In the book of Ezra, Ezra said, “And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening”, and in chapter three and verse four of Ezra, Ezra shared how the priest, “kept also the feast of tabernacles” where we read,
They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;
The verse reads, “They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, ...” Ezra began with the words, “they kept also” which means “they, Jeshua, Zerubbabel and their brethren even so and indeed celebrated and observed” “the feast of the tabernacles” which means “pertaining to the festival gathering and sacrifice of booths, pavilions or tents”, “as it is written” or “in the same manner and likeness to the manner recorded enrolled and inscribed”, “and offered the daily burnt offerings” which means “and day by day extended and caused to ascend whole sacrifices that have been burned as if going up in smoke upon the altar” “by number” or “within the definite accounting and finite amount” in keeping with the following. Ezra shared how “Jeshua, Zerubbabel and their brethren” observed the festival gathering and sacrifice of booths and day by day whole sacrifices that have been burned as if going up in smoke upon the altar according to the amount that were prescribed to be presented.
The verse goes on to say, “... according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;” Ezra continued with the words, “according to the custom” or “in keeping with the justice, ordinance, procedure and process”, “as the duty” which means “even and indeed like the utterance, business, occupation and manner” “of every day required” or “belonging to each, the whole and all sunrises to sunsets made necessary, mandatory and compulsory”. Ezra shared how “Jeshua, Zerubbabel and their brethren” observed the manner and keeping of the feast of tabernacles and sacrificial offerings in accordance with the manner that each “day” demanded.
When we consider Ezra's words in this verse, we discover how “Jeshua, Zerubbabel and their brethren” observed the pre-described manner in which the law of Moses demanded for the keeping of feasts and sacrifices. They observed the “feast of tabernacles” which was a reminder of the people of Israel of the time their forefathers spent in the wilderness after departing from Egypt, and they kept the “daily sacrifices” as well. The worship of Jehovah God was reestablished for Israel, and it was the priority of these leaders. God wants to relate to us every day, and when we realize He gave His Only Begotten Son to die on the cross for our sins, so we may receive forgiveness of sins, everlasting life and a daily inspiration to worship Him in a manner that is pleasing to Him.
Next time Ezra shared how the priest, “offered the continual burnt offering”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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