Day 46 – Faithful

Ezra 7:1 Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, 2 the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, 3 the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 4 the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 5 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest— 6 this Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which JEHOVAH Elohiym of Israel had given. The king granted him his request, according to the hand of JEHOVAH his Elohiym upon him.

 7 Some of the children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. 8 Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.

 9 On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his Elohiym upon him. 10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of JEHOVAH, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.

 11 This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave Ezra the priest, the scribe, expert in the words of the commandments of JEHOVAH, and of His statutes to Israel:

 12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, a scribe of the Law of the Elohiym of heaven:

 Perfect peace, and so forth. 13 I issue a decree that 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. 14 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 Elohiym which is in your hand; 15 and whereas you are to carry the silver and gold which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the Elohiym of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem; 16 and whereas the silver and gold that you may find in 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 Elohiym in Jerusalem— 17 now, therefore, be careful to buy with this money bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them on the altar of the house of your Elohiym in Jerusalem. 18 Whatever seems good to you and your brethren to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do it according to the will of your Elohiym. 19 Also the articles given to you for the service of the house of your Elohiym, deliver in full before the Elohiym of Jerusalem. 20 Whatever more may be needed for the house of your Elohiym, which you may have occasion to provide, pay for it from the king’s treasury.

 21 I, even I, Artaxerxes the king, issue a decree to the treasurers in the region beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the Elohiym of heaven, may require of you, let it be done diligently, 22 up to one hundred talents of silver, one hundred kors of wheat, one hundred baths of wine, one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribed limit. 23 Whatever is commanded by the Elohiym of heaven, let it diligently be done for the house of the Elohiym of heaven. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? 24 Also we inform you that it will not be lawful to impose tax, tribute, or custom on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, or servants of this house of Elohiym.

 25 You, Ezra, according to your Elohiym—given wisdom, set magistrates and judges who may judge the people in the region beyond the River, everyone knows the laws of your Elohiym; and teach those who do not know them. 26 Whoever will not observe the law of your Elohiym 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.

 27 Blessed be JEHOVAH Elohiym of our fathers, who put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of JEHOVAH, which is in Jerusalem, 28 and has extended mercy to me before the king and his counselors, and before the king’s mighty princes. Thus, I was encouraged, as the hand of JEHOVAH my Elohiym was upon me; and I gathered leading men of Israel to go with me.

God’s names:

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Elohiym – Supreme God

Yeshuwa – Jesus

Theos – Supreme Divinity

Iesous – Jesus

Christos – Anointed One, Messiah

God’s character:

Provider

If you could have anything you ever wanted, what would you choose?

For the children of Israel, it was to return home to the Promised Land, to Jerusalem, to rebuild the temple and the walls and live in their homes once again. Artaxerxes, according to the decrees of Cyrus and Darius, gave them their heart’s desire. He sent Ezra and whoever wanted to go with him home to Jerusalem. He issued a decree granting him everything he needed to rebuild the temple, offer sacrifices, and told the people of the land they were not to tax them. They could live and build tax-free.

As children of Yeshuwa, He made decrees, promises, to give you everything you need to do His work and your own. Not only did He make the promise, but He also fulfilled the promise to provide for you.

Is there a catch? Yes. You need to accept Him first as Savior and Lord. You need to obey Him, put Him first in everything, and spend time with Him in worship and prayer.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of Theos and His righteousness, and everything will be added to you.

Mark 10:28 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we left everything and followed You.”

 29 Then Iesous answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.

Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by JEHOVAH, and He delights in his way.

 24 Though he falls, he will not be utterly cast down; for JEHOVAH upholds him with His hand.

 25 I have been young and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging for bread.

 26 He is ever merciful and lends; and his descendants are blessed.

 27 Depart from evil, and do good, and dwell forevermore.

 28 For JEHOVAH loves justice and does not forsake His saints; He preserves them forever; however, He will cut off the descendants of the wicked.

Philippians 4:19 My Theos will supply everything you need according to His riches in glory by Christos Iesous.

Yeshuwa’s promises are yes and amen to everyone who commits their lives to Him. What do you need? What has Yeshuwa called you to do for Him? How much time do you spend with Him daily? Is Yeshuwa first in your thoughts? Do you pray, spend time in His Word, seek His will in everything you do?

You ask how you can do everything He asks. You tell yourself nobody is perfect; you can’t always do what He wants from you. You’re right. No one is perfect. We live in an imperfect world. Yet, Yeshuwa gives us everything we need to walk with Him daily, and when we fall, we can ask for His forgiveness, and He will grant it.

Yeshuwa will never give you more than you can handle. When He gives you a task, He also supplies you with everything you need. You only need to obey.

Artaxerxes granted Ezra everything he needed to return home to the Promised Land and rebuild the temple and walls. He provided everything he needed to accomplish the work. Yeshuwa will do the same for you.

Ezra was a skilled scribe in the Law of JEHOVAH. Meaning he spent time every day reading the Law, learning it, practicing it, and adhering to the Law. He knew what JEHOVAH required from him, and he did it. He was faithful to Elohiym. When it came time for the king to send someone with the people to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, he chose Ezra because he knew the Law and walked in the ways of JEHOVAH.

How faithful are you? Yeshuwa chose you. It’s time to do what Yeshuwa asked you.

Let’s pray: Father, You chose me to do Your work. Help me to remain faithful to You in everything I do for You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 5 March 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux