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zra goes up to Jerusalem. (1-10) The commission to Ezra.
(11-26) Ezra blesses God for his favour. (27,28)
Verses 1-10: Ezra went from Babylon to Jerusalem, for the good of his
country. The king was kind to him; he granted all his requests,
whatever Ezra desired to enable him to serve his country. When
he went, many went with him; he obtained favour from his king,
by the Divine favour. Every creature is that to us, which God
makes it to be. We must see the hand of God in the events that
befal us, and acknowledge him with thankfulness.
Verses 11-26: The liberality of heathen kings to support the worship of
God, reproached the conduct of many kings of Judah, and will
rise up in judgment against the covetousness of wealthy
professed Christians, who will not promote the cause of God. But
the weapons of Christian ministers are not carnal. Faithful
preaching, holy lives, fervent prayers, and patient suffering
when called to it, are the means to bring men into obedience to
Christ.
Verse 27,28: Two things Ezra blessed God for: 1. For his commission.
If any good appear in our hearts, or in the hearts of others, we
must own that God put it there, and bless him; it is he that
worketh in us, both to will and to do that which is good. 2. For
his encouragement: God has extended mercy to me. Ezra was a man
of courage, yet he ascribed this not to his own heart, but to
God's hand. If God give us his hand, we are bold and cheerful;
if he withdraw it, we are weak as water. Whatever we are enabled
to do for God and those around us, God must have all the glory.
