2022 SOAP 08/26/2022

EZRA Chapter 8

Hi, I’m Bill Dines one of God’s certified lay ministers at New Hope UMC Brandon, FL. The Scripture reading for today is Chapter 8 of the Book of EZRA. I encourage you to read the entire Chapter but we will focus mainly of verse 8:21-23 with emphasis on EZRA 8:15

SCRIPTURE:

EZRA 8:21-23 There by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children and our possessions. I was ashamed to ask the king for solders and horseman to protect us from our enemies on the way because we had told the King, “The gracious hand of God is on everyone who looks to Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him.” So, we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He answered us.

OBSERVATION:

Ezra has assembled the people (approximately 50,000) for the final preparation to travel a 3 ½ month journey around the fertile crescent ( it would be like walking from Tampa to Galveston Texas). When Ezra noticed 2 things which were missing that needed to be addressed.

1.     No Levites; in verse 15, it was important because in the Torah, the Levite’s were to transport the articles of the Synagogue

2.     The need to fast and pray for God to protect and guide them on their journey

APPLICATION:

To some people do not see these as very important, but they are actually a couple of the Spiritual Principles contained within the Bible, which apply to us today, to all generations.

The 1st is for us to make sure we are aligning our lives with the Bible, God’s word and truths within our hearts and lives.

The 2nd is the need for us to humble ourselves before God in prayer and supplication, assuring that we are walking in the ways of God and following God directives in our lives.

Like Ezra observing what is needed for a journey, we always need to check that we are walking in the ways and truths of God’s Word and listening to God’s promptings in our lives. This helps us to know that God is there for us, guiding, directing, protecting us to live the best life we can live, a life of abiding in Christ.

PRAYER:

Lord, instill within our hearts the grace and truth of Your word, and a strong desire for Your ways; and give us an assurance of Your steadfast love surrounding us. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen

Thank You and God Bless,

William (Bill) R. Dines