Devotion 411
“Christ in Ezra”
Reference: Ezra Chapter 8
The Spirit of God in a man or woman will stir him or her to do the same things as Jesus Christ.
Christ gathered His people through the work of the Cross; the permanent Mercy seat of God.
Ezra gathers the people through the building of the temple; the temporary Mercy seat of God.
Let’s read:
Ezra 8:1-15 “These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king. [2] Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush. [3] Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred and fifty. [4] Of the sons of Pahath–moab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males. [5] Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males. [6] Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males. [7] And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males. [8] And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males. [9] Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males. [10] And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him an hundred and threescore males. [11] And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males. [12] And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him an hundred and ten males. [13] And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males. [14] Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males. [15] And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.”
Ezra gathers them according to the Word of God. The Word of God instructed Levites to be priests among all the tribes.
The Spirit of God will always bring us to the Word of God. The Spirit of God will always keep us in line with the Word no matter what circumstances we find ourselves.
We continue our reading:
Ezra 8:16 “Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.”
Not just physical but spiritual understanding. Spiritual understanding is not the men but the Holy Spirit in those men.
It’s not Holy men but the Holy Spirit in men.
It’s not a Holy mountain but the Holy God on the mountain.
It’s not a Holy Church but the Holy Spirit in the Church.
Ezra looked for men who were led by the Spirit of understanding.
May we always look for men and women led by the Spirit.
We continue our reading:
Ezra 8:17-21 “And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God. [18] And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen; [19] And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty; [20] Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name. [21] Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.”
Ezra stayed with the Word. He called a fast to bring the people close to God. They sought the Lord through fasting and prayer, and the hand of God they saw.
We continue our reading:
Ezra 8:22-23 “For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. [23] So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.”
The prayer of the righteous comes directly to the Father, and He will always respond to the needs of His children. That’s what makes Him God.
He is the same yesterday,today, and forever.
We continue our reading:
Ezra 8:24-31 “Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them, [25] And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered: [26] I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred talents; [27] Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold. [28] And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers. [29] Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD. [30] So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God. [31] Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.”
How He gathers His children under His wings.
Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”
The wings of His Cross, where the Old Testament (left wing) and the New Testament (right wing) meets.
He gather His children under His Wings of the Word.
We conclude our reading:
Ezra 8:32-36 “And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days. [33] Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites; [34] By number and by weight of every one: and all the weight was written at that time. [35] Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD. [36] And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.”
The Spirit of God in Ezra, gathering the people unto the Lord by pointing them to the sacrifice. How we can stay on this subject all day.
Today, we are gathered together by the one Holy Spirit, drinking from the One fountain.
1 Corinthians 12:13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
Let the Word of God bring you under His Wings. BELIEVE and confess Christ the Word as we’ve revealed Him from the First Adam. The only place of safety is under the feathers of His wings, in Christ!
Reference: Ezra Chapter 8
The Spirit of God in a man or woman will stir him or her to do the same things as Jesus Christ.
Christ gathered His people through the work of the Cross; the permanent Mercy seat of God.
Ezra gathers the people through the building of the temple; the temporary Mercy seat of God.
Let’s read:
Ezra 8:1-15 “These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king. [2] Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush. [3] Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred and fifty. [4] Of the sons of Pahath–moab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males. [5] Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males. [6] Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males. [7] And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males. [8] And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males. [9] Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males. [10] And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him an hundred and threescore males. [11] And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males. [12] And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him an hundred and ten males. [13] And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males. [14] Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males. [15] And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.”
Ezra gathers them according to the Word of God. The Word of God instructed Levites to be priests among all the tribes.
The Spirit of God will always bring us to the Word of God. The Spirit of God will always keep us in line with the Word no matter what circumstances we find ourselves.
We continue our reading:
Ezra 8:16 “Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.”
Not just physical but spiritual understanding. Spiritual understanding is not the men but the Holy Spirit in those men.
It’s not Holy men but the Holy Spirit in men.
It’s not a Holy mountain but the Holy God on the mountain.
It’s not a Holy Church but the Holy Spirit in the Church.
Ezra looked for men who were led by the Spirit of understanding.
May we always look for men and women led by the Spirit.
We continue our reading:
Ezra 8:17-21 “And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God. [18] And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen; [19] And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty; [20] Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name. [21] Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.”
Ezra stayed with the Word. He called a fast to bring the people close to God. They sought the Lord through fasting and prayer, and the hand of God they saw.
We continue our reading:
Ezra 8:22-23 “For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. [23] So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.”
The prayer of the righteous comes directly to the Father, and He will always respond to the needs of His children. That’s what makes Him God.
He is the same yesterday,today, and forever.
We continue our reading:
Ezra 8:24-31 “Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them, [25] And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered: [26] I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred talents; [27] Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold. [28] And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers. [29] Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD. [30] So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God. [31] Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.”
How He gathers His children under His wings.
Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”
The wings of His Cross, where the Old Testament (left wing) and the New Testament (right wing) meets.
He gather His children under His Wings of the Word.
We conclude our reading:
Ezra 8:32-36 “And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days. [33] Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites; [34] By number and by weight of every one: and all the weight was written at that time. [35] Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD. [36] And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.”
The Spirit of God in Ezra, gathering the people unto the Lord by pointing them to the sacrifice. How we can stay on this subject all day.
Today, we are gathered together by the one Holy Spirit, drinking from the One fountain.
1 Corinthians 12:13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
Let the Word of God bring you under His Wings. BELIEVE and confess Christ the Word as we’ve revealed Him from the First Adam. The only place of safety is under the feathers of His wings, in Christ!
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