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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
Resolutions come in all shapes and forms. There are the typical resolutions which most of us make at the turning of the year – you know the ones that are usually broken by the time we turn the second leaf of the calendar. Then there are the resolutions of a political nature – you know the ones that contain scores of whereas expressions along with an equal number of and boring wherefores. Today's Little Lift concerns one such resolution, but it is far from boring when one considers the times and circumstances of its issuance. The text that appears below is from a pagan king who ruled over Persia about four and a half centuries before the birth of Jesus. For brevity's sake, we will only consider a relatively small portion of that decree.
“Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, a scribe of the Law of the God of heaven: Perfect peace, and so forth. I issue a decree that all those of the people of Israel and the priests and Levites in my realm, who volunteer to go up to Jerusalem, may go with you. And whereas you are being sent by the king and his seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, with regard to the Law of your God which is in your hand; and whereas you are to carry the silver and gold which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem; and whereas all the silver and gold that you may find in all the province of Babylon, along with the freewill offering of the people and the priests, are to be freely offered for the house of their God in Jerusalem.” (Ezra 7.12-16).
The proclamation from the king went on to commend Ezra and all others who submitted to the Law of God. However, lest one get the idea that a person could be neutral on the matter, the king also specified that Ezra should teach others about the law of God and further that anyone who did not obey the Law of God should be punished (see Ezra 7.25-26). Specifically, here is what the King proclaimed: “And you, Ezra, according to your God-given wisdom, set magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are in the region beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach those who do not know them. Whoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether it be death, or banishment, or confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.” (Ezra 7.25-26).
As we might say today, “How cool is that!” Here was a pagan king commissioning a prophet of God, charging others to hear, and then mandating punishment for those who failed to heed Ezra's instructions. The particular item of interest that I wish to point out at this time is the kings view of inspired Scripture. According to Artaxerxes, Ezra had the Law of God in his hand! Apparently he was convinced that that which Ezra was teaching did not originate with Ezra; rather, Artaxerxes believed that Ezra's message originated with God and was captured in writings that were available to Ezra! Would that those who call themselves teachers and preachers today and yet readily disparage the thought of inspired scripture - would that they had the faith of this pagan king!
We do not know the details that were involved by which Artaxerxes came to have this conviction. However it is a safe assumption that some actions of Ezra were confirmatory in nature and convinced the king of the fact of biblical inspiration and revelation. The same God that lived and acted in Ezra's day lives and acts today. He finished revealing Himself to mankind when the Gospel story was completely written and confirmed (see Hebrews 2.1-4). He wills that we see that when we hold the New Testament in our hands (even as Ezra held the Mosaic Covenant in his), we hold the Law of God!
Questions:
1. Where was Ezra when Artaxerxes made his proclamation regarding Ezra?
2. Why was he in that land? Why was he not in Jerusalem?
3. What political power had taken the Jews captive many years earlier?
4. What is implied by the fact that the Law of God can be held in one's hand?
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