Ezra 7:10 - "For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and
to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel."
In Ezra chapter 7 we're introduced to the writer of this
book, Ezra himself. Chapter 7 begins in the first 5 verses by giving us the lineage of
Ezra. Ezra was of the tribe of Levi, and he was of the family of Aaron the high
priest. In Exodus when God was giving the law, He set apart the house of Levi
for the temple service, and from that tribe He set apart the house of Aaron to
minister as priests before Him. This is the house that Ezra was a part of, so
the first thing we learn about him is that he was a priest.
The second thing we learn about him is that he was also a scribe. We're told in the sixth verse - "This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all he requested because the hand of the Lord his God was upon him."
Although Judah was in captivity at the time that Ezra wrote this book, he was still a person of some importance. He was a priest before God, he was a scribe who studied the law of God, and the hand of God was upon him giving him favor in the sight of the king of Persia. Twice in this chapter we're told that the hand of the Lord was upon him.
As I was reading through this chapter verse ten stood out to me, and I just want to spend a little time focusing on it.
Ezra 7:10 - "For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel."
In this verse we're told of three different things that Ezra set his heart to do. Ezra is an Old Testament example that we can learn to follow, because all three of these things that he set his heart to do we are also encouraged to do in the New Testament.
1) Ezra set his heart to study the Law of the Lord. He saw the importance of familiarizing himself with the word of God. In 2 Timothy 2:15 we're told to - "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth." In order to divide the word of truth rightly, or correctly interpret and apply the word of God, we need to study the entirety of it. Jesus said in John 8:31-32 - "If you continue in My word then you are My disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." That's the mark of a true disciple. One who continues daily in the Word of God. And it's by that study that God reveals His truth to us.
In Acts 17 Paul and Silas came to a city called Berea and began preaching the gospel there in their synagogues. Acts 17:11 says about the Bereans - "Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so." the folks at Berea were commended for testing what Paul and Silas said against the Scriptures to see whether it was true. We need to do the same thing. Don't just accept something that someone says because they've been a Christian longer, or even because they’re the pastor or elder of a church. Gods Word is the ultimate standard, and really the only standard, and we need to check all things against it. "Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord".
2) Ezra set his heart to practice it. James is really good at reminding us of the importance of practicing our faith. He makes statements like "Prove yourselves doers of the word and not merely hearers who delude themselves." and "Faith without works is useless." and "Faith without works is dead." and "To the one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it to him it is sin." in fact throughout his whole book he emphasizes the importance of practicing our faith. But on top of just practicing our faith, the Bible takes it a step further. We don't just do what we know to be right with an attitude of "well I guess I gotta do this because that's what the Bible says." But the Bible talks about delighting in obedience. How obeying the Word of God brings delight. David talks about this in Psalm 40 when he says "I delight to do Thy will, O God." And this same verse is quoted in Hebrews chapter 10 concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. "I delight to do Thy will, O God."
Obedience is also how we show our love for God. Jesus said in John 14:15 - "If you love Me keep My commandments." But again, attitude is important. 1 John 5:3 says - "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome." So our love for God is expressed in our joyful obedience to Him. Ezra was not merely a hearer of the Word, but a doer. "Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord, and to practice it."
3) Ezra set his heart to teach Gods statues and ordinances to Israel. In 2 Timothy, Paul instructs Timothy that the servant of the Lord must be "able to teach." He also tells him in chapter 2 - "The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." There are many places throughout the New Testament where it talks about teaching. When Jesus walked on this earth, we're told time after time, "He began to teach them" He went to this place or that place to teach them. Many called Him Rabbi, which means teacher. And right before Jesus ascended into heaven, in Matthew 28, He gave this command to His disciples. - "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." This last command before His ascension involved teaching. "For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel."
The second thing we learn about him is that he was also a scribe. We're told in the sixth verse - "This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all he requested because the hand of the Lord his God was upon him."
Although Judah was in captivity at the time that Ezra wrote this book, he was still a person of some importance. He was a priest before God, he was a scribe who studied the law of God, and the hand of God was upon him giving him favor in the sight of the king of Persia. Twice in this chapter we're told that the hand of the Lord was upon him.
As I was reading through this chapter verse ten stood out to me, and I just want to spend a little time focusing on it.
Ezra 7:10 - "For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel."
In this verse we're told of three different things that Ezra set his heart to do. Ezra is an Old Testament example that we can learn to follow, because all three of these things that he set his heart to do we are also encouraged to do in the New Testament.
1) Ezra set his heart to study the Law of the Lord. He saw the importance of familiarizing himself with the word of God. In 2 Timothy 2:15 we're told to - "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth." In order to divide the word of truth rightly, or correctly interpret and apply the word of God, we need to study the entirety of it. Jesus said in John 8:31-32 - "If you continue in My word then you are My disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." That's the mark of a true disciple. One who continues daily in the Word of God. And it's by that study that God reveals His truth to us.
In Acts 17 Paul and Silas came to a city called Berea and began preaching the gospel there in their synagogues. Acts 17:11 says about the Bereans - "Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so." the folks at Berea were commended for testing what Paul and Silas said against the Scriptures to see whether it was true. We need to do the same thing. Don't just accept something that someone says because they've been a Christian longer, or even because they’re the pastor or elder of a church. Gods Word is the ultimate standard, and really the only standard, and we need to check all things against it. "Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord".
2) Ezra set his heart to practice it. James is really good at reminding us of the importance of practicing our faith. He makes statements like "Prove yourselves doers of the word and not merely hearers who delude themselves." and "Faith without works is useless." and "Faith without works is dead." and "To the one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it to him it is sin." in fact throughout his whole book he emphasizes the importance of practicing our faith. But on top of just practicing our faith, the Bible takes it a step further. We don't just do what we know to be right with an attitude of "well I guess I gotta do this because that's what the Bible says." But the Bible talks about delighting in obedience. How obeying the Word of God brings delight. David talks about this in Psalm 40 when he says "I delight to do Thy will, O God." And this same verse is quoted in Hebrews chapter 10 concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. "I delight to do Thy will, O God."
Obedience is also how we show our love for God. Jesus said in John 14:15 - "If you love Me keep My commandments." But again, attitude is important. 1 John 5:3 says - "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome." So our love for God is expressed in our joyful obedience to Him. Ezra was not merely a hearer of the Word, but a doer. "Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord, and to practice it."
3) Ezra set his heart to teach Gods statues and ordinances to Israel. In 2 Timothy, Paul instructs Timothy that the servant of the Lord must be "able to teach." He also tells him in chapter 2 - "The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." There are many places throughout the New Testament where it talks about teaching. When Jesus walked on this earth, we're told time after time, "He began to teach them" He went to this place or that place to teach them. Many called Him Rabbi, which means teacher. And right before Jesus ascended into heaven, in Matthew 28, He gave this command to His disciples. - "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." This last command before His ascension involved teaching. "For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel."
The order of these things is important. You cannot practice the Word of God if you do not know it. An intimate, working knowledge of the Word of God comes as a result of time spent studying it, so you cannot practice it unless you first study it. And you should not be teaching it unless you are practicing it. To teach it and not practice it is hypocrisy. You can have a vast amount of knowledge of the Word of God, but it must come out in the way you live before it comes out in the way you talk. Ezras life is a wonderful example for us. May we be diligent to study Gods Word, put it into
practice, and faithfully teach others also.
Ezra 7:10 - "For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and
to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel."
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