Ezra 7:1-10
The Arrival of Ezra
1 Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, 2 the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, 3 the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 4 the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 5 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest— 6 this Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him. 7 Some of the children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
8 And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9 On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Finally we see who Ezra is who wrote this account of God’s word to us. In Hebrew, the name Ezra means “help” or “helper” and may be an abbreviation for “God helps” or “God is helper.” He was a descendant of Aaron the chief priest and we can trace his lineage back to him from this detailed account given to us to consider who he really was, a priest of the Most High God by familial inheritance. He came out of the exiled bondage in Babylon to build the house of God and its surrounding city of Jerusalem by the leading and decree of God Himself. He was a scribe who studied and knew the word of God called the Law of Moses then, and is described as skilled in the word given by the LORD to His people. We read of when he began his journey and when he arrived at last after five months on the road in the city of David as God’s good hand was on him to protect, lead, and guide him to do God’s will. Ezra first of all had prepared his heart to seek the Law of God, to know what the scriptures say and mean in understanding and practice. Then this skilled scribe looked for how to put these commands, examples, and principles into hands and feet and lips to please the LORD and communicate these truths to others to live by (2 Timothy 2:2) as well. He taught the statutes and ordinances to the people of God (Deuteronomy 6:6-7) who came out of bondage with him to build God’s house and worship Him in spirit and truth, instructing them to do so with all (Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37) their hearts, minds, lives, and strength. Do we likewise learn from this example written for our instruction (Romans 15:4, 1 Corinthians 10:11) to seek God’s word (Matthew 4:4, Job 23:11-12), what it means (Joshua 1:8), how to live accordingly (Colossians 1:10, 2 Peter 1:5-6, 7-8), and pass it on to others as we pour our lives into others (2 Timothy 3:16-17) as He does with us? It all starts with the heart set on knowing Him and manifests this truth of worship and honor by making Him known as we follow our great God and Savior (Titus 2:13, 2 Peter 1:1), Jesus Christ. We are to seek, act, and teach His word as skilled scribes (Matthew 13:52) of His gospel of deliverance from sin to follow and honor Him.
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