In the book of Ezra, Ezra said, “Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites. By number and by weight of every one: and all the weight was written at that time”, and in chapter eight and verse thirty-five of Ezra, Ezra shared about, “the children of those that had been carried away” where we read,
Also 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.
The verse reads, “Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, ...” Ezra began with the words, “also the children” which means “even so and indeed the offspring and progeny” “of those that had been carried away” or “belonging to the people of Israel who were exiled and held in captivity, who arose and ascended from prison and capture”, “offered burnt offerings” or “drew near and presented smoke-filled sacrifices” “unto the God of Israel” which means “to the Supreme Deity belonging to Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name for the descendants and nation of descendants belonging to Jacob”. Ezra said the offspring of the people who were exiled and delivered from capture presented smoking sacrifices to the Supreme Deity belonging to Israel.
The verse continues, “twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering:” Ezra added the words, “twelve bullocks” which means “twelve bulls or oxen” “for all Israel” which means “on behalf of the whole and entirety of Israel whose name means God prevails and was the name of the descendants and nation of descendants of Jacob”, “ninety and six rams” or “ninety six strong male rams”, “seventy and seven lambs” which means “seventy seven young cattle known as sheep”, “twelve he goats” or “twelve male goats” “for a sin offering” which means “on behalf of a sacrifice for the condition, guilt and punishment for missing the mark, error and wrong”. Ezra shared how there were twelve bulls, ninety six rams, seventy seven rams and twelve male goats that were sacrificed on behalf of the “error and wrongs” of the nation of “Israel”.
Finally the verse says, “all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD.” Ezra concluded this verse with the words, “all this was a burnt offering” or “each, every, the whole and everyone of these smoking sacrifices were presented” “unto the LORD” which means “to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”. Ezra ended shared how every one of these smoke-filled sacrifices were presented to Jehovah God.
When we meditate upon Ezra's words in this verse, we discover how the nation of Israel presented smoke-filled sacrifices to Jehovah God as an “offering” for their “sin”. God desired to have a personal intimate relationship with the people of Israel, and because they sinned against Him, they were separated from Him. God wants a relationship with us as well, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind to bridge the gap which sin caused between us and Him. When we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us an understanding of His “sacrifice and offering” on our behalf so we may live with Him eternally.
Next time Ezra shares how, “they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants”, 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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