In the book of Ezra, Ezra said, “the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD”, and in chapter eight and verse thirty-six of Ezra, Ezra shared how, “they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants” where we read,
And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.
The verse reads, “And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river:” Ezra began with the words, “and they delivered” which means “and they, the exiles gave, bestowed, granted and consecrated” “the king's commissions” or “the royal ruler and leader's decrees” “unto the king's lieutenants” which means “to the royal ruler and leader's satraps and officials”, “and to the governors” or “and to the captains and deputies” “on this side the river” which means “upon the western side of the Euphrates River”. Ezra shared how he and the exiles of Israel gave the royal ruler's decrees to the royal ruler's satraps and deputies who were on the western side of the Euphrates River.
The verse goes on to say, “and they furthered the people, and the house of God.” Ezra continued with the words, “and they furthered the people” which means “and they, royal ruler's officials and deputies lifted up, carried away, obtained and sustained the human beings within Israel”, “and the house” which means “and the habitation, abode and dwelling place” “of God” or “belonging to the Supreme Deity”. Ezra shared how the king's “officials and deputies” sustained the people of Israel as well as the dwelling place belonging to the Supreme Deity Jehovah.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Ezra how the exiled people of “Israel” gave the “decrees” of King Artaxerxes to his satraps and deputies who in turn sustained and lifted them up. God's plan of the restoration of Jerusalem and the reestablishing of the worship of Him was fully in motion, and because God loves the people of Israel, He was at work on their behalf. God loves 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 possible the forgiveness of our sins, the granting of eternal life and the sustaining and lifting us up as we put our faith and trust in Him.
Next time we begin a new chapter and see Ezra share what happened, “when these things were done”, 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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