horse report

Posted on April 11, 2025 by Jefferson Vann

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horse report

Zechariah 1:1-17 (JDV)

Zechariah 1:1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of Yahveh came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, son of Iddo:
Zechariah 1:2 “Yahveh was extremely angry with your ancestors.
Zechariah 1:3 So tell the people, ‘This is what Yahveh of Armies says: Return to me– this is the declaration of Yahveh of Armies — and I will return to you, says Yahveh of Armies.
Zechariah 1:4 Do not be like your ancestors; the earlier prophets proclaimed to them: This is what Yahveh of Armies says: Turn from your evil ways and your evil deeds. But they did not listen or pay attention to me — this is Yahveh’s declaration.
Zechariah 1:5 Where are your ancestors now? And do the prophets live forever?
Zechariah 1:6 But didn’t my words and my statutes that I commanded my servants the prophets overtake your ancestors? ‘” So, the people repented and said, “As Yahveh of Armies decided to deal with us for our ways and our deeds, so he has dealt with us.”
Zechariah 1:7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of Yahveh came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, son of Iddo:
Zechariah 1:8 I looked out in the night and noticed a man riding on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the valley. Behind him were red, brown, and white horses.
Zechariah 1:9 I asked, “What are these, my lord?” The angel who was talking to me replied, “I will show you what they are.”
Zechariah 1:10 Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones Yahveh has sent to patrol the land.”
Zechariah 1:11 They reported to the angel of Yahveh standing among the myrtle trees, “We have patrolled the land – notice — and right now the whole land is settled and quiet.”
Zechariah 1:12 Then the angel of Yahveh responded, “How long, Lord of Armies, will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah that you have been angry with these seventy years?”
Zechariah 1:13 Yahveh replied with kind and comforting words to the angel who was speaking with me.
Zechariah 1:14 So the angel who was speaking with me said, “Proclaim: Yahveh of Armies says: I am very ready to fight for Jerusalem and Zion.
Zechariah 1:15 I am fiercely angry with the nations that are at ease, for I was a little angry, but they made the destruction worse.
Zechariah 1:16 Therefore, this is what Yahveh says: In mercy, I have returned to Jerusalem; my house will be rebuilt within it– this is the declaration of Yahveh of Armies– and a measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.
Zechariah 1:17 “Proclaim further: This is what Yahveh of Armies says: My cities will again overflow with prosperity; Yahveh will once more comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.”

horse report

The horses of Zechariah may represent the races of the nations surrounding Jerusalem and Judah. Their riders go out in each direction, spying out the lands. They see that the Gentile nations are at rest. They report this back to the man riding the first red horse, ho may be the angel representing Judah itself. The three different colors might represent the various descendants of the three sons of Noah. The point is that the surrounding nations are at rest, and Judah is not. God is going to change that.

LORD, we are grateful that you see our predicament. We trust you to change what needs to change.

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Diotrephes

Posted on April 10, 2025 by Jefferson Vann

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Diotrephes

3 John 1:1-15

3 John 1:1 The elder: To my cared about Gaius, whom I genuinely care about.
3 John 1:2 Cared about one; I pray that everything is going well with you and you are in good health, just as your throat is going well.
3 John 1:3 I was very glad when brothers came and testified to your loyalty to the truth—how you are walking truthfully.
3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children walk truthfully.
3 John 1:5 Cared about one, you are living faithfully in whatever you do for the brothers and sisters, especially when they are strangers.
3 John 1:6 They have testified to your care before the congregation. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God,
3 John 1:7 since they set out for the Name’s sake, accepting nothing from Nations.
3 John 1:8 That is why we ought to support such people to be coworkers with the truth.
3 John 1:9 I wrote something to the congregation, but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them, does not welcome us.
3 John 1:10 This is why if I come, I will remind him of what he is doing, slandering us with malicious words. And he is not satisfied with that! He refuses to welcome brothers and even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the congregation.
3 John 1:11 Cared about one: do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.
3 John 1:12 Everyone speaks well of Demetrius—even the truth itself. And we also speak well of him, so you know our testimony is true.
3 John 1:13 I have many things to write to you, but I don’t want to use pen and ink.
3 John 1:14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
3 John 1:15 Peace to you. The friends send you greetings. Greet the friends by name.

In his second letter, John had encouraged believers not to associate with deceivers who taught new things. In this third letter, he deals with the opposite problem. Diotrephes – apparently a leader in the church John writes to – has refused to accept a legitimate ministry. He used his position in the church to deny support to others, seeking to narrow the people’s attention to only himself.

I am concerned with the modern church’s emphasis on pastoral authority. It seems to be creating people like Diotrephes — people who equate their own leadership with God’s will and his way. When Jesus was asked about who would be in charge, he told his disciples to imitate the children. They were to assume that everyone else was their better, and live in submission to everyone.

There are some false teachings we ought to shun. But there are lots of legitimate ministries we ought to be accepting and supporting. Finding the appropriate balance will require discernment.

LORD, help us support legitimate manifestations of your Holy Spirit, while avoiding counterfeits. And help our leaders to stop hogging control of your church.

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not allowed to enter

Posted on April 9, 2025 by Jefferson Vann

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not allowed to enter

Ezra 10:1-44

Ezra 10:1 While Ezra prayed and confessed, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, a vast assembly of Israelite men, women, and children gathered around him. The people also wept bitterly.
Ezra 10:2 Then Shecaniah, son of Jehiel, an Elamite, responded to Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the surrounding peoples, but there is still hope for Israel despite this.
Ezra 10:3 Let us, therefore, make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the command of our God. Let it be done according to the law.
Ezra 10:4 Get up; this matter is your responsibility, and we support you. Be strong and take action!”
Ezra 10:5 Then Ezra got up and made the leading priests, Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do what had been said; so, they took the oath.
Ezra 10:6 Ezra then went from the house of God and walked to the chamber of Jehohanan, son of Eliashib, where he spent the night. He did not eat food or drink water because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.
Ezra 10:7 They proclaimed throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should gather in Jerusalem.
Ezra 10:8 Whoever did not come within three days would forfeit all his possessions, according to the decision of the leaders and elders, and would be excluded from the assembly of the exiles.
Ezra 10:9 So all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered in Jerusalem within the three days. On the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the square at the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain.
Ezra 10:10 Then the priest Ezra stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women, adding to Israel’s guilt.
Ezra 10:11 Therefore, confess Yahveh, the God of your fathers, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the surrounding peoples and your foreign wives.”
Ezra 10:12 All the assembly responded loudly: “Yes, we will do as you say!
Ezra 10:13 But there are many people, and it is the rainy season. We don’t have the stamina to stay out in the open. This isn’t something that can be done in a day or two, for we have rebelled terribly in this matter.
Ezra 10:14 Let our leaders represent the entire assembly. Then, let all those in our towns who have married foreign women come at appointed times, together with the elders and judges of each town, to avert the fierce anger of our God concerning this matter.
Ezra 10:15 Only Jonathan, son of Asahel, and Jahzeiah, son of Tikvah, opposed this, with Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supporting them.
Ezra 10:16 The exiles did what had been proposed. The priest Ezra selected men who were family heads, all identified by name, to represent their ancestral families. They convened on the first day of the tenth month to investigate the matter,
Ezra 10:17, and by the first day of the first month, they had dealt with all the men who had married foreign women.
Ezra 10:18 The following were found to have married foreign women from the descendants of the priests: from the descendants of Jeshua, son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
Ezra 10:19 They pledged to send their wives away, and being guilty, they offered a ram from the flock for their guilt;
Ezra 10:20 Hanani and Zebadiah from Immer’s descendants;
Ezra 10:21 Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah from Harim’s descendants;
Ezra 10:22 Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah from Pashhur’s descendants.
Ezra 10:23 The Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
Ezra 10:24 The singers: Eliashib. The gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
Ezra 10:25 The Israelites: Parosh’s descendants: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah;
Ezra 10:26 Elam’s descendants: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah;
Ezra 10:27 Zattu’s descendants: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza;
Ezra 10:28 Bebai’s descendants: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai;
Ezra 10:29 Bani’s descendants: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth;
Ezra 10:30 Pahath-moab’s descendants: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh;
Ezra 10:31 Harim’s descendants: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
Ezra 10:32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah;
Ezra 10:33 Hashum’s descendants: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei;
Ezra 10:34 Bani’s descendants: Maadai, Amram, Uel,
Ezra 10:35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,
Ezra 10:36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
Ezra 10:37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasu,
Ezra 10:38 Bani, Binnui, Shimei,
Ezra 10:39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,
Ezra 10:40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
Ezra 10:41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,
Ezra 10:42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph;
Ezra 10:43 Nebo’s descendants: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.
Ezra 10:44 All of these had married foreign women, and some wives had given birth to children.

not allowed to enter

The sin that had been committed was not simply the marrying of foreign wives. It was the the marrying women and fathering children who did not put their faith in the LORD. That was the crime which took three months to sort out in the courts. Each family had to be tested to see whether they had truly converted and were faithful to the LORD. Those who would not prove allegiance to the God of Israel could not be allowed to settle in restored Jerusalem. Similarly, a judgment will take place before the new heavens and new earth will be occupied. Those whose names are not found in the book of life will not be allowed to enter the new Jerusalem, and they will not be allowed to partake of the tree of life and live forever.

LORD, purge us of our hypocrisy and capriciousness. Make of us genuine people, fit for eternity.

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before him with our guilt

Posted on April 8, 2025 by Jefferson Vann

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before him with our guilt

Ezra 9:1-15

Ezra 9:1 After these things had been done, the leaders approached me. They said: “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the surrounding peoples whose detestable practices are like those of the Canaanites, Hethites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.
Ezra 9:2 Indeed, the Israelite men have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so the sacred seed has become mixed with the surrounding peoples. The leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!”
Ezra 9:3 When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and robe, pulled some hair from my head and beard, and sat down devastated.
Ezra 9:4 Everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat devastated until the evening offering.
Ezra 9:5 At the evening offering, I got up from humiliation, with my tunic and robe torn. Then I fell on my knees and spread my hands to Yahveh, my God.
Ezra 9:6 And I said: My God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face toward you because our iniquities are higher than our heads, and our guilt is as high as the sky.
Ezra 9:7 Our guilt has been terrible from the days of our fathers until the present. Because of our iniquities, we have been handed over, along with our kings and priests, to the surrounding kings and the sword, captivity, plundering, and open shame, as it is today.
Ezra 9:8 But now, for a brief moment, grace has come from Yahveh our God, to preserve a remnant for us and give us a stake in his sacred place. Even in our slavery, God has given us a little relief and light to our eyes.
Ezra 9:9 Though we are slaves, our God has not abandoned us in our slavery. He has extended grace to us in the presence of the Persian kings, relieving us to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.
Ezra 9:10 Now, our God, what can we say in light of this? For we have abandoned the commands
Ezra 9:11 you gave through your servants the prophets, saying: “The land you are entering to possess is impure. The surrounding peoples have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness by their impurity and detestable practices.
Ezra 9:12 So do not give your daughters to their sons in marriage or take their daughters for your sons. Never pursue their welfare or prosperity so that you will be strong. Eat the good things of the land and leave it as an inheritance to your sons forever.
Ezra 9:13 After all that has happened to us because of our evil deeds and terrible guilt– though you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have allowed us to survive–
Ezra 9:14: should we break your commands again and intermarry with the people who commit these detestable practices? Wouldn’t you become so angry with us that you would destroy us, leaving neither remnant nor survivor?
Ezra 9:15 Lord God of Israel, you are righteous, for we survive as a remnant today. We are before you with our guilt, though no one can stand in your presence.

before him with our guilt

God had granted his people a little reviving, and that had served to highlight the faithlessness of the people. They had intermarried with the idolatrous nations around them – something that the LORD told them not to do. It would have been a visible reminder of their disqualification.

LORD, forgive us for failing to live up to our promises to you. Allow us to deal radically with our own failures, so that we can represent you to a world that needs you.

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the king’s mind

Posted on April 6, 2025 by Jefferson Vann

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the king’s mind

Ezra 7:1-28

Ezra 7:1 After these events, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra– Seraiah’s son, Azariah’s son, Hilkiah’s son,
Ezra 7:2 Shallum’s son, Zadok’s son, Ahitub’s son,
Ezra 7:3 Amariah’s son, Azariah’s son, Meraioth’s son,
Ezra 7:4 Zerahiah’s son, Uzzi’s son, Bukki’s son,
Ezra 7:5 Abishua’s son, Phinehas’s son, Eleazar’s son, the chief priest Aaron’s son
Ezra 7:6—He came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which Yahveh, the God of Israel, had given. The king granted him everything he requested because the hand of Yahveh, his God, was on him.
Ezra 7:7 Some Israelites, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants accompanied him to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
Ezra 7:8 Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, during the seventh year of the king.
Ezra 7:9 He began the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month and arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month since the gracious hand of his God was on him.
Ezra 7:10 Now, Ezra had determined to study the law of Yahveh, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Ezra 7:11 This is the text of the letter King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra, the priest and scribe, an expert in matters of Yahveh’s commands and statutes for Israel:
Ezra 7:12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, an expert in the law of the God of the sky: Greetings.
Ezra 7:13 I issue a decree that any Israelites in my kingdom, including their priests and Levites, who want to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.
Ezra 7:14 The king and his seven counselors send you to evaluate Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God, which is in your possession.
Ezra 7:15 You are also to bring the silver and gold the king and his counselors have willingly given to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,
Ezra 7:16 and all the silver and gold you receive throughout the province of Babylon, together with the donations given by the people and the priests to the house of their God in Jerusalem.
Ezra 7:17 Then you are to be diligent about buying bulls, rams, and lambs with this money, along with their grain and drink offerings, and offering them on the altar at the house of your God in Jerusalem.
Ezra 7:18 You and your brothers may do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, according to the will of your God.
Ezra 7:19 Deliver to the God of Jerusalem all the articles given to you for the service of the house of your God.
Ezra 7:20: You may use the royal treasury to pay for anything else needed for the house of your God.
Ezra 7:21 I, King Artaxerxes, issue a decree to all the treasurers in the region west of the Euphrates River: Whatever Ezra the priest, an expert in the law of the God of the sky, asks of you must be provided in full,
Ezra 7:22 up to 7,500 pounds of silver, 500 bushels of wheat, 550 gallons of wine, 550 gallons of oil, and salt without limit.
Ezra 7:23 Whatever is commanded by the God of the sky must be done diligently for the house of the God of the sky so that wrath will not fall on the realm of the king and his sons.
Ezra 7:24 Be advised that you do not have authority to impose tribute, duty, and land tax on any priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.
Ezra 7:25 And you, Ezra, according to God’s wisdom that you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people in the region west of the Euphrates who know the laws of your God and to teach anyone who does not know them.
Ezra 7:26 Anyone who does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, let the appropriate judgment be executed against him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.
Ezra 7:27 Blessed be Yahveh, the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king’s mind to glorify the house of Yahveh in Jerusalem,
Ezra 7:28 and who has shown favor to me before the king, his counselors, and all his influential officers. So, I took courage because I was strengthened by the hand of Yahveh, my God, and I gathered Israelite leaders to return with me.

the king’s mind

Ezra finally shows up in the book with his name on it. He thanks God for putting it into the king’s mind to glorify him. Was it simply benevolence that God put on the king’s mind? Probably it was fear as well. The phrase “so that wrath will not fall on the realm of the king and his sons” may indicate that. While we are praying for our rulers, as the Scriptures command us, we should not forget to pray that God instill in them a healthy fear of himself.

LORD, teach our leaders to respect you.

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the reverser

Posted on April 5, 2025 by Jefferson Vann

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the reverser

Ezra 6:1-22

Ezra 6:1 King Darius gave the order, and they searched in the library of Babylon in the archives.
Ezra 6:2 But it was in the fortress of Ecbatana in the province of Media that a scroll was found with this record written on it:
Ezra 6:3 In the first year of King Cyrus, he issued a decree concerning the house of God in Jerusalem: Let the house be rebuilt as a place for offering sacrifices, and let its original foundations be retained. Its height is to be ninety feet and its width ninety feet,
Ezra 6:4 with three layers of cut stones and one of timber. The cost is to be paid from the royal treasury.
Ezra 6:5 The gold and silver articles of God’s house that Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and carried to Babylon must also be returned. They are to be brought to the temple in Jerusalem, where they belong and put into the house of God.
Ezra 6:6 Therefore, you must stay away from that place, Tattenai, governor of the region west of the Euphrates River, Shethar-bozenai, and your colleagues, the officials in the area.
Ezra 6:7 Leave the construction of the house of God alone. Let the governor and elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its original site.
Ezra 6:8 I issue a decree concerning what you are to do so that the elders of the Jews can rebuild the house of God: The cost is to be paid in full to these men out of the royal revenues from the taxes of the region west of the Euphrates River so that the work will not stop.
Ezra 6:9 Whatever is needed– young bulls, rams, and lambs for burnt offerings to the God of the sky, or wheat, salt, wine, and oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem– let it be given to them every day without fail,
Ezra 6:10 so that they can offer sacrifices of pleasing aroma to the God of the sky and pray for the life of the king and his sons.
Ezra 6:11 I also issue a decree concerning any man who interferes with this directive: Let a beam be torn from his house and raised; he will be impaled on it, and his house will be made into a garbage dump because of this offense.
Ezra 6:12 May the God who caused his name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who dares to harm or interfere with this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued the decree. Let it be carried out diligently.
Ezra 6:13 Then Tattenai, governor of the region west of the Euphrates River, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues diligently carried out what King Darius had decreed.
Ezra 6:14 So the Jewish elders continued successfully with the building under the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, son of Iddo. They finished the building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius, and King Artaxerxes of Persia.
Ezra 6:15 This house was completed on the third day of the month of Adar in the sixth year of King Darius’s reign.
Ezra 6:16 Then the Israelites, including the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles, celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy.
Ezra 6:17 For the dedication of God’s house, they offered one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and twelve male goats as a sin offering for all Israel– one for each Israelite tribe.
Ezra 6:18 They also appointed the priests by their divisions and the Levites by their groups to serve God in Jerusalem, according to what is written in the Book of Moses.
Ezra 6:19 The exiles observed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
Ezra 6:20 All priests and Levites were ceremonially clean because they had purified themselves. They killed the Passover lamb for themselves, their priestly brothers, and all the exiles.
Ezra 6:21 The Israelites who had returned from exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the Gentiles of the land to worship Yahveh, the God of Israel.
Ezra 6:22 They observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy because Yahveh had made them joyful. He had changed the Assyrian king’s attitude toward them so that he supported them in the work on the house of the God of Israel.

the reverser

King Darius of the Medo-Persian empire now issues an even stronger edict to ensure that the remnant of Israel is helped and the temple is reconstructed. They celebrated because “Yahveh had made them joyful. He had changed the Assyrian king’s attitude toward them so that he supported them” (22). Of course, Darius was not king of the old empire of Assyria. He was king over the land that had once been occupied by Assyria. Ezra’s statement demonstrates the irony of the event. The Assyrians had been the first to conquer and exile God’s people. Now, the king from that land is helping them to return. Never underestimate the power of God to change people and reverse impossible situations.

LORD, surprise us again. Turn our impossible situations into declarations of praise.

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clarity

Posted on April 4, 2025 by Jefferson Vann

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clarity

Ezra 5:1-17

Ezra 5:1 But when the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them,
Ezra 5:2 Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, son of Jozadak, began to rebuild God’s house in Jerusalem. The prophets of God were with them, helping them.
Ezra 5:3 At that time, Tattenai, the governor of the region west of the Euphrates River, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues came to the Jews and asked, “Who gave you the order to rebuild this temple and finish this structure?”
Ezra 5:4 They also asked them, “What are the names of the workers constructing this building?”
Ezra 5:5 But God was watching over the Jewish elders. These men wouldn’t stop them until a report was sent to Darius so that they could receive written instructions about this matter.
Ezra 5:6 This is the text of the letter that Tattenai, the governor of the region west of the Euphrates River, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues, the regional officials, sent to King Darius.
Ezra 5:7 They sent him a report, written as follows: To King Darius: All greetings.
Ezra 5:8 Let it be known to the king that we went to the house of the great God in the province of Judah. It is being built with cut stones, and its beams are set in the walls. This work is being done diligently and succeeding through the people’s efforts.
Ezra 5:9 So we asked the elders, “Who gave you the order to rebuild this temple and finish this structure?”
Ezra 5:10 We also asked them for their names so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.
Ezra 5:11 This is their reply: We are the servants of the God of the sky and land, and we are rebuilding the temple built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.
Ezra 5:12 But since our ancestors angered the God of the sky, he handed them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon.
Ezra 5:13 However, in the first year of King Cyrus of Babylon, he issued a decree to rebuild the house of God.
Ezra 5:14 He also took from the temple in Babylon the gold and silver articles of God’s house that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and carried them to the temple in Babylon. He released them from the temple in Babylon to a man named Sheshbazzar, the governor by the appointment of King Cyrus.
Ezra 5:15 Cyrus told him, “Take these articles, put them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its original site.”
Ezra 5:16 This same Sheshbazzar laid the foundation of God’s house in Jerusalem. It has been under construction since then, but it has not been completed.
Ezra 5:17 So, if it pleases the king, let a search of the royal archives in Babylon be conducted to see if it is true that King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. Let the king’s decision regarding this matter be sent to us.

clarity

After a long delay, rebuilding begins and another challenge to it. The elders were authorized, so they had no problem with asking for the king’s decree to be made known. The prophets urged that the rebuilding proceed as well. There will come times in our lives and ministries when God’s will is so clear that no one dare oppose it. At other times, we must make value judgments. When the world and the church can work together, they should.

LORD, give us clarity of insight concerning your will for our activity.

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an offer to help

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Jefferson Vann

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an offer to help

Ezra 4:1-24

Ezra 4:1 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple for Yahveh, the God of Israel,
Ezra 4:2 they approached Zerubbabel and the family heads and said, “Let us build with you, for we also worship your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time King Esar-haddon of Assyria brought us here.”
Ezra 4:3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of Israel’s families answered them, “You may have no part with us in building a house for our God since we alone will build it for Yahveh, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us.”
Ezra 4:4 Then the people already in the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build.
Ezra 4:5 They also bribed officials to act against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of King Cyrus of Persia and until the reign of King Darius of Persia.
Ezra 4:6 At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus, the people who were already in the land wrote an accusation against the residents of Judah and Jerusalem.
Ezra 4:7 During the time of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his colleagues wrote to him in Aramaic and translated.
Ezra 4:8 Rehum, the chief deputy, and Shimshai, the scribe, wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes concerning Jerusalem as follows:
Ezra 4:9 From Rehum, the chief deputy, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues– the judges and magistrates from Tripolis, Persia, Erech, Babylon, Susa (that is, the people of Elam),
Ezra 4:10 and the rest of the peoples whom the great and illustrious Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and the region west of the Euphrates River.
Ezra 4:11 This is the text of the letter they sent to him: To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the men from the region west of the Euphrates River:
Ezra 4:12 Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you have returned to us at Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and evil city, finishing its walls, and repairing its foundations.
Ezra 4:13 Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, they will not pay tribute, duty, or land tax, and the royal revenue will suffer.
Ezra 4:14 Since we have taken an oath of loyalty to the king, and it is not suitable for us to witness his dishonor, we have sent to inform the king.
Ezra 4:15 states that a search should be made in your ancestors’ record books. In these record books, you will discover and verify that the city was rebellious and harmful to kings and provinces. Revolts have been occurring in it since ancient times, which is why this city was destroyed.
Ezra 4:16 We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, you will not have any possession west of the Euphrates.
Ezra 4:17 The king replied to his chief deputy Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates River: Greetings.
Ezra 4:18 The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence.
Ezra 4:19 I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has had uprisings against kings since ancient times, and there have been rebellions and revolts.
Ezra 4:20 Powerful kings also ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates River, and tribute, duty, and land tax were paid to them.
Ezra 4:21 Therefore, order these men to stop so that this city will not be rebuilt until I have pronounced a further decree.
Ezra 4:22 Do not neglect this matter. Otherwise, the damage will increase, and the royal interests will suffer.
Ezra 4:23 As soon as the text of King Artaxerxes’s letter was read to Rehum, Shimshai, the scribe, and their colleagues, they immediately went to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly stopped them.
Ezra 4:24 Now, the construction of God’s house in Jerusalem had stopped and remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.

an offer to help

The returning exiles were offered the “help” of a group of “people of the land” in their God-given and king approved task of rebuilding the temple. They chose to turn that offer down. These were actually adversaries seeking to disrupt the work. This was shown in the review of subsequent history. From that time on, the people of the land (leftovers from syncretistic Samaria) made sure that the rebuilding would not happen. They had been wolves in sheep’s clothing.

LORD, give us discernment, so that we know who our real allies are.

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shouting and weeping

Posted on April 2, 2025 by Jefferson Vann

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shouting and weeping

Ezra 3:1-13

Ezra 3:1 When the seventh month arrived, and the Israelites were in their towns, the people gathered as one in Jerusalem.
Ezra 3:2 The priests, Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers, along with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his brothers, began to build the altar of Israel’s God and offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God.
Ezra 3:3 They set up the altar on its foundation and offered burnt offerings for the morning and evening to Yahveh even though they feared the surrounding peoples.
Ezra 3:4 They celebrated the Festival of Shelters as prescribed and offered burnt offerings each day, based on the number specified by the ordinance for each festival day.
Ezra 3:5 After that, they offered the regular burnt offering, the offerings at the beginning of each month and for all Yahveh’s appointed holy occasions, and the donations brought to Yahveh.
Ezra 3:6 On the first day of the seventh month, they began to offer burnt offerings to Yahveh, even though the foundation of Yahveh’s temple had not yet been laid.
Ezra 3:7 They gave money to the stonecutters and artisans. They gave food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre so they could bring cedar wood from Lebanon to Joppa by sea, according to the authorization given them by King Cyrus of Persia.
Ezra 3:8 In the second month of the second year after they arrived at God’s house in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, Jeshua, son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers, including the priests, the Levites, and all who had returned to Jerusalem from the captivity, began to build. They appointed the Levites, who were twenty years old or older, to supervise the work on Yahveh’s house.
Ezra 3:9 Jeshua with his sons and brothers, Kadmiel with his sons, and the sons of Judah and Henadad, with their sons and brothers, the Levites, joined together to supervise those working on the house of God.
Ezra 3:10 When the builders had laid the foundation of Yahveh’s temple, the priests, dressed in their robes and holding trumpets, and the Levites descended from Asaph, holding cymbals, took their positions to praise Yahveh, as King David of Israel had instructed.
Ezra 3:11 They sang with praise and thanksgiving to Yahveh: “For he is good; his faithful love to Israel endures forever.” Then, all the people gave a great shout of praise to Yahveh because the foundation of Yahveh’s house had been laid.
Ezra 3:12 Many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads who had seen the first temple wept loudly when they saw its foundation, but many others shouted joyfully.
Ezra 3:13 The people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shouting from that of the weeping because they were shouting so loudly, and the sound was heard far away.

shouting and weeping

The sound of loud rejoicing filled the city when the foundations of the new temple were laid. Those who were there could also hear another sound, mixed in with the cries of joy. The old timers who had known Solomon’s temple were weeping. They just knew that this temple would in no way make up for the shame of the loss of that greatness. They knew that the future would never be as great as the past had been. They were wrong. One day, that city shall stand as the center of the fulfillment of Israel’s hope’s and humanity’s restoration. The Messiah will come, and take up his place as King in the nation, and of the nations. If only they knew.

LORD, thank you for the hope of the return of Jesus Christ.

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unmistakably significant

Posted on April 1, 2025 by Jefferson Vann

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unmistakably significant

Ezra 2:1-70

Ezra 2:1 These now are the people of the province who came from those captive exiles King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had deported to Babylon. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his town.
Ezra 2:2 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of Israelite men included
Ezra 2:3 Parosh’s descendants 2,172
Ezra 2:4 Shephatiah’s descendants 372
Ezra 2:5 Arah’s descendants 775
Ezra 2:6 Pahath-moab’s descendants: Jeshua’s and Joab’s descendants 2,812
Ezra 2:7 Elam’s descendants 1,254
Ezra 2:8 Zattu’s descendants 945
Ezra 2:9 Zaccai’s descendants 760
Ezra 2:10 Bani’s descendants 642
Ezra 2:11 Bebai’s descendants 623
Ezra 2:12 Azgad’s descendants 1,222
Ezra 2:13 Adonikam’s descendants 666
Ezra 2:14 Bigvai’s descendants 2,056
Ezra 2:15 Adin’s descendants 454
Ezra 2:16 Ater’s descendants: of Hezekiah 98
Ezra 2:17 Bezai’s descendants 323
Ezra 2:18 Jorah’s descendants 112
Ezra 2:19 Hashum’s descendants 223
Ezra 2:20 Gibbar’s descendants 95
Ezra 2:21 Bethlehem’s people 123
Ezra 2:22 Netophah’s men 56
Ezra 2:23 Anathoth’s men 128
Ezra 2:24 Azmaveth’s people 42
Ezra 2:25 Kiriatharim’s, Chephirah’s, and Beeroth’s people 743
Ezra 2:26 Ramah’s and Geba’s people 621
Ezra 2:27 Michmas’s men 122
Ezra 2:28 Bethel’s and Ai’s men 223
Ezra 2:29 Nebo’s people 52
Ezra 2:30 Magbish’s people 156
Ezra 2:31 the other Elam’s people 1,254
Ezra 2:32 Harim’s people 320
Ezra 2:33 Lod’s, Hadid’s, and Ono’s people 725
Ezra 2:34 Jericho’s people 345
Ezra 2:35 Senaah’s people 3,630
Ezra 2:36 The priests included Jedaiah’s descendants of the house of Jeshua 973
Ezra 2:37 Immer’s descendants 1,052
Ezra 2:38 Pashhur’s descendants 1,247
Ezra 2:39 and Harim’s descendants 1,017
Ezra 2:40 The Levites included Jeshua’s and Kadmiel’s descendants from Hodaviah’s descendants 74
Ezra 2:41 The singers included Asaph’s descendants 128
Ezra 2:42 The gatekeepers’ descendants included Shallum’s descendants, Ater’s descendants, Talmon’s descendants, Akkub’s descendants, Hatita’s descendants, and Shobai’s descendants, in all 139
Ezra 2:43 The temple servants included Ziha’s descendants, Hasupha’s descendants, Tabbaoth’s descendants,
Ezra 2:44 Keros’s descendants, Siaha’s descendants, Padon’s descendants,
Ezra 2:45 Lebanah’s descendants, Hagabah’s descendants, Akkub’s descendants,
Ezra 2:46 Hagab’s descendants, Shalmai’s descendants, Hanan’s descendants,
Ezra 2:47 Giddel’s descendants, Gahar’s descendants, Reaiah’s descendants,
Ezra 2:48 Rezin’s descendants, Nekoda’s descendants, Gazzam’s descendants,
Ezra 2:49 Uzza’s descendants, Paseah’s descendants, Besai’s descendants,
Ezra 2:50 Asnah’s descendants, Meunim’s descendants, Nephusim’s descendants,
Ezra 2:51 Bakbuk’s descendants, Hakupha’s descendants, Harhur’s descendants,
Ezra 2:52 Bazluth’s descendants, Mehida’s descendants, Harsha’s descendants,
Ezra 2:53 Barkos’s descendants, Sisera’s descendants, Temah’s descendants,
Ezra 2:54 Neziah’s descendants, and Hatipha’s descendants.
Ezra 2:55 The descendants of Solomon’s servants included Sotai’s descendants, Hassophereth’s descendants, Peruda’s descendants,
Ezra 2:56 Jaalah’s descendants, Darkon’s descendants, Giddel’s descendants,
Ezra 2:57 Shephatiah’s descendants, Hattil’s descendants, Pochereth-hazzebaim’s descendants, and Ami’s descendants.
Ezra 2:58 All the temple servants and the descendants of Solomon’s servants 392.
Ezra 2:59 The following are those who came from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer but were unable to prove that their ancestral families and their lineage were Israelite:
Ezra 2:60 Delaiah’s descendants, Tobiah’s descendants, Nekoda’s descendants 652
Ezra 2:61 and from the descendants of the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, the descendants of Barzillai– who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and who bore their name.
Ezra 2:62 These searched for their entries in the genealogical records but could not be found, so they were disqualified from the priesthood.
Ezra 2:63 The governor ordered them not to eat the most sacred things until a priest could consult the Lights and Thummim.
Ezra 2:64 The whole combined assembly numbered 42,360
Ezra 2:65 which did not include their 7,337 male and female servants and 200 male and female singers.
Ezra 2:66 They had 736 horses, 245 mules,
Ezra 2:67 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.
Ezra 2:68 After they arrived at Yahveh’s house in Jerusalem, some of the family heads donated money to rebuild the house of God on its original site.
Ezra 2:69 Based on what they could give, they gave 61,000 gold coins, 6,250 pounds of silver, and 100 priestly garments to the treasury for the project.
Ezra 2:70 The priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, and some people settled in their towns, and the rest of Israel settled in their towns.

unmistakably significant

This tremendous event – the reoccupation of the homeland of Judah – was personally experienced by thousands who are listed here. Every now and then we experience a day or an event that we think might be very significant. Time will only tell if the things we think are significant really turn out to be. The events of the reoccupation described in the biblical books of Ezra and Nehemiah were unmistakably significant. It remained for those people experiencing the events to see that their lives were as significant as the times they were living were.

LORD, make our lives count.

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