, it's at our disposal. So change us leaving this place and bring us bring us back again so that we can know more of you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen.

Well, cherish these next few Fridays because we only have two chapters left in the book of Ezra. That's right. But we'll continue with Nehemiah. So, God bless you. Fellowship with one another.

And if you're here on Sunday, we'll see you at that service. Take care now.