Ezra: A man fit for God's use

However, with the temple rebuilt, time passes and once again they abandon God's purposes for them.

At this point in the nation's history, their desperate need was to get back on track for the Lord. Thankfully there was a man ready to be used by God to renew his people – Ezra the scribe.

 He knew the scriptures 

“He was a ready scribe in the law of Moses” (Ezra 7:6)

We are told many things about Ezra but the very first and most important factor is that he knew his Bible. Without this asset, he couldn’t have been used in the same way to teach and restore the people. Paul told Timothy “Study to show thyself approved unto God…” If we are men that want to be used by God, we need to get a deep grasp of his word. God will not have his soldiers fighting with blunt swords so let’s be more like Ezra – ready scribes in the scriptures.

Another interesting point is shown in Ch 7:10, “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord.” It was helpful that Ezra knew the scriptures but if his heart wasn’t in it for God, he may not have been used in the same way. The same can be said of us today.

He was sensitive to sin 

“The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations.” (Ezra 9:3)

After straying from God it was inevitable that the Israelites would fall into sin, and it brought Ezra to tears. He realised the nation couldn’t move on without confessing their wrongs. What I find amazing is that though Ezra wasn’t culpable for these sins, he still grieved for them. He understood the long-term damage of unconfessed and unrepented sin. Maybe Ezra’s example could challenge us to evaluate our heart’s sensitivity to sin. Proverbs 28:13 tells us, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” A man with unconfessed sin is not fit for God's use.

He led by example

“When Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children” (Ezra 10:1)

Another question: was Ezra a teacher by words only, or was he also ready to lead by example? In fact, he sets a powerful example in Chapter 10. Ezra was the only man who was spiritually equipped to say no to the ongoing sin and to repeated ungodliness. How amazing that once this was done, so many others followed and fell to their knees in sorrow. His godliness led a great crowd to unite in confession and worship. A life lived before God, like Ezra, will always overflow in blessing to others – perhaps even a whole community or nation.

He was consistent in Faith

“And when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away (Ezra 10:6)”

Ezra had a real faith. He did not leave his convictions at the door when no one was watching? After fasting and praying so publically, Ezra escaped by himself and in deep grief, spent the night fasting. His private fast demonstrated the reality of his grief over sin. It is men like this, men with a real and wholehearted faith, that God delights to use. I wonder, does our personal faith match up with our reputation? Ezra’s faith did.

‍