The Rising of the Chief of the Fathers - Ezra 1:5

In the book of Ezra, Ezra wrote how Cyrus the king of Persia asked, “Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. And whosoever remains in any place where he sojourns, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem” and in chapter one and verse five of Ezra, Ezra said, “then rose up the chief of the fathers” where we read,

Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.

The verse reads, “Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, ...” Ezrabegan with the words, “then rose up” or “at that time stood up, arose and came on the scene ” “the chief of the fathers” which means “the top, summit, upper part and head belonging to the founders, ancestors and forefathers” “of Judah” or “belonging to Judah whose name means praised and was the kingdom comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin which occupied the southern part of Canaan after the nation split upon the death of Solomon” “and Benjamin” which means “and Benjamin whose name means son of the right hand and was the tribe descended from Benjamin who was the son of Jacob”, “and the priests” or “and the principal and officiating officers”, “and the Levites” which means “and the people whose names mean joined to and was the tribe descended from Levi which was specially set aside by God for His service”. Ezra shared how the people of Israel responded to the commission of “Cyrus” as the officiating founders belonging to “Judah and Benjamin” as well as the spiritual officers and the “Levites” joined them. 

The verse continues, “... with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.” Ezra added the words, “with all them” or “alongside each, every, the whole and everyone of the people”“whose spirit” which means “in whom their mind, vivacity, vigor and disposition” “God had raised” or “Jehovah God the Supreme Deity has aroused, stirred up and incited”, “to go up to build the house” which means “to ascend and be taken up to establish, cause to continue and rebuild the dwelling place, habitation, abode and temple” “of the LORD” or “belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “which is in Jerusalem”which means “that exists within Jerusalem whose name means teaching of peace and is the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split”. Ezra shared how the officiating founders belonging to “Judah and Benjamin” as well as the spiritual officers and the “Levites” in whom Jehovah God aroused to go to “Jerusalem” to rebuild His temple responded to the commission of “Cyrus”.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Ezra how there were “forefathers in Judah and Benjamin, spiritual officers and Levites who were inspired by Jehovah God to return to “Jerusalem” to rebuild His temple. God was willing to use people to accomplish His work, and those in whom His spirit resided responded to His call. God loves people, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross to prove it. When we yield our lives to Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and inspire us if we are willing to accomplish the building of His temple which is the church and the body of Christ. 

Next time Ezra says, “all they that were about them strengthened their hands”, 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".