Ezra 1:1 – The promise the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah was about to come true in Cyrus’ first year as king of Persia. The Lord inspired the king to make this announcement throughout his whole kingdom and then to put it in writing.
So I’m a bit curious as to why books in the Bible were arranged the way they were (I understand the overall reason), but it still makes sense to have the prophetic books before the fulfilment of the prophecy. Just saying. And so often we want to believe that Yahweh would only use “his” people, but who did he inspire here?
Ezra 3:7 – So they gave money to the stonecutters and carpenters. Then they gave food, drink, and olive oil to the men from Sidon and Tyre in exchange for cedar, which the men would bring by sea from Lebanon to Joppa as King Cyrus of Persia had authorized them to do.
I like this scripture (and others). Why? Because there are still too many churches that believe that everything must be done “for free” by the members. But these members still have to work to support their families and themselves. And then the church gets vex when they can’t do everything or things take time. But if they were paid for their skills, they would be able to support the work of the church and support their families.
Ezra 4:10 – and the rest of the people whom the great and noble Assurbanipal deported. (Assurbanipal settled them in the cities of Samaria and the rest of the lands west of the Euphrates River.)
Unusual name alert! Decided to start a game of “I’m thinking of a Bible Character” using this name. No one has gotten it yet (inserts evil laugh here). This is gonna be fun!
Ezra 8:22 – I was ashamed to ask the king for an armed escort with cavalry to help us against an enemy attack on the way. We had already told the king, “Our God works things out for the good of everyone who dedicates his life to serving him, but his power and his anger oppose everyone who abandons him.”
I always loved this statement because it shows the humanity. Being ashamed. But it also shows that there is a right way to boast. In Yahweh and what he can do and not of ourselves.
Ezra 9:2 – The Israelites and their sons have married some of these foreign women. They have mixed our holy race with the neighboring groups of people. Furthermore, the leaders and officials have led the way in being unfaithful.
Sigh. Can I be honest? This happens even now. So many men leave the women in the church and go outside. Funny though, when the women do it because there are now no men, they get chastised. Sometimes as Christian women we do get the short end of the stick. Real short.