Ezra received a commission from Artaxerxes to return to the land. The letter established Ezra’s authority and detailed the king’s instructions (Ezra 7:12-26). The king recognized Ezra as a “priest, a scribe of the Law of the God of heaven” (Ezra 7:12). As to how Ezra came to the notice of the king is not recorded; like Daniel, however, his faith was known to those in authority, even to Artaxerxes himself.
The letter granted permission to the Jews of the king’s realm to return to Jerusalem. Only those with a desire to return were called upon to go — “which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem” (Ezra 7:13). There is a saying, “absence makes the heart grow fonder,” but in spiritual things, the opposite is true. Like a campfire, the further we sit from it, the colder we become. Those that returned with Ezra, as we shall see in the next chapter, appear to have been much fewer in number than the company that returned with Zerubbabel. It is important to note that this generation of exiles did not return to build the temple or even the walls of the city. The one had been completed and the other awaited Nehemiah. These returned to maintain the testimony of the God of Israel at Jerusalem, where He had placed His name. The energy of faith is limited to a few. When there is a great work to be done or battles to be fought, we respond; when we are called upon to simply “hold that fast which thou hast” (Rev. 3:11), how lethargic we become.
Ezra was to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, and, it would seem, especially with respect to the obedience of the people to the law of God (Ezra 7:14). This is confirmed in the instructions to establish magistrates and judges who knew the law of God; disobedience to the law of God and the law of the king was to be speedily addressed (Ezra 7:26). It is not long before we find how needful this was; those who had returned earlier had been greatly weakened through alliances with the people of the land.
How essential it is to have the Word of God nearby — in Ezra’s case, it was in his hand (Ezra 7:14; Deut. 11:18-31). “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psa. 119:105). If I don’t want to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, then my delight must be in the Word of God (Psa. 1:1-2). The latter does not follow from the former; rather the converse is true.
The king and counselors sent with Ezra silver and gold, along with that which had been given as a free will offering by the people. The money was especially designated for the purchase of animals for the offerings; the remainder was to be used as they saw fit — though in part, at least, it appears that it was to be used to beautify the house of Jehovah (Ezra 7:27). When we consider the free will offering of the people, we are reminded of the verses: “By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Heb. 13:15-16). Praise and worship must come first, but we are not to forget to do good and share of our substance; but it is “by Him” (Heb. 13:15). It cannot be by constraint or for personal gain. It should likewise be noted, that all of this is found in connection with our going “forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach” (Heb. 13:13). We should not think that we need to join the camp to do good; indeed, we should separate ourselves from it so we can do that which is well pleasing to the Lord.
Ezra attributes all to God. He does not take credit for putting the idea into the king’s heart, nor does he take credit for the kindness shown him by the king and his princes. Rather, he thanks God for strengthening his hand in gathering chief men to go up with him (Ezra 7:27-28).