In the book of Ezra, Ezra said, “I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us. Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them, ...”, and in chapter eight and verse twenty-five of Ezra, Ezra shared how he, “weighed unto them the silver, and the gold” where we read,
And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counselors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered:
The verse reads, “And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, ...” Ezra began with the words, “and weighed unto them the silver” which means “and paid out to them, Sherbiah and Hasabiah and their ten relatives, the silver metal”, “and the gold” or “and the gold metal”, “and the vessels” which means “and the implements, utensils and articles”, “even the offering” or “also and indeed the tribute, oblation or contribution” “of the house of our God” which means “pertaining to the habitation, abode and dwelling place belonging to our, Ezra, the chief men and the Nethinims', Supreme Deity”. Ezra shared how he entrusted “Sherbiah and Hasabiah”and the ten relatives accompanying them with the silver, gold, vessels and contribution belonging to the temple of Jehovah God.
The verse continues, “... which the king, and his counselors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered: ...”Ezra added the words, “which the king” whose name means “that the royal ruler and leader”, “and his counselors” which means “and his, the king's, advisors and consultants”, “and his lords” or “and his, the king's, princes, rulers, chieftains and officials”, “and all Israel there present” which means “and each, every, the whole and everyone of the people of Israel, whose name means God prevails and is the name for the descendants and the nation of descendants of Jacob, were among them” “had offered” or “uplifted, exalted or raised”. Ezra shared how he entrusted “Sherbiah and Hasabiah” and their ten relatives with the contributions which were given to him by the “royal ruler, his advisors, his princes and everyone in attendance within “Israel” who raised offerings for the rebuilding of the temple and the reestablishing of the worship of God.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Ezra how he entrusted “Sherbiah and Hasabiah” and their ten relatives who accompanied them with the treasures and offerings that were given to him. The “silver, gold, vessels and contributions” were to be used to rebuild the temple of God and to reestablish the worship of Jehovah God there. These men were similar to trusted “treasurers” who were responsible for the care and distribution of these gifts, and because they were given by the “king, his advisors, his officials and the present people of Israel”, they were to be watched over carefully. God gives us everything we possess because it all belongs to Him. (See Psalm 24:1) He gave us His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a desire to care for that which is rightfully His and to use it wisely in His Kingdom.
Next time Ezra says, “I even weighted unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver”, 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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