FRIDAY 22nd
Ezra 7:10
NIV (v10) – ‘For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.’
ESV (v10) – ‘For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.’
Over the last few months, I have taken us briefly through 15 books of the Bible plus the first 80 Psalms, there is a sense in which it has been a mammoth task, and yet at the same time an enjoyable task as I have sought to do as Ezra did in our text today to study the Word and to pass on that which I have learned. I pray that as a result we will have been encouraged in our ongoing walk with God.
The Word of God is so valuable to us, it is God’s word to us, we know so well the Scriptures which remind us that it is given to be profitable for teaching, reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness that we may be complete, equipped for every good work and that it is like a two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (2 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 4:12)
May we continue to value the Word of God and continue to be instructed and encouraged daily from it through our own personal reading of it and through any form of daily readings we may use, be it what I send out or through any other means.
Moving forward I will return to the Psalms next week and will continue through from Psalm 81 for a period, let us remind ourselves again from an earlier Psalm of the preciousness of the Word of God, Psalm 19:7-11
The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the LORD are true,
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.