The hand of the Lord

Wesley Wright

Lighthouse Bible Church

Sunday, November 9, 2025

 

Title: The hand of the Lord

EZR 7:1-28

There’s a 58-year gap between chapter 6 and 7 in the book of Ezra (515-458 B.C.). In that time period, all of the events detailed in the book of Esther take place.

The temple is rebuilt — Artaxerxes is in play now. He takes over after Darius, and he is again amenable to the Israelites’ cause (EZR 7:6).

Ezra was a scribe (EZR 7:6) who knew the law of God intimately and the Lord was with him. He sought to teach statutes and laws to the people of Israel.

Scribes had many roles in the OT:

2SA 8:15-18 (secretary)

2KI 25:18-21 (military officer)

JER 36:22-26 (writer)

 

Nehemiah documents what Ezra did, too.

NEH 8:1-9

 

Ezra taught and Jesus Christ later on would teach a great deal, too: MAT 7:21-29, LUK 5:17-26

 

The hand of the Lord was with Ezra in a particularly special way (EZR 7:6, EZR 7:28).

 

This isn’t the first use of this phrase:

GEN 39:2-4

2KI 2:13-20

EZE 3:20-26

 

In Artaxerxes’ seventh year in power, he sends Ezra and some others to Jerusalem. Once there, Ezra sets things in order (EZR 7:9-10).

 

He was also a priest (EZR 7:12) which was obviously a position of significance for the people of Israel. This was especially important given their new reality.

 

Jesus Christ serves as a our High Priest today:

HEB 3:1-9,

HEB 7:11-25

 

We’ve seen a decree from Cyrus, then Darius, and now from Artaxerxes. Anyone who wanted to go with Ezra could, the king says (EZR 7:13-14).

 

They, as we’ve seen before, would have plenty of resources to contribute to the house of God (EZR 7:20).

 

It’s interesting that Artaxerxes (EZR 7:23) and Darius before him (EZR 6:10)

both mentioned their families.

 

Remember who told Darius that if the city was rebuilt, they would lose tax revenue? Now, Artaxerxes says no one will impose taxes on the Israelites (EZR 7:24).

 

Ezra had to appoint judges and magistrates to govern the day-to-day affairs of his people, Artaxerxes said (EZR 7:25-26). Does that sound familiar?

EXO 18:12-27

NUM 11:16-25

 

Ezra had the judgment of the king behind him (Ezra 7:26). If did not abide of God’s law and that of the king, they would be punished.

JOH 5:19-29

ACT 10:34-42

ROM 2:12-16

2TI 4:1-5

 

God is a God of order. Not only did he make it so these people could get back to Jerusalem with the resources they need, but he also provided Ezra and other men to help lead them.

 

Consider how the Lord put it in Ezra’s heart to teach the law and more + how he put certain actions in the king’s heart. Thank Him for what he’s doing in your heart and countless others.

 

Ezra’s priestly obligations somewhat mirror some of the work Jesus Christ did on the Earth. Chapter 8 will detail the logistics of getting the second wave of folks to Israel.