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For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel (Ezra 7:10).

The book of Ezra began by telling us that God moved the heart of Cyrus, king of Persia, who made provision for the people of Israel to return to Jerusalem. Once there, they were able to begin rebuilding the temple of God with the finances from the royal treasury. I find it curious that this book was given the name Ezra, since the man Ezra doesn\u2019t show up till chapter 7.

Remember that the Bible\u2019s main task is to tell us about God. In Ezra 7, we get a glimpse into the nature of God. And its almost as if God is a bit mischievous, in the best sense of that word, of course. Ezra is introduced this way, \u201cEzra came up from Babylon\u201d (7:6).

What was Babylon? Well, Babylon was the city of the emperors who tried to eradicate Israel. The story of Esther and the opening chapters of Daniel tell us just how strong the enmity towards the Jews was. It wasn\u2019t just Israel, but in particular, Israel\u2019s God that was the issue. This God needed to be dethroned.

But now, out of this Babylon comes Ezra, who \u201chad devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel\u201d. So, while Daniel and his friends were being persecuted by the establishment and while Haman was scheming against the Jews, God had a secret agent studying his law in Babylon. And when the time was right, he emerges and travels to Jerusalem fully prepared to teach this law to the returned exiles.

And the story gets even better. He has a letter from King Artaxerxes in his back pocket which includes this paragraph, \u201cAnd you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates\u2014all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them. Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment\u201d (Ezra 7:25-26).

From out of the city that tried to annihilate God\u2019s people, the king sends forth someone who has the capacity to teach ways of God to this new community which is re-establishing the worship of God in Judea.

So, what happens when Ezra finally arrives in Jerusalem? The people have been here for some years already. Will they accept this new comer? The book of Nehemiah takes up the story.

All the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel. So, on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law (Nehemiah 8:1-3).

From daybreak to noon they stood and listened attentively. Well, that puts perspective to the words of Psalm 119: Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path (119:105). The scriptures don\u2019t become and lamp and light just because we want them to; for that to happen, we need to make the commitment to know them.

Historians have noted that revival in the church always includes a renewed commitment to studying the scriptures. Paul tells us that \u201cthese things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did (1 Corinthians 10:6). He was referring to Israel\u2019s wanderings in the wilderness with Moses, but I think the Babylonian exile counts as well. I don\u2019t think I need to say anything more.