Ezr 8:15 | KingComments | STEP | Ezra and his company stay “three days” at the river ( ). “Three days” makes us think of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus was three days in death and rose from the grave on the third day (cf. ). The spiritual meaning of these three days is that any return to the principles of Scripture can only take place in the awareness of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Through His death and resurrection another world, the world of the Father, has been opened up for the believer. This is where the believer finds himself in faith and where the spiritual realities are experienced. At the river Ezra notices that there are no Levites ( ). The absence of Levites is a sad feature of the situation of decay. The Levites have not responded to the call to return. They do not see it as a privilege to be able to serve again in God’s presence, but feel at home in Babel, the place where they ended up by God’s judgment. Where are the servants of God’s people today? We shall experience the same if we start thinking on earthly things instead of “seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” ( ). We then become indifferent to our spiritual prerogatives and may even be “enemies of the cross of Christ” ( ). No child of God who understands his heavenly calling can be content to live in ‘Babylon’. Ezra is not satisfied that the Levites are staying behind and is taking action. He sends out nine leaders and two men who are “teachers” ( ) to persuade Levites to go up with him to Jerusalem. The family leaders are important because of their position, and the two men are important because of their understanding the Word of God. It is a privilege to have such people in a time of decay. The nine heads of the family have a sense of responsibility and the two with insight complement this. If shortages are observed in the church, it is important that those who notice these shortages or are made aware of them help each other to provide for these shortages. Ezra orders the eleven men to go to Iddo ( ). Iddo holds a position of authority in Casiphia. How the men should speak to Iddo and those who are with him, they are told by Ezra. They must ask them to “to bring ministers to us for the house of our God”. Ezra is not concerned with his own interests, but those of God. He knows the needs of God’s house and that is what matters to him. He is like Him Who was consumed by zeal for the house of God ( ; ). It is painful for Ezra to see that no one had come forward to do the service in connection with the sanctuary. Through God’s blessing and protection, “according to the good hand of our God upon us” ( ), his action is successful. “A man of insight “, Sherebiah is brought to him, “and his sons and brothers”, a total of eighteen men. The word “brought” gives the impression that it took some encouragement to get these Levites to join Ezra. Sherebiah is “the son of Israel”. The fact that he is called like this shows something of God’s appreciation for his coming, even though he has to be awakened, as it were, and his joining Ezra is at the last minute. Though late, his coming is ‘princely’ (Israel means ‘prince of God’). Two more descendants of Merari with brothers and sons, a total of twenty men, are brought to Ezra. This means that only thirty-eight Levites in total will go with Ezra. The rest remain in their pleasantly built up existence in Babel. The prerogatives of God’s service no longer exert any power on their hearts and consciences. Where are the gifts that the Lord has given to the church today? Who still exercises his gift? Many believers feel comfortable in a system where everything is arranged and where they can come and go without obligation whenever they feel like it. It is good to exhort believers to fulfil the task given to them, as Paul says to the Colossians that they should exhort Archippus: “Say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it” ( ). The temple servants are more in number ( ). They are also “all of them designated by name”. This underlines God’s approval of their willingness. Temple servants are not as prominent as Levites. They work more in the background. However, their service is indispensable, because they ensure that the Levites can do their service. In the same way, there are many tasks to be performed today that may not be so conspicuous, but that are important for others to do their service well. Here, too, God’s appreciation is evident. Temple servants are first and foremost gifts “whom David and the princes had given for the service of the Levites”. In the second place they are “all of them designated by name”. They may not be known to men, but God knows each of them personally by their name.

‏ Ezra 8:15

Call to Levites

Ezra and his company stay “three days” at the river (Ezra 8:15a). “Three days” makes us think of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus was three days in death and rose from the grave on the third day (cf. Jn 3:1-2). The spiritual meaning of these three days is that any return to the principles of Scripture can only take place in the awareness of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Through His death and resurrection another world, the world of the Father, has been opened up for the believer. This is where the believer finds himself in faith and where the spiritual realities are experienced.

At the river Ezra notices that there are no Levites (Ezra 8:15b). The absence of Levites is a sad feature of the situation of decay. The Levites have not responded to the call to return. They do not see it as a privilege to be able to serve again in God’s presence, but feel at home in Babel, the place where they ended up by God’s judgment.

Where are the servants of God’s people today? We shall experience the same if we start thinking on earthly things instead of “seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Col 3:1-2). We then become indifferent to our spiritual prerogatives and may even be “enemies of the cross of Christ” (Phil 3:18). No child of God who understands his heavenly calling can be content to live in ‘Babylon’.

Ezra is not satisfied that the Levites are staying behind and is taking action. He sends out nine leaders and two men who are “teachers” (Ezra 8:16) to persuade Levites to go up with him to Jerusalem. The family leaders are important because of their position, and the two men are important because of their understanding the Word of God. It is a privilege to have such people in a time of decay. The nine heads of the family have a sense of responsibility and the two with insight complement this. If shortages are observed in the church, it is important that those who notice these shortages or are made aware of them help each other to provide for these shortages.

Ezra orders the eleven men to go to Iddo (Ezra 8:17). Iddo holds a position of authority in Casiphia. How the men should speak to Iddo and those who are with him, they are told by Ezra. They must ask them to “to bring ministers to us for the house of our God”. Ezra is not concerned with his own interests, but those of God. He knows the needs of God’s house and that is what matters to him. He is like Him Who was consumed by zeal for the house of God (Psa 69:10; Jn 2:17). It is painful for Ezra to see that no one had come forward to do the service in connection with the sanctuary.

Through God’s blessing and protection, “according to the good hand of our God upon us” (Ezra 8:18), his action is successful. “A man of insight “, Sherebiah is brought to him, “and his sons and brothers”, a total of eighteen men. The word “brought” gives the impression that it took some encouragement to get these Levites to join Ezra. Sherebiah is “the son of Israel”. The fact that he is called like this shows something of God’s appreciation for his coming, even though he has to be awakened, as it were, and his joining Ezra is at the last minute. Though late, his coming is ‘princely’ (Israel means ‘prince of God’).

Two more descendants of Merari with brothers and sons, a total of twenty men, are brought to Ezra. This means that only thirty-eight Levites in total will go with Ezra. The rest remain in their pleasantly built up existence in Babel. The prerogatives of God’s service no longer exert any power on their hearts and consciences.

Where are the gifts that the Lord has given to the church today? Who still exercises his gift? Many believers feel comfortable in a system where everything is arranged and where they can come and go without obligation whenever they feel like it. It is good to exhort believers to fulfil the task given to them, as Paul says to the Colossians that they should exhort Archippus: “Say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it” (Col 4:17).

The temple servants are more in number (Ezra 8:20). They are also “all of them designated by name”. This underlines God’s approval of their willingness. Temple servants are not as prominent as Levites. They work more in the background. However, their service is indispensable, because they ensure that the Levites can do their service. In the same way, there are many tasks to be performed today that may not be so conspicuous, but that are important for others to do their service well. Here, too, God’s appreciation is evident. Temple servants are first and foremost gifts “whom David and the princes had given for the service of the Levites”. In the second place they are “all of them designated by name”. They may not be known to men, but God knows each of them personally by their name.