datethewordtest

Tag: Ezra

  • Verse to DATE the Word on September 5 (9/5) is Ezra 9:5 

    “At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God.” – Ezra 9:5
    Repentance leads to Revival

    As one comes to Ezra chapter 9 Ezra has heard a very disturbing report of some of God’s people practicing sin. It is especially grievous to Ezra that leading the way in practicing sin were the leaders.  Ezra 9:2c says, ‘in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.” As Ezra hears of these sins it brought a heavy brokenness, a brokenness described in Ezra 9:3.  It says, “As soon as I heard this, I tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled.”   

    As we come to Ezra 9:5 we find Ezra, who has been fasting all day, will rise from his sitting position to now fall to his knees to pray and he will pray a prayer of confession.  Ezra 9:6 tells of his prayer saying, “O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.”   Ezra acknowledges that they, God’s people, have broken God’s commandments.  Ezra 9:10 says, “And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken Your commandments.”

    How do you usually respond to a report that there is “sin in the camp?”  Does hearing about sin – first and foremost your own sin – break your heart? Ezra was appalled at sin being practiced.  He was astonished at sin being practiced.  He was ashamed, ashamed that sin was being practiced. His response was to humble himself before God and repent.  His response of repentance will lead to revival. 

    BTW – Revival has been defined as the renewed commitment to obey God’s command. 

    As you read of Ezra’s response you see his posture in which he is on his knees. I have come to believe that the strongest we will ever be is on our knees. May I challenge you to kneel in offering adoration to God?  May I challenge you to kneel in making confession?  May I challenge you to kneel in offering thanksgiving to God for His abundant goodness and amazing grace.  May I challenge you to kneel in pouring out your supplications to the Lord!  While there is no requirement for our posture as we pray kneeling is spoken of as the posture many of God’s people used as they prayed.

    Ezra gives us a tremendous example of responding to sin happening in a camp with humble brokenness and repentance. 

    Verse to DATE the Word on September 5 (9/5) is Ezra 9:5. It says, “At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God.” 

    Continue strong being brokenhearted over our sins,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on August 21 (8/21) is Ezra 8:21

    “Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might
    humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us 
    and our little ones and all our possessions.” – Ezra 8:21
    The Ezra Fast

    Ponder Ezra pondering.  He has been assigned as the Jewish leader with the huge responsibility of leading a group of his people BACK to JERUSALEM from their captivity in Babylon and he is pondering the path to take. His diligent preparation for this journey has brought him to a moment of “I don’t know.” He is perplexed.  He is unsure.  He is struggling to finalize the crucial decision of the direction they will be taking.   

    I am thinking you have been to this moment of “I don’t know.”   I know I have.  I know I am supposed to DO something but HOW TO DO is not clear.  It is at these crucial moments I am reminded of Ezra and how he handles his perplexing moment of “I don’t know.”  Let’s take a look at what he did.  

    Realizing he did not know his next step he proclaimed a fast.  Not knowing what to do has led him to go to the One who knows what to do!  Ezra will FAST.  He will call on those going with him to FAST.  Instead of relying on his knowledge Ezra will humble himself and acknowledge to God his tremendous need for God to be the guide for the perilous journey!  

    May I ask, are you familiar with fasting?   

    I see fasting as a spiritual discipline to help laser FOCUS my attention on God.  Fasting is the removal of something like food for a period of time (could be other things) that allows for a focused time where one is seeking the face of God.  For me, a FAST is For A Serious Time.  That serious time can be for a variety of things.   Here is Ezra 8:21 it was FOR A SERIOUS TIME of seeking DIRECTION!   

    Drawing from Ezra 8:21 I would encourage you to have times of fasting.  If you want to learn more about how to fast, I highly recommend reading Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough: A Guide to Nine Biblical Fasts by Dr. Elmer Towns.  He not only writes as a Biblical scholar, but he also writes as a practitioner!  

    While we cannot know if Ezra knew Proverbs 3:5-6 Ezra’s actions in Ezra 8:21 sure look like he was applying Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will direct your path. 

    Verse to DATE the Word on August 21 (8/21) is Ezra 8:21. It says, “Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions.”

    Pondering your next step? Is a FAST in your future so God can determine your future?

    Continue Strong seeking God,

  • Verse to DATE the Word on July 27 (7/27) is Ezra 7:27

    “Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem,” – Ezra 7:27
    In reading Ezra 7, we learn how King Artaxerxes allowed God’s people to return to Jerusalem and authorized those who went to RESTORE the HOUSE of the LORD.  As Ezra reports what the King has authorized him and other Jewish leaders to do one might expect him to pause and say something like “God save the King.”  Instead, Ezra will break from reporting what the King has told them to do to extend gratitude and praise to the LORD GOD and give Him credit for putting into the king’s heart to do this great work. 

    As I look at this verse two things stand out.  One is how Ezra did acknowledge God for His work in the king’s heart. I trust you have an eye to see the invisible hand of God at work as you seek to do His work.  On my journey, I have time and again been amazed at how God was working and working even when I did not know I needed Him to be working.  

    A second thing I like about this verse is the word “beautify.”  God put in the king’s heart to make His house look beautiful.  I don’t know how you define beauty but for me, it has the idea of something that has been done with excellence.  It does not have to be expensive to be beautiful though beauty does take intentional effort.  

    So, in considering Ezra 7:27 are you alert to see God at work and then to acknowledge and praise the Lord for His invisible hand working for you?  
    As well, do you look to make things that involve God’s work beautiful?   

    Verse to DATE the Word on July 27 (7/27) is Ezra 7:27. It says, “Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem,”

    How have you seen God working lately through someone else that has impacted something you have been wanting to accomplish?

    Continue Strong trusting God to be working,
    And remember to DATE the Word
     

  • Verse to DATE the Word on July 10 (7/10) is Ezra 7:10

    “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it,
    and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.”   – Ezra 7:10
    NLT: “Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the LORD and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.”  

    An Example of Actions to Take with the Word of God

    Ezra was a tremendous spiritual leader and a very skilled teacher as a scribe in Israel.  From Ezra 7:10 we see three actions that Ezra took with the Word of God.  These three actions serve as an example to each of us for what we should be doing with the Word of God.  

    What actions did Ezra take with God’s Word?   

    First, he studied it.  

    Second, he submitted to it. 

    Third, he shared it.  

    While the outline may seem simple his actions are very significant.  Before Ezra was a teacher he was a learner. He studied to know what the Word said.  Then he did not just tell others to how live, he lived it first.  He practiced what he preached. And he did not keep to himself what he learned but shared it with others. 

    What about you?  What are your actions with the Word of God?

    Are you taking time to STUDY God’s Word?  Are you a lifelong student of the Word?  Is there a hunger to know what God’s Word is conveying?

    Are you SUBMITTING to the teachings of God’s Word?   Are you a doer or just a hearer of God’s Word?

    Are you SHARING what you are learning with others?  You might recall from 2 Timothy 2:2 that it teaches to be a learner and then a teacher.  It says, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”  

    Verse to DATE the Word on July 10 (7/10) is Ezra 7:10 “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.”

    As you pick up God’s Word let the example of Ezra equip you with three actions to take.  Study it.  Submit to it.  Share it with others.

    Continue Strong taking actions with the Word,
    And remember to DATE the Word