In the book of Ezra, Ezra shared how king Artaxerxes of Persia wrote in a letter to him, “all the silver and gold that you can find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem”, and in chapter seven and verse seventeen of Ezra, Ezra shared how Artaxerxes wrote, “so you may buy speedily with this money” where we read,
That you may buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
The verse reads, “That you may buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, ...” Ezra began with the words, “that you may buy speedily” which means “so you, Ezra, will be able to quickly purchase” “with this money” which means “by the means of the silver and gold” “bullocks” or “oxen or bulls”, “rams” which means “male ram animals”, “lambs” or “small cattle known as lambs”, “with their meat offerings” which means “accompanied by their, the people of Israel's, oblations” “and their drink offerings” or “and their, the people of Israel's, poured out libations offering”. Ezra shared how the purpose for the “silver and gold money” was to quickly purchase “bulls, rams, lambs and meat and drink” to be used in the following manner.
The verse continues, “… and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.” Ezra added the words, “and offer them” which means “and present and sacrifice them, the bulls, rams, lambs and meat offering” “upon the altar” or “on the sacrificial slaughtering place” “of the house” which means “pertaining to the habitation, abode and dwelling place” “of your God” or “belonging to your, Ezra's, Supreme Deity” “which is in Jerusalem” which means “that exists within Jerusalem whose name means teaching of peace”. Ezra shared how “Artaxerxes” instructed “Ezra” to present the sacrificial animals on the slaughtering location within the dwelling place of the Supreme Deity Jehovah God who exists within “Jerusalem”.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Ezra how “Artaxerxes” wanted to supply Ezra with that which he and the people of Israel would need to reestablish their worship of Jehovah God. “Artaxerxes” gave Ezra “gold and silver” to purchase “bulls, rams, lambs and meat and drink” for their worship, and they were to present them as “sacrifices” upon the “altars” within the temple in Jerusalem. God was supplying His people with what they needed to worship Him, and by making Him the priority of their lives, they would be better for it. God wants the best for us as well, and when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, He made the way for us to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and supplied with our needs according to His riches in glory. (See Philippians 4:19)
Next time Ezra shares how Artaxerxes wrote, “whatsoever shall seem good … do with the rest of the silver and gold”, 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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