To Jerusalem in the Fifth Month - Ezra 7:8

In the book of Ezra, Ezra said, “there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king”, and in chapter seven and verse eight of Ezra, Ezra shared how, “he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month” where we read,

And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.

The verse reads, “And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, ...” Ezra began with the words, “and he came” which means “and he, Ezra, arrived and entered” “to Jerusalem” which means “into 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” “in the fifth month” or “within the fifth lunar moon or month which is Shevat and corresponds to August”. Ezra arrived in “Jerusalem” within the “fifth month” or Shevat. 

The verse goes on to say, “ … which was in the seventh year of the king.” Ezra continued with the words, “which was in the seventh year” which means “that existed within the seventh annual number of sunrises to sunsets” “of the king” or “belonging to the royal ruler and leader”. Ezra shared how it was the “seventh year” of the royal ruler “Artaxerxes” when Ezra arrived in Jerusalem. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Ezra the timing of his arrival in “Jerusalem”. He entered “Jerusalem” within the month of “Shevat” or “August” which is the “fifth month” within the “seventh year” of the reign of Artaxerxes. God's plan for the restoration of “Israel” was being fulfilled, and now that “Ezra” was in his homeland, He would oversee the continued worship of Jehovah God. God loves the people of Israel, and when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to be crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind, He proved His love toward us as well. When we humble ourselves, repent of our sins and believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and direct our steps by His Holy Spirit to use us in His Kingdom according to His timing and purpose. 

Next time Ezra shares what happened, “upon the first day of the first month”, 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".