May 5, 2025 - Ezra 7-10

The temple and altar had been rebuilt.  Sacrifices again were offered.  And, now, after the first group of returnees, Ezra came to instruct the people from the commandments of God.  Rejoicing in God’s faithfulness to bring the people home, Ezra tells us, “Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods.  For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, ‘The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.’  So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty” (8:21-23).  Such a fascinating passage!  Ashamed to ask for the king’s help because they had already testified that God would keep and provide for them.  They did not want to besmirch God’s reputation in any way and, so, they trusted him fully and lived in such a way as to testify of their trust.  Wow!

Great God, we sing that mighty hand

by which supported still we stand;

the opening year thy mercy shows;

that mercy crowns it till it close.

By day, by night, at home, abroad,

still are we guarded by our God;

by his incessant bounty fed,

by his unerring counsel led.   --Philip Doddridge (1789)