Sunday 24th May
Read Ezra 8:31-36
“On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way. 32 So we arrived in Jerusalem, where we rested three days.
33 On the fourth day, in the house of our God, we weighed out the silver and gold and the sacred articles into the hands of Meremoth son of Uriah, the priest. Eleazar son of Phinehas was with him, and so were the Levites Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui. 34 Everything was accounted for by number and weight, and the entire weight was recorded at that time.
35 Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs and, as a sin offering, twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the Lord. 36 They also delivered the king’s orders to the royal satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, who then gave assistance to the people and to the house of God.” (NIVUK)
The journey of a thousand miles is not the focus of the narrative and passes without incident. A remarkable fact in itself, and one that Ezra attributes to the hand of God. Whilst the wealth and the offerings are important they are framed by the people. Ezra is concerned that others be recognized in this new beginning. Whilst the leaders are named, so too are the people and if we pause to consider their description we grasp something of the complexity of the situation.
Ezra describes them as ‘exiles who had returned from captivity’ (v35). Whilst this is true in one sense it is a fascinating way to describe those who grew up and lived their lives in peace, were not captive, and had to be encouraged to return to Jerusalem. We are now likely more than four generations removed from those who were chained as captives and exiled to Babylon. The passing of time has not changed their identity. We will see the bitter fruit of this position in the anti-climactic end of Ezra.
“If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:4b-11) (NIVUK)
