Ezra 8_Rebuilding a Life of Faith

The Return to Jerusalem

15 I assembled them at the canal that flows toward Ahava, and we camped there three days. When I checked among the people and the priests, I found no Levites there. 16 So I summoned Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah and Meshullam, who were leaders, and Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of learning, 17 and I ordered them to go to Iddo, the leader in Kasiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and his fellow Levites, the temple servants in Kasiphia, so that they might bring attendants to us for the house of our God. 18 Because the gracious hand of our God was on us, they brought us Sherebiah, a capable man, from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah’s sons and brothers, 18 in all; 19 and Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and nephews, 20 in all. 20 They also brought 220 of the temple servants—a body that David and the officials had established to assist the Levites. All were registered by name.

21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.” 23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

24 Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, namely, Sherebiah, Hashabiah and ten of their brothers, 25 and I weighed out to them the offering of silver and gold and the articles that the king, his advisers, his officials and all Israel present there had donated for the house of our God. 26 I weighed out to them 650 talents of silver, silver articles weighing 100 talents, 100 talents of gold, 27 20 bowls of gold valued at 1,000 darics, and two fine articles of polished bronze, as precious as gold.

28 I said to them, “You as well as these articles are consecrated to the LORD. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your ancestors. 29 Guard them carefully until you weigh them out in the chambers of the house of the LORD in Jerusalem before the leading priests and the Levites and the family heads of Israel.” 30 Then the priests and Levites received the silver and gold and sacred articles that had been weighed out to be taken to the house of our God in Jerusalem.

31 On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way. 32 So we arrived in Jerusalem, where we rested three days.

33 On the fourth day, in the house of our God, we weighed out the silver and gold and the sacred articles into the hands of Meremoth son of Uriah, the priest. Eleazar son of Phinehas was with him, and so were the Levites Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui. 34 Everything was accounted for by number and weight, and the entire weight was recorded at that time.

35 Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs and, as a sin offering, twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the LORD. 36 They also delivered the king’s orders to the royal satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, who then gave assistance to the people and to the house of God.

Life is a Journey

Life is a Process

No matter what stage we are in life there are steps of faith that we need to take.

Chapter 8 of Ezra highlights “the gracious hand of our God” at work in rebuilding his kingdom. In particular it points out God’s direction in preparing people for this journey of faith and protecting them along the way.

There are 3 ares where God’s direction was clear.

In the gathering of the spiritual leaders ()

In the discipline of fasting (vs. 23)

In the Journey to Jerusalem

The mission here at NazNaz- Helping people discover the Hope of Jesus

Having been providentially authorized to return to Jerusalem by the Persians, Ezra set out to accomplish his mission.

What is our Mission? - Helping people discover the Hope of Jesus

Helping People Discoer the Hope of Jesus

How do you see this happening?

Revival - People Renewing there life with Christ or making a decision for him.

Group Multiplication - Making Disciples

Nurturing all generations through prayer and care

Helping people find Hope when they have no Hope

We will do this with a culture that leads us to center ourselves on powerful worship through song and word that is presented with honesty and realness.

Youth Flooding in because they are so on fire to serve and worship God with their life.

Ezra was called by God - God stirred in his a heart a call.

Ezra was called by God.

God stirred in his Spirit to go and Reform Jerusalem.

So what does he do, he gathers a team of people to go with him.

Its was 900 Miles

A large group the group that he was taking could only travel 10 Miles a day.

By factoring no travel on Sabbaths and some other days of extended stays the trip would take about 4 months, which is what Ezra indicated in 7:9.

Now the Persian forces patrolled these routes to enable the free flow of goods and to collect revenues, they could not cover every mile.

So travelers had to remain alert to attack by thieves who made their living by exploiting the unsuspecting.

We will see a little later in the chapter that Ezra gives praise to God because his hand was on them.

The beginning of this chapter describes a list of those who accompanied him (8:1-14) along with details of preparation for the trip. (vs. 15-30)

List of Returnees (8:1-14)

Final Preparations for the Journey (8:15-30)

Ezra gathered the families just listed at the canal that flows toward Ahava to make final preparations for the journey to Jerusalem.

The Preparations included logistical as well as spiritual orientation.

LOGISTICALLY HERE IS WHAT THEY NEEDED TO OVERCOME

Ezra was still in Babylon at the time and the travel to Jerusalem was not easy.

It’ s was 900 Miles

A large group the group that he was taking could only travel 10 Miles a day.

By factoring no travel on Sabbaths and some other days of extended stays the trip would take about 4 months, which is what Ezra indicated in 7:9.

Now the Persian forces patrolled these routes to enable the free flow of goods and to collect revenues, they could not cover every mile.

So travelers had to remain alert to attack by thieves who made their living by exploiting the unsuspecting.

We will see a little later in the chapter that Ezra gives praise to God because his hand was on them.

ANOTHER PART OF THE LOGISTICS WAS NEEDING THE LEVITES.

Ezra delayed departure when he realized there were NO LEVITES Among the returnees.

He wanted Levites for the service they might render in the Jerusalem temple.

He also needed them to transport the early objects and offerings given to the temple. (8:24-30)

Now the reason is completely unknown to why the levites did not return to Jerusalem

It could have been related to the small amount of Levites that went into exile or because they had no land to which to return.

Ezra delayed the departure to go back to Jerusalem when he saw that the Levites were not there.

According to , most of the Levites allotted land lay outside Judah and Benjamin.

So to them a return to the city was not a priority.

So Ezra had to pursued them - He even had to delay the departure when he realized there were no Levites amon the returnees.

He had to gather them and direct them to the WHY?

The WHY was for the Service they might render in the Jerusalem Temple. (see. vs. 17)

The New International Version Chapter 8

17 and I ordered them to go to Iddo, the leader in Kasiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and his fellow Levites, the temple servants in Kasiphia, so that they might bring attendants to us for the house of our God.

When leading any organization or group of people it’s important to have the right people behind you.

Ezra needed the people to help transport the sacred objects and offerings given for the temple. (8:24-30)

2 YEARS AGO WE CAST A VISION ABOUT BUILDING A BRIDGE TO REACH OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH A SPORTS MINISTRY CALLED UPWARD. ITS BEEN 2 YEARS SINCE WE STARTED THE PROCESS.

OUR TEAM MET

WE HELD CLINICS - MANY TIMES I THOUGHT ARE PEOPLE GOING SHOW UP?

OUR TEAM WAS FEELING DOWN AT MOMENTS?

ON OUR TEAM we had special skills that each person represented, but there one piece missing.

Many of us were feeling discouraged about our progress and the amount of work it was going to take our church to pull it off.

OVER THE SUMMER NICOLE CAME TO THE CHURCH AND APPROACHED ME ABOUT HER STORY AND WHERE SHE WAS COMING FROM.

She had help lead Upward Baskitball Ministry at Paznaz.

SHARED HER SKILLS ETC.

“I said to myself.....God this exactly the type of person that we need.”

The Levites were the priestly tribe.

They provided assistance to the priests in worship.

ILLUSTRATION

As the Pastor of NewNaz, I need my Levites.

I need my assistance, my leaders, my ushers, my teachers, greeters, my worship leader, band members, sound person, singers, nursery workers, teens sponsors, etc.

Orange Conference: 1 to 1 — the most influence you have on the generation behind you is investing in them. Showing up but predictably and un predictably

Teens - Text

Kids - Cards

Middle Adults - Relationship and Community - knowing that you got my back.

Older Adult - Time - A little time goes a long ways. A huge, a hand shake, a conversation,

These or simples ways that we can build influence.

Ezra had to fix the situation by not having Levites.

He new that he could not lead the Spiritual Reformation without the Levites.

To rectify this situation Ezra enlisted men of influence in the Jewish community to help him RECRUIT some Levites.

He met with 9 leaders and 2 men of learning (Teachers)

Ezra sent these leaders to Iddo, the leader of Kasiphia a Jewish community with families of Levites and temple servants. (v. 17)

Side Note: IDDO was Zechariah the prophet’s dad!

Ezra then formed a speech that persuade IDDO and his community of Levites to join the journey to Jerusalem.

He appeal to their sense of service by inviting them to be attendants..

I love this strategy - When you want to recruit or build a team to lead a CHANGE…help them know their ROLE....

Communicate with them what they will be doing so when they get there they an go to work!!

What I love about Ezra’s speech is that he even chose his words wisely....

Instead of calling the “Temple” a temple, he called it The HOUSE of the LORD.

I love this because its a great strategy to recruit for WORK days....

Its not just the church… or newnaz… or a trailer...

Its THE HOUSE OF THE LORD.

Later in the book of Zechariah - you will see this young prophet come to these people and share the visions that God has given him.

They were visions that said — God will come out of his heavenly dwelling and live among us.

No More walls around cities because now all people are welcomed into the House of God.

The New International Version Chapter 8

The Return to Jerusalem

15 I assembled them at the canal that flows toward Ahava, and we camped there three days. When I checked among the people and the priests, I found no Levites there. 16 So I summoned Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah and Meshullam, who were leaders, and Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of learning, 17 and I ordered them to go to Iddo, the leader in Kasiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and his fellow Levites, the temple servants in Kasiphia, so that they might bring attendants to us for the house of our God. 18 Because the gracious hand of our God was on us, they brought us Sherebiah, a capable man, from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah’s sons and brothers, 18 in all; 19 and Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and nephews, 20 in all. 20 They also brought 220 of the temple servants—a body that David and the officials had established to assist the Levites. All were registered by name.

21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.” 23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

24 Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, namely, Sherebiah, Hashabiah and ten of their brothers, 25 and I weighed out to them the offering of silver and gold and the articles that the king, his advisers, his officials and all Israel present there had donated for the house of our God. 26 I weighed out to them 650 talents of silver, silver articles weighing 100 talents, 100 talents of gold, 27 20 bowls of gold valued at 1,000 darics, and two fine articles of polished bronze, as precious as gold.

28 I said to them, “You as well as these articles are consecrated to the LORD. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your ancestors. 29 Guard them carefully until you weigh them out in the chambers of the house of the LORD in Jerusalem before the leading priests and the Levites and the family heads of Israel.” 30 Then the priests and Levites received the silver and gold and sacred articles that had been weighed out to be taken to the house of our God in Jerusalem.

31 On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way. 32 So we arrived in Jerusalem, where we rested three days.

33 On the fourth day, in the house of our God, we weighed out the silver and gold and the sacred articles into the hands of Meremoth son of Uriah, the priest. Eleazar son of Phinehas was with him, and so were the Levites Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui. 34 Everything was accounted for by number and weight, and the entire weight was recorded at that time.

35 Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs and, as a sin offering, twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the LORD. 36 They also delivered the king’s orders to the royal satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, who then gave assistance to the people and to the house of God.

vs. 18-20 — God moved their hearts — When the Vision is clear and God is in it, He will move stir the hearts.

vs. 21-23 — The most important element of preparation for the journey was spiritual readiness.

The part needed to remember their true sources of empowerment and protection. So Ezra proclaimed a fast (vs. 21)

This was a spiritual discipline that seems to have gained more prominence amon Jews after the exile.

Nehemiah 9:1 LXX/MT Parallel

ו\ב\יום עשׂרים ו\ארבעה ל\חדשׁ ה\זה נאספו בני ישׂראל ב\צום ו\ב\שׂקים ו\אדמה על\יהם