Ezra
The Priest-Scholar
Faithfulness to Covenant
God remains faithful to His promises of restoration
Grace in Restoration
His grace enables return from exile and spiritual renewal
Holiness
His holiness demands separation from sin and compromise
"For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel." - Ezra 7:10
Ezra was a priest and scribe who led the second return from Babylonian exile around 458 BC. His name means "help" or "helper," reflecting his role in helping restore Israel's spiritual life after the exile.
As both priest and scholar, Ezra combined religious authority with deep knowledge of God's Law. He prepared his heart to seek, do, and teach God's Word - a model for all who would serve God through study and teaching.
The Journey (458 BC):
Led 1,754 exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem, including priests, Levites, and temple servants
Royal Commission:
King Artaxerxes gave him authority to teach God's Law and establish judges
Spiritual Mission:
Came to restore proper worship and teach the people God's Law
Reform Work:
Addressed the crisis of intermarriage and led the people in covenant renewal
Ezra's greatest qualification wasn't his priestly lineage or royal commission, but his prepared heart. He set his heart to seek God's Law, to do it, and to teach it - a three-fold commitment that made him effective.
Three Steps of Heart Preparation:
- Seek - Study and understand God's Word
- Do - Obey and live by God's Word
- Teach - Share God's Word with others