Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20101031.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Ezra: Following God For Reconstruction After Group Defeat
Part XI: Following God's Clear Leading Versus Our Own Ways
(Ezra 7:11-8:36)
  1. Introduction
    1. Psalm 119:105 claims God's Word is a light to our feet, and a lamp to our path, implying that without closely following His Word's lead, we function in darkness, a truth verified by the words of Isaiah 8:20.
    2. Accordingly, we dare not launch out on our own initiative in life, but follow God's leading at every step, a lesson illustrated in Ezra's experience in Ezra 7:11-8:36. We thus view this passage for our instruction:
  2. Following God's Clear Leading Versus Our Own Ways, Ezra 7:11-8:36.
    1. Ezra 7:11-28 reports how the edict of Persia's emperor, king Artaxerxes, gave such generous support to Ezra and his band of Hebrew exiles that they might return to the land of Israel that Ezra was greatly strengthened to be bold to be resolved to lead the Hebrew exiles back to Israel:
      1. Ezra 7:27 records Ezra's blessing the Lord in moving the king's heart to beautify God's temple.
      2. Ezra's expression had plenty of merit, for the king's letter that accompanied Ezra and his group of returning Hebrew exiles offered them great advantages in succeeding in their effort, Ezra 7:11-8:20:
        1. God had moved the king to grant permission for all Hebrews who so chose to return to Judah from Persia under Ezra's leadership, Ezra 7:11-14.
        2. God moved the king to give treasures for the temple ministry in accord with the Law, Ezra 7:15-20.
        3. God had moved the king to order that the tax revenues collected in the Persian provinces around Judah were to be used as needed with all diligence for the temple, Ezra 7:21-22. The king did not want to invoke the wrath of Israel's God, so he urged such intense support for the temple, Ezra 7:23.
        4. God moved the king to exclude the Hebrew temple ministers from being taxed, Ezra 7:24.
        5. God moved the king to have Ezra appoint men to rule the Hebrews in Judah, Ezra 7:25a.
        6. God moved the king to have Ezra instruct the Hebrews in the Mosaic Law that they might obey it and keep order and peace among the Hebrews in that part of his realm, Ezra 7:25b.
        7. God moved the king to order Ezra to deal out punishment on those Hebrews who failed to heed the Law of God, and that to keep order and peace in the land in accord with God's will, Ezra 7:26.
      3. Accordingly, Ezra testified that this generosity on the part of the king "strengthened" him to be bold and motivated to lead the exiles back to Israel since the hand of the Lord was upon him, Ezra 7:27.
      4. With this encouragement, Ezra gathered together chief men of the Hebrew exiles in Persia to return with him to the land of Israel, Ezra 7:28; 8:1-20.
    2. Yet, Ezra's group let their encouragement cause them to cease following God and initiate its own words to the king, cornering itself in a crisis that led to needed prayer, fasting, and defensive plans, Ezra 8:21-30:
      1. Ezra's group was so encouraged by the king's support that it testified before the king that God's hand was with those who seek Him for good and His power was against all who forsook Him, Ezra 8:22b.
      2. Ezra then realized the king would think this claim meant God would protect them with no troop escort, so he was ashamed to ask for one, forcing his group to have to beg God for a safe trip, Ezra 8:21-22a!
      3. Ezra also divided up the valuables from the king for the temple, diversifying the treasures among the exiles to lessen the chance of loss in the event of a bandit attack along the way, Ezra 8:24-30!
    3. By God's grace, the Lord gave Ezra's group protection on their journey (Ezra 8:23b, 31-32), so they arrived in Jerusalem safely and delivered the treasures to the Jerusalem temple leaders, Ezra 8:33-34.
    4. Ezra's group then offered burnt and sin offerings (Ezra 8:35) and delivered related orders of the king to the officials of the "Trans-Euphrates" provinces that they should assist the Hebrews in their settlement, and so these officials helped the returning Hebrews in accord with the king's directives, Ezra 8:36 NIV.
Lesson: Ezra's group of exiles let their joy at God's work to cause the Persian king to help them cause them to cease following God's leading in how to speak to the king, producing an unnecessary trial!

Application: May we continue to follow God's clear Biblical leading to avoid creating needless trials for ourselves from stepping out of God's protective shadow in going our own way on our own motivation!