Reading 'Verbatim' the Books of the Old Testament - 'Ezra', Post Chapter 8, April 9, 2021

Welcome back my friends.  

This week, April 5-7-9, 2021, we continue our 'verbatim posts' for the 'book' of 'Ezra', posting and continuing until all is posted.  Then, as the Lord wills, we will post our final planned Old Testament Book for this 'room',  'Nehemiah'. 

Below are the links to the posts for the 'overviews' for all three books for your ease in future reference, from Esther, now Ezra, and soon, Nehemiah.  Amen. Amen,  and Continuing into 2021:
​​Reading 'Verbatim' the Books of the Old Testament - 'Esther', Introduction, Post A, November 9, 2020
Reading 'Verbatim' the Books of the Old Testament - 'Ezra', Introduction, Post B, November 11, 2020
​Reading 'Verbatim' the Books of the Old Testament - 'Nehemiah', Introduction, Post C, November 13, 2020
[Includes the review of where we have been in this 'room', for easy and continuing reference.]
Reading 'Verbatim' the Books of the Old Testament - 'Ezra', Post Chapter 1-AM, March 22, 2021 
​Reading 'Verbatim' the Books of the Old Testament - 'Ezra', Post Chapter 1-PM, March 22, 2021 ​

​The contents of the book of Ezra may be summarized as follows:
Outline of the Book of Ezra
1) The return of the exiles to Jerusalem at the decree of Cyrus, 546 BC (Ezra 1-2 ).
2 ) The work of rebuilding the temple begun, brought to a standstill through the efforts of heathen neighbors, and finally completed at the urging of Haggai and Zechariah (Ezra 3-6).
3 ) Ezra's return to Jerusalem for the purpose of restoring the temple service (Ezra 7-8).
4 ) The problem of mixed marriages, which threatened to plunge the Jews into the same course of idolatry which had brought about their original downfall (Ezra 9-10).  Amen. Amen. 

​Today, Ezra Chapter 8 audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html  Continuing from:
I. The Return Under Ezra, 7:1-10:44
A. The Return to Jerusalem, 7:1-8:36
1. The leader, Ezra, 7:1-10
2. The letter of Artaxerxes, 7:11-28 audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html
Reading 'Verbatim' the Books of the Old Testament - 'Ezra', Post Chapter 7, April 7, 2021.

3. The journey, 8:1-36 audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html 
The companions of Ezra. (1-20) Ezra implores God's blessing. (21-23) Treasures committed to the priests. (24-30) Ezra arrives at Jerusalem. (31-36)

1 'These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king. audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html 
2 Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush.
3 Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred and fifty.
4 Of the sons of Pahathmoab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males.
5 Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males.
6 Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males.
7 And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males.
8 And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males.
9 Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males.
10 And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him an hundred and threescore males.
11 And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males.
12 And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him an hundred and ten males.
13 And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males.
14 Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males.
15 And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.
16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.
17 And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.
18 And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
19 And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;
20 Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.'

The companions of Ezra. (1-20) audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html
Notes: 1-20 'Ezra assembles the outcasts of Israel, and the dispersed of Judah. God raised up the spirits of a small remnant to accompany him. What a pity that good men should omit a good work, for want of being spoken to!'  Notice how Ezra gives all the 'credit' to God, and takes no 'glory' for accomplishing anything - himself. 

​We must be ever mindful of this truth, and practice 'praising and thanking Him, continually.' Amen. Amen. 

Ezra implores God's blessing. (21-23) audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html
21 'Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
22 For 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.
23 So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.'

Ezra implores God's blessing. (21-23)audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html 
Notes: 21-23 'Ezra procured Levites to go with him; but what will that avail, unless he have God with him? Those who seek God, are safe under the shadow of his wings, even in their greatest dangers; but those who forsake him, are always exposed. When entering upon any new state of life, our care should be, to bring none of the guilt of the sins of our former condition into it. When we are in any peril, let us be at peace with God, and then nothing can do us any real hurt. All our concerns about ourselves, our families, and our estates, it is our wisdom and duty, by prayer to commit to God, and to leave the care of them with him. And, on some occasions, we should decline advantages which are within our reach, lest we should cause others to stumble, and so our God be dishonored. 

Let us ask wisdom of God, that we may know how to use or to refuse lawful things. We shall be no losers by venturing, suffering, or giving up for the Lord's sake. Their prayers were answered, and the event declared it. Never have any that sought God in earnest, found that they sought him in vain. In times of difficulty and danger, to set a season apart for secret or for social prayer, is the best method for relief we can take.'​

My friends, at this time in our history and in our world, no matter what you or I may think we are to be about, are to do or to be done, may you join me, even as never before - ever in prayer, seeking advice and guidance from our Abba, Father.  I do not want advice nor consent from any other.  I pray you are as determined!! 

We cannot afford to think that we have 'time' to make up for 'failures' in our lives.  We need to have learned earlier in our lives and most definitely from being 'shut-in' and 'alone with the Lord' as a result of 'Covid-19' this most crucial lesson - when in doubt - DON'T!  Consider that you are standing at a train crossing and - 'STOP-LOOK-LISTEN!' 'Wait for the Lord'. 

Be sure in that you are 'at peace' in your 'spirit person',  before venturing forward into anything.  Know that you know that He has spoken, confirmed in Scripture; moving forward with the 'assignment', listening for His voice - 'stop'; 'turn here'; 'wait until further';  'go back', 'etc.'  

There is just too, too, much 'that looks right'; but, it is 'deception', 'deadly and disguised', like never before. Pray, and keep praying, until you know that you have Jesus' directions. [Proverbs ] Amen. Amen. ​

​Treasures committed to the priests. (24-30) audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html
24 'Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,
25 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 counsellors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered:
26 I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred talents;
27 Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.
28 And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers.
29 Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD.
30 So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.'

Treasures committed to the priests. (24-30) audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html
Notes: 24-30 'Do we expect that God should, by his providence, keep that which belongs to us, let us, by his grace, keep that which belongs to him. Let God's honor and interest be our care; and then we may expect that our lives and comforts will be his.'  Amen. Amen. 

Ezra arrives at Jerusalem. (31-36) audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html
31 'Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.
32 And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.
33 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;
34 By number and by weight of every one: and all the weight was written at that time.
35 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.
36 And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.

Ezra arrives at Jerusalem. (31-36) audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html
Notes: 31-36 'Enemies laid wait for the Jews, but God protected them. Even the common perils of journeys, call us to go out with prayer, and to return with praise and thanksgiving. But what shall we render when the Lord has led us safely through the pilgrimage of life, through the gloomy vale of death, out of the reach of all our enemies, into everlasting happiness! Among their sacrifices they had a sin-offering. The atonement sweetens and secures every mercy to us, which will not be truly comfortable, unless sin be taken away, and our peace made with God. Then had the church rest. The expressions here used, direct us to the deliverance of sinners from spiritual bondage, and their pilgrimage to the heavenly Jerusalem, under the care and protection of their God and Saviour.' Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.  ​