Ezra

Lost In Translation

Matt Otto D-Groups , , , ,

The Bible – God’s Word – is truly remarkable! On the one hand, it is a complex literary masterpiece, incorporating a multitude of literary genres and expressing a broad spectrum of emotions. On the other hand, it is incredibly simple in its central message, prompting some cynics to label it as “silly” or “illogical”. It is widely recognized as being comprised of 66 books and being written over the course of nearly 2000 years, by 40 authors, on three continents, and in three languages, yet it “is the story of one problem – sin – with one solution, Jesus Christ” (Geisler & Nix, 194). We must conclude that the Bible is both incredibly intricate while remaining singularly unified in its message and doctrine.

There is another reason the Bible is remarkable and like nothing ever written – it has the power to transform and bring joy. As Nehemiah puts the finishing touches on the re-construction of Jerusalem’s walls and gates, his attention shifts to the re-consecration of God’s people who are to populate God’s holy city. Since Jerusalem and the Jewish people play an integral part in God’s plan for the redemption of the nations, Nehemiah begins the dedicatory process by re-introducing the people to the Law of Moses and, by doing so, reminding them of their commitment to the Lord and His faithful promises (Deut 6:1-9). With the help of Ezra the priest and a trained group of Levites, the people hear and respond to the Scriptures:

And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Also … the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. (Nehemiah 8:5-8)

Based on the text, God’s people needed to have God’s Word explained to them. For some reason the Scriptures had become so foreign to them that its truths and commands were lost in translation and needed clarification. God’s Word needed to be introduced into their presence (Neh 8:2), opened to them (v. 5), and finally explained (vv. 7-8). Their response was both physical and spiritual. “Truth, truth,” they answered as they lifted “up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground” (v. 6). Interestingly, Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites admonished the people not to mourn or weep, but rejoice. Why? Certainly the Bible is to bring conviction and lead to repentance, right?

Yes. The Bible is a deposit and treasure worth guarding (2 Tim 1:14). It is breathed out by God and is profitable in knowing what is right, what is not right, how to get right, and how to stay right (see 2 Timothy 3:16). In other words, it is the primary tool God uses for our sanctification. It is a seed that produces life (1 Pet 1:23). And, as it does, it brings joy because God’s grace is applied. Mourning leads to comfort and dancing (Matt 5:4; Ps 30:11).

So keep the Bible near you at all times. Open it often. Memorize it. Study it. Listen to it! It is milk that nourishes (1 Pet 2:2), sweet as honey from the comb (Ps 119:103), and a lamp that gives light (Ps 119:105).

Psalm 119:33-37 (ESV) –
“Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes;
    and I will keep it to the end.
Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
    and observe it with my whole heart.
Lead me in the path of your commandments,
    for I delight in it.
Incline my heart to your testimonies,
    and not to selfish gain!
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
    and give me life in your ways.”

Source
Geisler, Norman & Nix, William. 1986. A General Introduction to the Bible. Chicago: Moody.

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Know God. Know the Bible.

Matt Otto D-Groups , , ,

Ezra, the scribe, is first introduced into Israel’s post-exilic history in Ezra 7. Leading up to his arrival in Jerusalem, the primary characters, Zerubbabel, the governor, and Joshua, the high priest, were responsible for rebuilding the temple. With Ezra’s arrival the rebuilding of the nation now became the primary focus. Attention shifted from temple reconstruction to heart reconstruction and “a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses … [and] learned in matters of the commandments of the Lord and his statutes” (vv. 6, 12) was exactly what was needed for this effort. As one who thoroughly learned the Torah and effectively put it into practice, Ezra was competently able to teach it to others (v. 10).

The theologian Charles C. Ryrie put it this way:

The Bible is the greatest of all books; to study it is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.

What Ryrie pointedly brings to our attention is the Bible’s superiority over all other written works. However, it is its divine character – its inspiration – that makes its message one that brings about radical change. The Bible has the power to make an unbeliever “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” and make a believer mature, “equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:15-17). Author and pastor, A.W. Tozer chimes in, saying that “The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.”

It was evident to Artaxerxes, a pagan king, that Ezra was a man who knew God and knew His Word. If our desire is to be known as a person who knows the Lord of hosts, we need to know the Bible – not simply academically, but experientially. The difference will be evident even to those outside of God’s family, because they will see our trust in God (Ps 9:10), our obedience to Him (John 17:17), our walk with Him (John 14:23), our love for Him (1 John 2:5), and our desire to know him even more deeply (1 John 4:19).

Ezra 7:6, 10 (ESV) – “Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him… for Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.”

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Rejoicing in God’s Good Grace

Matt Otto D-Groups , , , , ,

There are so many things worth celebrating!

We celebrate milestones like gender-reveals, birthdays, engagements, weddings, anniversaries, graduations, and retirements. We also celebrate accomplishments like passing an exam, a job promotion, and the purchase of our first home. Often these celebrations include invitations, music, dancing, balloons, laughter, and food. In many ways, celebrating is akin to reminiscing and, therefore, an important part of our life. It causes the accomplishments and milestones to be etched deeper into who we are. Which brings us to a couple of important questions: How often do we truly get excited and celebrate God’s grace and goodness? When was the last time you rejoiced over sharing the Gospel with a friend or celebrated the repentance of a wayward family member (see Lk 15)?

It may seem a bit curious to think that God commanded His people to celebrate through the means of seven festivals, but it is important to consider the festivals as a means of remembrance. They were to serve as a reminder of God’s saving power and miraculous provision in the past. Also, they were to be a sign that He is continuously working in the lives of His people. Lastly, the festivals were to act as foreshadowing of God’s sovereign plan. When taken in that context it is no wonder God established the festivals to be celebrated!

In Ezra 6, God’s people remind us that the gracious actions of a holy God are worth celebrating also! As the rebuilding of the temple at Jerusalem finally concluded in the sixth year of King Darius’ reign, understandably the Jews turned their attention to celebrating and rejoicing. In the final four verses of the chapter, we read that God’s people observed the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The two festivals are linked on the Jewish calendar and by the event they commemorate: the last plague in Egypt. The Passover recalls when the angel of death “passed over” those who applied the blood of an unblemished lamb to their doors. The Festival of Unleavened Bread begins on the day following the start of Passover and is a reminder of the haste in which the Israelites fled Egypt. There was not even time for their bread to rise. God’s rescue of His people “with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm” is reason to rejoice and celebrate (Deut 26:8; see also Ps 136:1-3, 10-16).

We too have reason to rejoice! Jesus is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29; see also Is 53:1-9). He has given us the Holy Spirit who works to give us life and empower us to have victory over sin that permeates our “leavened life” (Gal 5:16-17). As we commemorate the fulfillment of these festivals in Christ, and remember His sacrifice through the ordinance of communion, let us rejoice! God has done great and wonderful deeds! He has saved us from the shackles of sin and given us the ability to no longer gratify the desires of the flesh!

That is good news! Send out the invitations and turn up the praise. Smile and laugh! Let’s rejoice!

1 Corinthians 5:7-8 (HCSB) – “Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch. You are indeed unleavened, for Christ our Passover has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us observe the feast, not with old yeast or with the yeast of malice and evil but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

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Obedience: The Highest Form of Worship

Matt Otto D-Groups , , ,

In the first few verses of Ezra 3, we get a glimpse of the collective intent of the children of Israel. As “the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem” under the leadership of Joshua, the high priest, and Zerubbabel, they built the altar of the God of Israel.

What we, as contemporary readers, often miss in our cursory reading is the urgency in which this task was attempted. As soon as God’s people completed their 900 mile journey from Babylon and arrived in Jerusalem they gave a generous thanks-offering and built the altar of the Lord in order to sacrifice burnt offerings as was commanded in the Law of Moses (Ex 29:38-42; Num 28:3-8). Furthermore, the people built the altar despite the fear of the non-Jewish people in the surrounding territories. They had greater fear – love, respect, awe, gratitude – of the Lord, than fear – suspicion, panic, dread – of the surrounding people. In their undefended state, the Jews recognized that the Lord, who would meet them at the altar, would be their greatest source of strength!

God’s Word consistently communicates the inseparable link between obedience and worship. Jesus tied obedience to worship when told His disciples, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Similarly, Paul writes, “I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship” (Rom 12:1). Obedience and worship go hand-in-hand and validate a person’s unyielding commitment, unmatchable priorities, and undivided allegiance.

Author and pastor, Sam Allberry, characterizes obedience this way:

Resentful obedience is disobedience. Partial obedience is disobedience. Delayed obedience is disobedience. Obedience to God is to be heartfelt, total, immediate. If we knew the sheer goodness of what he’s calling us into, we’d want it to be nothing less.

In Israel’s return home, they were reminded that salvation is from the Lord and from Him alone. Their first response was one of thanksgiving (Ezra 2:69), followed by heartfelt, complete, and immediate obedience. As we, the church, are new-covenant-people, with the purpose of knowing God and making Him known, may we too be obedient, worshiping our Savior from a heart overflowing with gratitude.

1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV) – “… Samuel said, ‘Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams’”

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Where We Belong

Matt Otto D-Groups , , , ,

As I sit here and type, I can hear the rain falling on the roof and running through the gutters. It is dark and cold outside. Even the tile floor in our kitchen is chilly. As you can imagine, I have no intentions to move, nor desire to go outside. On the contrary. I made myself a hot cup of tea, put on some soft slippers, and wrapped a warm, cozy blanket around my shoulders. I can imagine you chuckling… Don’t judge me! I am just trying to stay comfortable.

God’s people experienced exile from their home, God’s holy city, and place of worship for 70 years. Their refusal to listen to God’s Word, their hostility toward His prophets, and their lack of obedience resulted in death, destruction, and deportation. 2 Chron. 36:11-21 detailed the events leading to God’s judgment, but promised Israel’s return based on “the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah” (v. 21). Furthermore, according to Isaiah 44:28, God’s people would rebuild Jerusalem and the temple following their return.

That time finally came through the decree of Cyrus, king of Persia, permitting the exiles to return home. Chapter two of Ezra lists the descendants of various clans and families that could verify their ancestry and begin the four month journey to a home whose condition was unknown and whose location many had never seen with their own eyes. Yet despite God’s promises and despite being strangers in a foreign land, many did not pick up their families, gather their belongings, and verify their ancestry to return home. Why? Well, 70 years is a long time. God’s people acclimated, started businesses, married, had children, and so on. The years went on and life happened. They integrated into the Babylonian culture and became comfortable. Jerusalem began to fade in their memory and Babylon became their home. How easy it is to experience the same deterioration, becoming a captive to comfort and a subject to spiritual complacency, while forgetting our true home, identity, and allegiance!

In his excellent book, Evangelism As Exiles, Elliot Clark indicates that “the days of cultural Christianity are fading.” Our country and our world are becoming more and more unfriendly toward the things of King Jesus. Clark states the following in his chapter entitled “Visibly Different”:

… to be an exile – to be other – is central to the Christian calling. We’re strangers in our land. And that’s good news. Sometimes the experience of exile can actually remind us of our identity and home… That’s because if you have everything stripped away, you cling to what makes you who you are. We too, as we experience increased isolation and shame in our country of origin, have an opportunity to embrace the foreignness that comes from being like God and a citizen of his kingdom.

This world is not our home. We are citizens of another kingdom. Let us never forget that “Here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come” (Heb 13:14). May the Lord awaken us, break our love for lesser things, and provoke us to hope in the Person we were created for and the place where we belong.

1 Peter 2:9-11 (ESV) – “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.”

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Something More Glorious

Matt Otto D-Groups , ,

“One of the great blessings of heaven is the appreciation of heaven on earth. He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” – Jim Elliot

On January 8, 1956 – 67 years ago – Jim Elliot, Pete Fleming, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, and Roger Youderian were killed by the Waodani tribe on a Curaray River sandbar in Ecuador. The group had big dreams and great expectations: to reach the most violent unreached people group with the Good News of Jesus. They had studied Spanish and tribal languages, discovered a proper landing spot for their plane, devised numerous ways to build trust, and even had a few promising contacts. Yet, on that Sunday, their dreams and expectations were seemingly dashed as they were killed by the tribe they were attempting to reach.

However, the martyrdom of these five young missionaries is not a mistake or a tragedy. Their lives were not wasted, nor their legacies left wanting. On the contrary. Their deaths led to a heart transformation of a culture and a nation, fueling a missionary zeal not seen before in American history and never seen again since. Furthermore, the Waodani tribe now has a Bible in its own language and many of its people have come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The expectations of these five young missionaries were eclipsed beyond even their wildest!

As we begin this year’s series through Ezra, Nehemiah, and the post-exilic prophets, let us remember that earthly expectations usually are excessive and eventually disappoint. They will include pain, loss, and a recurring sense of emptiness. In many ways, even the blessings in this world are to leave us longing for a greater reality – the treasure of Jesus and the joy of the world to come. May we appreciate – as Elliot put it – heaven even now, while on earth. It is only then that we can surrender that which we “cannot keep to gain that which we cannot lose.” Being heavenly minded is truly earthly good!

Consider another quote from Jim Elliot’s journal:

I hope we are like children still rejoicing in the awe and wonder of the love of God and His power. I hope we haven’t gotten over it like so many Christians seem to.

Our God keeps His promises. His plan is more glorious than our greatest expectations and more wonderful than our wildest dreams! He is loving and just. What the Father has in store for His children is not simply good, not even better, but best. Let us never get over it, let alone forget it. Great is His faithfulness!

Ezra 3:11 (ESV) – “And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.” And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.”

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