His Word is a Lamp: Ezra

Beyond the exiles returning to rebuild the Temple of God, I think one of the main takeaways from the book of Ezra is that Ezra “set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach His statutes and rules in Israel” (7:10). This gives us insight into the man that Ezra was and what drove him in life. 

Let’s look at this verse together:

• Ezra set his heart: He made a decision that this is what he wanted to do with his life and led his heart appropriately to study God’s Law. This was an intentional decision and follow through in his life. What is the Lord asking you to do? What is He asking you to set your heart on?
• To study the Law of the Lord: Ezra’s decision was to study the Law of the Lord. This would be the first five books of the Old Testament, or the Torah, as it’s called. Psalm 1 exhorts us to delight in the Law of the Lord and to meditate on it day and night which would lead to a fruitful life in the Lord (Ps. 1:1-3). That same promise which Ezra surely would have known is made to us. 
• To do it: His goal wasn’t just to study the Law but to do it, to live it. That’s the ultimate goal of studying the Word of God, to live it out in our obedience and love for Jesus. James encourages the same type of obedience when he said, “But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing (1:25).”
• And to teach it: The next step was to pass on the knowledge of the Lord and His Law to the exiles in Jerusalem, so that they would know what God required of them. We too have a responsibility not only to study and live out God’s Word but also to pass on the Good News so that others may know Jesus and have the privilege of knowing God through His Word. That’s been His plan all along.

It all began with a decision for Ezra. It was a life-changing decision for him and one that impacted many others. It can be surprising what one decision can mean in your life. What is God asking you to set your heart on for Him? It might just change your life.

I invite you to read Nehemiah for our time together on Sunday.

Blessings on your journey with Jesus,
Pastor Andy 

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