Keeping the Feast of Unleavened Bread - Ezra 6:22

In the book of Ezra, Ezra said, “the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat, ...”, and in chapter six and verse twenty-two of Ezra, Ezra shared how the people of Israel, “kept the feast of unleavened bread” where we read,

And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

The verse reads, “And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy:” Ezra began with the words, “and kept the feast” which means “and prepared, followed and observed the festival sacrifice” “of unleavened bread” which means “pertaining to cakes made without leaven” “seven days with joy” or “seven sunrises to sunsets while having mirth, gladness, gaiety and pleasure”. (See Exodus 12:15-20; 13:6-7) Ezra shared how the people of Israel gladly and with pleasure observed the festival of cakes made without leaven for seven sunrises to sunsets.

The verse continues, “for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, ...” Ezra added the words, “for the LORD” which means “because, since and on account that Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “had made them joyful” or “caused them, the people of Israel, to exist as gladdened, exulted, merry and filled with glee”, “and turned the heart of the king of Assyria” which means “and changed, transformed and caused the inner man, soul, mind, will and understanding belonging to the royal ruler and leader of Assyria whose name means a step” “unto them” or “toward them, the people of Israel”. Ezra said Jehovah God cause the children of Israel to be filled with glee because He changed the soul, mind and will of the royal ruler of “Assyria” to be toward them. 

Finally the verse says, “... to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.” Ezra concluded this verse with the words, “to strengthen their hands” which means “and hardened, made strong, firm and resolute their, the people of Israel's, physical hands” “in the work” or “within the occupation, business and service” “of the house of God” which means “belonging to the habitation, abode and dwelling place belonging to the Supreme Deity”, “the God of Israel” or “the Supreme Deity belonging to Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name for the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”. Ezra ended this verse by referring to the way the royal ruler of “Assyria” was used by Jehovah God to make the people of Israel's physical hands strong and firm in the service of rebuilding His temple as He was indeed the “Supreme Deity” of “Israel”.

When we mediate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Ezra how the children of Israel observed the “feast of unleavened bread” which was instituted by God through Moses and symbolizes no sin in their lives. They were joyous because God altered the “soul and mind” of the royal ruler of Assyria to make them strong and resolute to rebuild the temple of Jehovah God. God was indeed the Supreme Deity of “Israel”, and observing His “feasts” was an essential part of relating to Him. God wants everyone to be in a personal intimate relationship with Him, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to be crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we surrender our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life, cleanse us from all unrighteousness and purify us by His Holy Spirit as we joyously give Him praise and honor all the days of our lives.

Next time we begin a new chapter and see Ezra begin to share what happens, “after these days”, 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".