Ezra: The Reformation Preacher
In His providence and grace, Yahweh, the God of Israel restored a portion of the people to the land of Israel, from exile in Babylon. Israel was justly judged by God for Sabbath year violations, which had persisted for hundreds of years. God was faithful to communicate His discipline to the people through prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel. When Israel was conquered by the Babylonians, early in the 6th century B.C., the most educated and capable people went to Babylon, while the poor and uneducated remained in the land. Those who remained in the land assimilated foreign wives, which broke the Law of Moses. Israel needed a reformation.
How would God bring about a reformation? Who would He raise up to lead the people out of sinful mixed marriages? What would be the catalyst for renewing the minds of those who sinned? What type of reformation do we need? Who will God raise up, today? What will the catalyst be to bring the necessary change?
Ezra was an exiled scribe in Babylon (Ezra 7:6). Scribes were those who worked with the Law of Moses. One might say, “It was the worst of times for Israel.” The reason was because they were outside of the land, and this meant they were not receiving the blessing of God associated with being in the land.
Ezra was of the tribe of Levi, and he was of the family of Aaron, Moses’ brother, the chief priest (Ezra 7:1–5). Being in the family of Aaron and in the tribe of Levi meant one was born into the priesthood. In exile, the priestly duties would not pertain to the Temple, as they would have for the previous four hundred fifty years, or regarding the Tabernacle, which preceded the Temple by five hundred years.
Nevertheless, scribal and priestly duties continued in exile with the ministry of the Law and prayer. The Jewish people clearly set themselves apart from the Babylonian culture and society by way of their lifestyle and religious practice. Through the decades of exile, Jewish people like: Esther, Mordecai, Ezekiel, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Zerubbabel, Nehemiah, and Ezra impacted the highest echelons of Babylonian and Medo-Persian governments. One may wonder how such access to the royal courts was attained.
Ezra’s secret to success was, “the hand of the Lord was upon him (Ezra 7:6).” Here is Ezra’s own confession, “Thus I was strengthened according to the hand of the LORD my God upon me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me (Ezra 7:28).”
Ezra did not abuse God’s favor or neglect his duty just because God’s grace was abundant. This was evidenced by his devotion to God, even when traveling, by faith, and without a military escort on the four-month sojourn. Ezra led the pilgrims from Babylon to Jerusalem. The journey commenced with fasting and prayer for God’s favor and protection (Ezra 8:21–23).
If you do a careful study of the entire Bible looking for success in service to God, this is always the underlying element. Different people in different circumstances all find the same result. The Lord was with them to give them success. Of course, success is defined by what ultimately brings glory to God.
We identify the heroes of the Bible as those who had great faith in trusting God. Hebrews 11 is a memorial chapter of the Bible to some of those people, whose names Christians revere because they faithfully served God in their generation. How did Ezra faithfully serve Yahweh?
Ezra was skilled in the Law of Moses (Ezra 7:6). When Ezra moved from Babylon to Jerusalem (Ezra 7:7), he brought his scribal and priestly skills with him. The essence of this man of God is captured in one verse, “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel (Ezra 7:10).”
First, we note his ardor for the Scriptures. He set his heart to study the law of the Lord. Men of God, with the favor of God, have a love for God’s Word. A religionist may go through the motions of a ritual format, but one who loves God, loves His revealed word.
Second, we observe Ezra’s obedient practice. He was not just a learner of the Law, but he was a doer of the Law, too. God’s law is not a suggestion for God’s people. It is a commandment for our benefit if we obey all He has commanded. Here is another way we demonstrate love to God (Jn 14:15).
Third, Ezra was positioned in Israel to teach the people the Law of God. There is an important lesson in the order of these activities. Ezra set his heart. Ezra studied God’s Law. Ezra put the Law into practice in his own life, in order to be an example for others. Finally, he was raised up to be a teacher in Israel. We could see the wisdom in an adage like, “There is a time to learn and a time to teach.” We never stop learning, but we must learn before we teach.
Ezra was just the man of God Israel needed for the times in which he lived and ministered. The crisis for which Ezra would be used most mightily by God was waiting for him when he arrived in the land of Israel. The Jews who remained in the land of Israel had taken foreign wives (Ezra 9:1–4), which was prohibited by the Law of Moses. Ezra was deeply grieved by the sins of the people. Ezra prayed a prayer of confession of sin (Ezra 9:10–15). The people repented and were restored to Yahweh.
How did this repentance occur? It was nothing less than the result of a reformation in Israel. It was a revival in the heart of God’s people. How are revival, reformation, and repentance facilitated? We must turn in our Bibles to Nehemiah 8 to find the answer.
The people of Jerusalem cried, “bring the book (Neh 8:1)!” The book was the Law of Moses, the Law which Yahweh had given to Israel. Next, Ezra read from it (Neh 8:3a). This is what is known as the public reading of the Scriptures. The Scriptures are the Word of God. Reading them represents the only perfect aspect of any worship service.
All the people were attentive to the reading (Neh 8:3b). This was helped by the fact of their standing up when the book was opened by Ezra (Neh 8:5). The people were ready to listen to God. Their lives of disobedience only led to more disobedience, and it was time for a new direction. The right direction was back into obedience.
The man of God had prepared himself. God sent him from a far away land. He arrived with the authority and blessing of the Lord. How ready were the people? “Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium, which they had made for the purpose (Neh 8:4).” The podium was elevated above all the people so they could see and hear him read the Torah (Neh 8:5).
Ezra praised “Yahweh the great God,” as he opened the book (Neh 8:6). The people responded with raised hands and raised voices, “Amen! Amen (Neh 8:6)!” Next, they took the posture of worship, bowing low with their faces to the ground (Neh 8:6). The reading of God’s word is clearly an act of worship.
What follows may be the clearest evidence of expository preaching in the whole Bible. The Levites were stationed where the people could hear them, and “explained the law to the people while the people remained in their place. They read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading (Neh 8:7–8).” The word “translating” here is not to be confused with the telling of something said in one language into another language. Rather, it is explication and application of what was read for the purpose of understanding.
It was a holy day, set apart to be a great festival day of celebration. The people were encouraged to feast because they had understood the reading, explication, and application of the Law of Moses. They also possessed a clear conviction of sin, brought by the ministry of the Word. Here is the irony of truth. The Word, like a double-edged sword, pierced their hearts, but it also cut the ties binding them to sin and disobedience. Repentance and faith are conjoined in humility and joy. God’s Law comes with blessing for obedience, and the people were turning from the curse they had been living under with their mixed marriages and other breaches in obedience.
How can you apply this, today? First, there is a lesson for every man of God to pursue the Scriptures with fervent love, in order to learn Christ. Babylon is the name associated with worldliness. The man of God must leave the world and go to the people of God to bring them reformation. It is a frightening journey of faith, but one which carries a clear calling from God. He learns to trust God for everything in life and ministry.
Second, the calling of the man of God is demonstrated by his devotion to the Scriptures, and his willingness to go anywhere God leads him. Everything is preparation for his time of service in the revival God has ordained. He must hide the Word in his heart and be filled with the Spirit to be ready for the place and time appointed for him by God.
Third, sin and disobedience are wearisome for the people of God. Christians are weary and heavy laden because of the tendency to do what is right in their own eyes. You need a daily diet of the Word of God to hear from God. The revival of repentance hinges on your desire to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and to set your affections on the things of heaven.
Fourth, the Spirit of truth coupled with the Word of truth is what sets the captives free from sin. The regimen of reading and expository preaching was daily, from early morning to midday. The people were hungry for God’s Word, “bring the book!” You must reconfigure your life to prioritize your spiritual disciplines. God will delight you with the means of grace.
Finally, it is apparent from our brief study of Ezra’s ministry that God had ordered everything by His decree. It played out with perfect providence, and there was great joy in the revival experienced by God’s chosen people. Ezra’s reformation ministry of prayer and expository preaching facilitated repentance in God’s people at the hearing of God’s Word. Abundant life is the benefit afforded to all who do likewise? Got reformation? Got a reformation preacher?
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
April 29, 2021
