Departing from the River of Ahava - Ezra 8:31

In the book of Ezra, Ezra said, “so took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God”, and in chapter eight and verse thirty-one of Ezra, Ezra said, “then we departed from the river of Ahava” where we read,

Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way. 

The verse reads, “Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem:”Ezra began with the words, “then we departed” which means “at that time we, Ezra, the chief men and the Nethinims, left, set forward and set out” “from the river of Ahava” or “separate and apart from the stream or river named Ahava whose name means I shall subsist and was a town or area in Babylon” “on the twelfth day” which means “upon the twelfth sunrise to sunset” “of the first month” or “belonging to the primary and foremost new moon or lunar month”, “to go unto Jerusalem” which means “to proceed, depart and be lead to 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 he, the chief men and the Nethinims departed from the Ahava River on the twelfth day of the first lunar moon (which corresponds to April) to travel to “Jerusalem”.

The verse continues, “… and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way. ” Ezra added the words, “and the hand of our God” which means “and the power, might and ability belonging to our, Ezra, the chief men and the Nethinims', Supreme Deity” “was upon us” which means “existed on us, Ezra, the chief men and the Nethinims”, “and he delivered us” or “and he, the Supreme Deity Jehovah rescued, saved and preserved us, Ezra, the chief men and the Nethinims', ” “from the hand of the enemy” which means “separate and apart from the power, might and ability belonging to the hating foe and adversary”, “and of such as lay in wait” or “and pertaining to bandits or people who lurk and lay an ambush” “by the way” which means “along, beside and adjoining the road, path or journey”. Ezra shared how the power and might of the Supreme Deity Jehovah existed on him, the chief men and the Nethinims, and He rescued them from the power of their hating foes and those who lay in ambush along their traveled road. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Ezra how he, the chief men and the Nethinims departed from the “Ahava River” and began their travels to Jerusalem on the “twelfth day” of the “first” lunar moon which corresponds to April nineteenth. God's powerful and gracious hand was upon them and protected and saved them from hating adversaries and bandits who might lay in ambush along their path. God was watching over the people of Israel, and His will was going to be accomplished. God has a plan and purpose for our lives too, and it begins with our surrender to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for our sins. When we yield to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and provide for and protect us along our travels in this life. 

Next time Ezra says, “we came to Jerusalem”, 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".