In the book of Ezra, Ezra shared how Artaxerxes wrote in a letter, “Forasmuch as you are sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand”, and in chapter seven and verse fifteen of Ezra, Ezra shared how Artaxerxes wrote, “carry the silver and gold” where we read,
And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
The verse reads, “And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, ...” Ezra began with the words, “and to carry the silver and gold” which means “and to bear along and bring the silver and gold metal” “which the king” which means “that the royal ruler and leader”, “and his counselors” or “and his, king Artaxerxes, consultants and advisers” “have freely offered” which means “voluntarily given” “unto the God” or “to the Supreme Deity” “of Israel” which means “belonging to Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of descendants of Jacob”. Ezra shared how “Artaxerxes” instructed him to bring the “silver and gold metal” which was willingly given to Jehovah God who is the Supreme Deity belonging to “Israel”.
The verse continues, “… whose habitation is in Jerusalem,” Ezra added the words, “whose habitation” which means “who has a dwelling place and abode that” “is in Jerusalem” or “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 added how “Artaxerxes” acknowledge that Jehovah God lived among the people of “Israel” within the city of “Jerusalem”.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Ezra how “Artaxerxes” and his advisers also committed the precious “silver and gold metal” to him that they willingly gave to Jehovah God who lived with him and the people of Israel in Jerusalem. In other words, this foreign leader was being used by God to send people and funds to “Jerusalem”. God loves everybody, and when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, He made a way for us to be forgiven of our sins and granted everlasting life when we receive Him as our “Savior and Lord”. God has a plan for all of us, and as we yield to Him, He will direct us through His Holy Spirit concerning His will and purpose for our lives.
Next time Ezra shares how Artaxerxes wrote in the letter, “all the silver and gold that you can find in the province of Babylon”, 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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