Day 98 – Ezra: Introduction

“The Passover meal was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile and by the others in the land who had turned from their corrupt practices to worship the Lord, the God of Israel.” Ezra 6:21 NLT

If you should name the truly great men and women of our lifetime, one can recall celebrities, politicians, sports figures, and maybe family or friends. Naming some biblical heroes – figures etched in your mind through countless sermons and Sunday school lessons can undoubtedly create a list of many who served God faithfully and courageously. Does Ezra rank in your top 10? Far from being well-known, this unheralded man of God deserves to be mentioned in any discussion of greatness.

Ezra was a priest, a scribe, and a great leader. His name means “help”, and his whole life was dedicated to serving God and God’s people. It is traditionally believed that Ezra wrote most (if not all) of the Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Psalm 119 and that he led a council of 120 men who compiled the Old Testament canon. The narrative of the book of Ezra is centred on God and his promise that the Jews would return to their land, as prophesied by Jeremiah. This message formed the core of Ezra’s life. The last half of the book of Ezra gives a very personal glimpse of this man; his knowledge of Scripture and his God-given wisdom were so obvious to the king that he appointed Ezra to lead the second immigration to Jerusalem, to teach the people God’s Word, and to help reestablish their national life.

Ezra’s greatness rose from his love of God and his people, and the burning desire to capture their history and help them become God’s beloved nation once more.

Prayer: Father, often we overlook Ezra. But learning about him as a person gives us the knowledge and understanding that You come first and the unification of people back to Your heart. Thank You for Ezra and the great man that he was. Amen.

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