Ezr 8:28 | KingComments | STEP | Ezra separated twelve men from the leaders of the priests to charge them with the care of silver and gold and certain utensils ( ). They are set apart for a special work. The separation of some priests has nothing to do with separating a group of people into a clergy. We read a peculiarity at the end of , where there is talk of “two utensils of fine shiny bronze, precious as gold”. Here we see bronze with the characteristic of gold. Bronze is a picture of God’s righteousness that can withstand judgment. Gold is a picture of God’s glory. We see both in the Lord Jesus on the cross. Ezra says that they are “holy to the LORD” ( ). Holy’ means separated for a purpose. The utensils entrusted to them are also holy. This sanctification, this separation, is for “the LORD God of your fathers”. Everything is consecrated to Him. People and means must be sanctified and pure if they are to be able to connect with God in order to be used by Him ( ). Here we see that this remnant, like the remnant that has returned before, brings silver and gold. We can apply this in such a way that from time to time God renews His work of revival and complements the previous one. Each time, something is added to what is already known. For example, we can think of the letters of correction to the Corinthians and Galatians, in which things are written that add to what is already known by the saints. What has been entrusted to them to take with them ( ), they must deliver in the same weight and number ( ) upon their arrival in Jerusalem. This is not a matter of mistrust, but of accountability (cf. ). The command in the last days is: “Guard, ... the treasure which has been entrusted to you” ( ; cf. ). Everything entrusted to the care of the priests is weighed out ( ). It is to be taken to Jerusalem, with “the house of our God” as its final destination. What has been entrusted to us has also been carefully weighed up and must be preserved and protected within the church, God’s house in this day. We are stewards of what has been entrusted to us as spiritual goods. We must hold on to the whole of the truth and not lose any of it. Ezra has lost nothing of what he took along the way, just as everything that went into the ark with Noah came out safe and sound.

‏ Ezra 8:28

Taking Care of Silver, Gold, and Utensils

Ezra separated twelve men from the leaders of the priests to charge them with the care of silver and gold and certain utensils (Ezra 8:24-27). They are set apart for a special work. The separation of some priests has nothing to do with separating a group of people into a clergy.

We read a peculiarity at the end of Ezra 8:27, where there is talk of “two utensils of fine shiny bronze, precious as gold”. Here we see bronze with the characteristic of gold. Bronze is a picture of God’s righteousness that can withstand judgment. Gold is a picture of God’s glory. We see both in the Lord Jesus on the cross.

Ezra says that they are “holy to the LORD” (Ezra 8:28). Holy’ means separated for a purpose. The utensils entrusted to them are also holy. This sanctification, this separation, is for “the LORD God of your fathers”. Everything is consecrated to Him. People and means must be sanctified and pure if they are to be able to connect with God in order to be used by Him (Isa 52:11).

Here we see that this remnant, like the remnant that has returned before, brings silver and gold. We can apply this in such a way that from time to time God renews His work of revival and complements the previous one. Each time, something is added to what is already known. For example, we can think of the letters of correction to the Corinthians and Galatians, in which things are written that add to what is already known by the saints.

What has been entrusted to them to take with them (Ezra 8:29), they must deliver in the same weight and number (Ezra 8:33-34) upon their arrival in Jerusalem. This is not a matter of mistrust, but of accountability (cf. 2Cor 8:21). The command in the last days is: “Guard, ... the treasure which has been entrusted to you” (2Tim 1:14; cf. 2Tim 4:7).

Everything entrusted to the care of the priests is weighed out (Ezra 8:30). It is to be taken to Jerusalem, with “the house of our God” as its final destination. What has been entrusted to us has also been carefully weighed up and must be preserved and protected within the church, God’s house in this day. We are stewards of what has been entrusted to us as spiritual goods. We must hold on to the whole of the truth and not lose any of it. Ezra has lost nothing of what he took along the way, just as everything that went into the ark with Noah came out safe and sound.