Wednesday 20th May
Read Ezra 7:21-28
“Now I, King Artaxerxes, decree that all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates are to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you – 22 up to a hundred talents of silver, a hundred cors of wheat, a hundred baths of wine, a hundred baths of olive oil, and salt without limit. 23 Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should his wrath fall on the realm of the king and of his sons? 24 You are also to know that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty on any of the priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God.
25 And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates – all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them. 26 Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.
27 Praise be to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king’s heart to bring honour to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way 28 and who has extended his good favour to me before the king and his advisors and all the king’s powerful officials. Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.” (NIVUK)
Ezra is granted financial authority, judicial authority and educational authority. It is sweeping in its scope and unmatched since the time of Moses. He acknowledges that his authority is granted from above and delegated through the Persian officials.
At the heart of this authority is the Torah. Ezra not only has the authority to punish, including capital punishment, those who disobey the Torah, but he is specifically tasked with teaching the people the Torah. How one does that is a challenge that has faced those who love and follow God for centuries!
It is worth noting the variation in Artaxerxes letter with respect to that Torah. It is not simply 613 commandments we must obey in some way or face punishment. Grasping this is essential even for us today. It is the ‘wisdom of God’ (v25), the way we follow Him and find life. Though this truth may have been obscured in the 400 years after Ezra, Jesus reminded God’s people of the wisdom of the Torah (Matthew 5-7).
