Keeping the Passover - Ezra 6:19

In the book of Ezra, Ezra said the children of Israel, “set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses”, and in chapter six and verse nineteen of Ezra, Ezra shared how, “the children of the captivity kept the passover” where we read,

And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month.

The verse reads, “And the children of the captivity kept the passover ...” Ezra began with the words, “and the children”which means “and the offspring and progeny” “of the captivity” whose name means “belonging to the people of Israel who were exiled in Babylon” “kept the passover” or “prepared, attended to and observed the festival or the victim belonging to the passover offering” (See Exodus 12:6-12). Ezra shared how the offspring of Israel who returned to Jerusalem after being exiled in Babylon for seventy years observed the “passover feast” when the temple worship was reestablished. 

The verse goes on to say, “... upon the fourteenth day of the first month.” Ezra continued with the words, “upon the fourteenth day” which means “on the fourteenth sunrise to sunset” “of the first month” or “belonging to the first new moon or lunar month”. Ezra shared how the “children of Israel” observed the “feast of the passover” upon the “fourteenth day” of the first month. (Nissan)

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Ezra how the feasts of the Jewish people were being reestablished after their temple was rebuilt. The children of Israel spent seventy years exiled in Babylon for their disobedience to Jehovah God, and now that they were back in their home country, the observances of their feasts and religious practices became part of their lives again. God loves the people of Israel even as He loves all the nations of the world. He sent His “only begotten Son” Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and allow us to be a part of the practice of giving Him worship, honor and praise as we observe the “lamb of God” who was sacrificed for the sins of the world. (John 1:29,36) 

Next time Ezra shares how, “the priests and the Levites were purified together”, 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".