66 Love Letters - Ezra

The Book of Ezra is all of ten chapters, smack dab in between II Chronicles and Nehemiah. Ezra was a priest and a scribe of the law (7:21). By the style of his writing and numerous similarities, some believe he may have authored I & II Chronicles.

In this spot in the Bible we see the Israelites returning from Babylonian captivity to worship the Lord and return to their land of promise. This was a public acknowledgement that they believed God would reestablish their nation.

Did you know that Esther and Nehemiah were alive at the same time Ezra was? Chronologically Esther and her story takes pace in between chapters 6 and 7 of Ezra. If you are one who enjoys going deep in your biblical studies, here would be a wonderful place to begin digging for spiritual gems.

Remember, whichever book of the Bible we are in, God's word has the power to speak to every child of God who desires to hear His voice.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

There were many scriptures that spoke to me through this rich book. Most especially; For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel. Ezra 7:10

Ezra had a heart for God's word. The more time he spent learning about the Lord, the more he wanted to share his knowledge with his people. He made it a point to seek God.

The word seek is the Hebrew word darash and it means to seek like a dog on a hunt. It's the same Hebrew word used in Jeremiah 29:13 - You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Points to Ponder

• Do I seek the Lord with any effort?
• When I learn something about God's word do I share it with others?
• God can be found when I seek him with all of my heart. Why don't I do that more often?
• Seek Him with all of your heart today.