Bible Interpretation, Student Workbook, SW05

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B I B L E I N T E R P R E T A T I O N

return occurred in 458 B.C.E. under the leadership and supervision of Ezra (Ezra 7-10), which focused on the reform and instruction of the people, their spiritual revival , and the need for them to come back to the Lord through the fulfillment of the covenant. Finally, Nehemiah led the third return to the land in 444 B.C.E., whose major concerns dealt with rebuilding devastated Jerusalem’s broken down walls, and with Ezra, to bring God’s people back to the Lord with spiritual renewal and covenant obedience. Many scholars believe that Malachi was probably written in Nehemiah’s time, and that Esther was written during the events recorded in Ezra 6 and 7. This eventful time in Israel’s history provides key insights in the need for prepared men and women for the task of God. Our single text for the devotion records the kind of inner life and motive of the person that God uses to bring revival, renewal, and refreshment to his people. “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.” According to our text, Ezra had “set his heart,” literally “fixed his soul” to do three things on behalf of the Lord. First, Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord. There would be no half-hearted, sleepy-eyed scanning of God’s Word, but a disciplined, passionate, focused study of God’s law. The Bible simply can be mastered in no other way; without seeking the knowledge of the Lord as treasure hunters seek gold, the hidden depth and meaning of the text simply cannot be found nor understood (Prov. 2.1-9). The lazy, undisciplined heart will never come to know the riches of God’s wisdom regarding his plan of salvation in Christ. Second, he had set his heart to do it . Simply put, Ezra was not living to study , rather, he was studying to live . The intent of the Word of God is not merely to hear the will of God regarding faith, obedience, love, and service. The purpose is to do it, and the blessing of the text is associated not merely with those who reflect upon it but to those who respond to it with humility and diligence as it is the very Word of God (James 1.22-25). The wisdom of the Lord comes to those who actually carry out his will as they discover it in his holy Word (cf. Psalm 111.10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!). Finally, Ezra has set his heart to “ teach his statutes and rules in Israel .” Once the Word of God is mastered through study and fulfilled through obedience, then the servant of God is ready to fulfill his or her ministry through the teaching ministry. Ezra’s priorities regarding his approach and ministry of the Word were in the proper

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