Ezra 7:10
Scriptures reveal that revival and restoration which came about in Jerusalem, after the Babylonian captivity, began even before Ezra went to King Artaxerxes to seek permission for a group of them to return to Jerusalem (Ezra 7:1-6). It had begun in Ezra’s heart. Ezra 7:10 bears witness to this fact. It states, “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments” (v10). Before revival breaks out in the church, it must begin in somebody’s heart. What an appropriate text for us on this another wonderful Father’s Day 2022. It remains our prayer/plea especially in these apocalyptic times – “O Holy Ghost revival comes from thee, Send a revival, start the work in me…” If ever a time we as fathers in the church need to pray for a God-sent revival is now.
Ezra was a ready scribe in the law of Moses (7:6). He was a religious leader of the Jews who returned from exile in Babylon and a reformer who was passionate about leading backslidden Israel back to the ways of the Lord. What was unique about Ezra was that he gave much time to the meticulous transcription and study of the Word. It remains incontestable that there can be no revival even today without the Word of God.
It is made crystal clear that Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord… (v10). May we in like manner do the same. Our hearts by nature seem more readily inclined to seek after the things that are earthly and carnal. They do not promptly seek after the things of God and that which is spiritual, but like Ezra we must prepare our hearts to go after God and his Word. Not only did he prepare himself to seek to know the Word of the Lord, but the passage informs us that his desire was to do it and to teach others how to do it (v10). To be hearers of the Word and not doers is to fall way short of divine expectation and requirement.
Fathers, what we deduce from this enlightening text is this: being able to quote a few passages from scripture is woefully inadequate. It is not enough to have a superficial knowledge of the Word that we can just use sporadically to support our points of view. It’s not enough to tell others how to live or to tell our children how to do it, when we ourselves are not living up to the standards required. May the good Lord help us today to go way beyond doctrine and precept, and to proactively lead our children and others by example.
From this text, we are solemnly reminded and instructed, that to make a difference in the lives of those all around us, we must have more than a cursory knowledge of the Word. We must have an in-depth, practicing, active knowledge of the Word. Not only must we know it, by being able to recite it, but we must religiously do it, like the apostle James said in James 1:22. Beyond doing it, let it be our earnest desire to teach it to others – by word and lifestyle! Only by so doing, can we have real reformation, transformation, and revival! May every father, urgently see the need to become active doers and passionate teachers of the Word, especially in these times of so much tension and crisis. Happy Father’s Day!
Leroy V. Greenaway
Presiding Bishop – Northeast Region
