Read: Ezra 8:21-9:15; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; Psalm 31:1-8; Proverbs 21;1-2
This Artaxerses is the grandson of Darius, not to be confused with the one in Esther and the one who stopped the building in chapter four. Ezra was a descendent of Aaron and had studied and taught the law of Moses. He came to Jerusalem from Babylon taking five months to travel there. The king had given Ezra a proclamation for him to read to the people saying that any of the Israelites who wanted to resettle in Jerusalem were allowed to return. He sent silver and gold to buy offerings and sacrifices for their worship. He provided all and anything Ezra had wanted for the temple. He also proclaimed tax-exemption for all the priests and Levites according to Moses’ law. Among the people, Ezra found 220 Levites to start preparing for worship.
When we are walking in God’s plan, provision is abundant and the favor of God is on us. Ezra was walking in this.
In Corinth, the people had become arrogant in their walk with the Lord and thought they were rich. Paul tried to show them that thinking they were rich and worthy of judging everyone else was not the way of the kingdom. Paul was persecuted, slandered, cursed and mistreated all for the gospel. His life was not easy and neither was Jesus’ life. They had let pride creep in and were judging one another as if they were the standard. One day everything that is hidden will be revealed. Paul was trying to tell them that God will judge everything in the end but now the way was humility.
Lord, help us to walk in humility and realize that our present suffering is not to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in the end.
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