For the Love of Ezra

Taught by Arlene S.
Notes by Linda G.

Throughout our study of the book of Ezra, the focus has been primarily on the spiritual and physical journey of the Israelites as they returned from their time of exile in Babylon. In today’s lesson Arlene gave us a different perspective – we looked at Ezra the man. From what we have studied to date, we see that he was a man of influence. Arlene mentioned that he is often referred to as ‘the second Moses’. Today we explored why this is so and why we can see Ezra, also, as a man who truly loved.

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:3-4).

Arlene used this verse to point to the character of Ezra. She focused first on Ezra’s ‘faithfulness’. The Hebrew word for faithfulness is met. It means that something can be relied on, as in adhering to the truth. The Hebrew word for love in this verse is hesed. It refers to a loyal, covenant love often translated in the NIV as "unfailing love". Arlene pointed out that Ezra walked in this love .
Arlene brought us through seven facets of how Ezra displayed this love. She focused on how he related to God, and how that relationship shaped his relationship to the Israelites.

1)Ezra devoted his life to studying and observing God’s Word. The teachings of God’s Word became a part of Ezra’s very nature; he was devoted. Based on the above verse we see that because of his faithfulness to the Truth that he did find favor with God.

2)Ezra spoke the truth in love resulting in conviction. Arlene reviewed chapter 9 to give us perspective. This chapter begins with ‘After these things had been done’ (Ez 9:1). The things that had been done were: the return of two waves of exiles, the temple and alter were rebuilt, and they faced opposition. Many commentators place chapter 8 of Nehemiah on the historical calendar of events between chapters 9 and 10 of Ezra. In this chapter of Nehemiah, Ezra is reading from the law (Deut 5:29-33, 6, 7:6-16, and 10:12-13). The people were mourning and weeping as he read. These verses spoke of God's covenant love for them and how He gave them the commandments so that they might have a long life and live in prosperity.

Sometime we use the Word like a sword on each other, perhaps in truth but possibly lacking the love which needs to balance the truth. Arlene brought up the following from 1 Cor 13:1-3, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing”. If Ezra had not spoken with the love of God, his word would not have been received yet we clearly see it touched their hearts.

3) Ezra pointed them to joy in God’s hesed love for them. “Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, 'This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.' For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law” (Neh. 8:9). Ezra tells the people to rejoice because “the joy of the Lord is your strength" (see Neh 8:10) and that they then celebrated “with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them” (Neh. 8:12). In this passage we see that “love rejoices in the truth” (1 Cor 13:6b).

Arlene shared with us some thoughts from a book entitled You Gotta Keep Dancin’ by Tim Hansel (Life Journey Books, 1985, pp. 53-54). In this book, Mr. Hansel explains that the word for ‘happiness’ and ‘happening’ come from the same root, the point being that happiness is linked to circumstances. Joy is something that overshadows present circumstances. He writes “Joy is that deep settled confidence that God is in control of every area of my life”. He goes on to say “It is not a feeling; it is a choice”. We may not be able to avoid painful circumstances in our lives but we do have the freedom to choose joy in these times. Ezra pointed the people not to sorrow on this sacred day but to be joyful in the Lord.

4)Ezra identified with them (the Israelites) which resulted in genuine sorrow. In Ezra 9 we saw that some things were going on that grieved Ezra. Not only on behalf of his people but himself as well. Not only was Ezra a teacher put he was also a priest. As 1 Cor 13:4 says “Love does not boast”, or in the NKJV, “parade itself”. Ezra did not exalt himself against his fellow Jews but identified with them. In Hebrews 4:14-5:3 we see that Jesus, as our high priest, had compassion on our suffering and weaknesses because he was tempted as we are. Even more so, the earthly priests could have compassion and understanding of the peoples’ weaknesses because they were sinners as well. Ezra truly fellowshiped in their sorrow.

Arlene shared with us a quote by Henri Noeween that speaks of this compassion that we want to have for others, “ Let us not underestimate how hard it is to be compassionate. Compassion is hard because it requires the inner disposition to go with others to a place where they are weak, vulnerable, lonely, and broken. But this is not our spontaneous response to suffering.
What we desire most is to do away with suffering by fleeing from it or finding a quick sure for it”.

We examined the question of why do we find so much emotion in this chapter? Going back to Solomon, we learned, he had disobeyed the Lord by taking wives that influenced him by drawing him away from the Lord (to put it mildly!). The consequences of his actions on the nation of Israel were painfully severe, touching generations to follow. The Isrealites of Ezra’s time were repeating the mistakes of their past leaders and Ezra grieved for what might follow. Arlene pointed out that we, as women, are leaders of some kind with a sphere of influence. We need to choose the type of leader we want to be.

5)Ezra gave Godly counsel and waited for God to work on their hearts. From Ezra 10:1-4, Arlene taught how Ezra had given godly counsel to the people then took a step back and gave the Lord room to work. As it says in 1 Cor 13:7, love always trusts (God). Arlene gave us a helpful acrostic that she had learned in a parenting seminar many years ago. It is I.C.E. I – instruction , C-consequence, E – exercise your options. She related how it is often hard for us to remain silent because it makes us feel helpless. Trusting God and believing he is in control is the best path to take.

6)Ezra used his authority and led them in obedience. We see in 1 Cor 13 that "love bears all things". As Arlene taught, Ezra did not just talk about what they should do, he did what he said should be done and became a part of it. We already saw that he had the legal and spiritual authority to rule. He didn’t use his authority from a place of supreme power, he ruled with love and humility.

Sometimes in the Word there appears to be inconsistencies between the Old Testament and the New Testament. In Deuteronomy 7:1-4, God is telling his people not to intermarry with the people of the lands they had conquered. This was due to the transfer of uncleanness. In Ezra 8 and 9 we see that the Israelites had intermarried with these people. In the New Testament we have already been made clean. We are under a new covenant. In the New Testament, in an unequally yoked marriage, the unbelieving spouse and the children are sanctified (not saved) by the believing spouse. They are made clean. “Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!” (2 Cor 3:7-9).

7)Ezra supervised repentance for as long as it took. In 1 Cor 13, God tells us "love is patient". Arlene showed us how Ezra loved the people with patience. Ezra 10:9-19 details the process that took place. A thorough investigation was carried out – the judgment was not carried out haphazardly and it took time.

Arlene differentiated the kinds of sin we see in the Bible (see Psalm 51). Here they are: 1) sin – missing the mark, basically regular, daily sin that we all commit as part of our human nature, 2)transgressions– this is premeditated sin, 3) iniquity – perversity or evil, and 4) hidden faults and unintentional sins. “Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression” (Psalm 19:12-13).

“If a person sins and does wht is forbidden in any of the LORD's commands, even thought he does not know it, he is guilty and will be held responsible. He is to bring to the priest as a guilt offering a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value . In this way the priest will make atonement for him for the wrong he has committed unintentionally, and he will be forgiven.“(Lev 5:17-18).

“They all gave their hands in pledge to put away their wives, and for their guilt they each presented a ram from the flock as a guilt offering.” (Ezra 10:19).

Arlene pointed out what was so wonderful in these passages is how determined God is to love His people. He had made a way for them to be reconciled to himself, even for the sins that they did not know they were committing. This is hesed, covenant love. God absolutely loves us in the same way. Jesus died on the cross to cover all our sins – from those that are premeditated to those we don’t even know we have done. Even as I write this I am filled with joy and gratitude. What a wonderful Savior we have!!

In conclusion, Arlene showed us how Ezra loved:
• he had a whole hearted devotion to God and His word
• he was passionate about others loving God too
• he brought encouragement and hope to the repentant
• he identified with their sin and then helped
• he gave godly counsel and trusted God with people
• he didn’t use his authority to control but to help
• he stuck with them to the end


“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:3-4).