Offering from Abundance: A Devotional on Ezra 7:17
"That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem." - Ezra 7:17
In the Book of Ezra, we find a profound moment of faith and obedience that is captured in Ezra 7:17 (KJV): "That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem." This verse not only outlines the directives given to Ezra but also evokes a deeper understanding of worship through sacrifice, preparation, and the public commitment to God’s work.
Ezra had been entrusted with a significant task: to lead a group of exiles back from Babylon to Jerusalem. He was fully aware of the challenges that lay ahead and the significance of restoring not only the physical structure of the temple but the spiritual vitality of the people. In the midst of this mission, he received instructions to procure animals for sacrifice, which framed their upcoming worship in the temple. Each element mentioned—bullocks, rams, lambs—symbolizes varied levels of sacrifice, indicative of what was appropriate for various offerings in the religious context of the time. These were not mere purchases; they were responses to the divine invitation to worship and atone.
The first aspect we see in this verse is the necessity for preparation in our acts of worship. Ezra was instructed to act quickly, to buy these offerings with the money that was provided. For us, this is a reminder to be proactive in our faith. We live in a world filled with distractions that can delay our commitment to God’s service. When God commands us to act—whether in our personal devotion, community service, or financial giving—He calls us to respond with urgency. The act of buying the offerings symbolizes a vested interest in the worshipping community, emphasizing that our worship involves intentional preparation and an active role in God’s work.
Secondly, we reflect on the significance of the offerings themselves. Each animal signifies not only a physical sacrifice but represents our spiritual sacrifice—the offering of ourselves to God. Paul speaks of this in Romans 12:1 (KJV), urging us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service. Just as Ezra’s offerings were meant to be pleasing to God, our lives ought to be living offerings in alignment with His will. This calls us to evaluate what we are offering in our relationship with God. Are we offering our time, talents, and resources with the same zeal as Ezra? Are we preparing our hearts and lives for a genuine encounter with the Lord?
Moreover, Ezra's command to offer these sacrifices at the altar highlights the principle of devotion. The altar was not just a physical place for offerings; it represented a sacred space for communion with God. The act of sacrifice was not an end in itself, but a means to draw closer to God, restoring relationship and fellowship. In our own lives, how often do we approach God with a heart eager to connect? Worship is not merely about ritual; it is about relationship. When we offer our sacrifices—whether they be in service, praise, or prayer—we connect with God’s presence.
In preparing for worship through sacrifice, we acknowledge the goodness of God and His provision. The animals Ezra was to procure were not tokens of obligation; rather, they were expressions of gratitude for God’s faithfulness, sustenance, and revelations they had experienced in their journey. Let us remember that our offerings and sacrifices should come from a heart of thankfulness and love.
In conclusion, Ezra 7:17 challenges us to ensure our worship is not half-hearted or passive. Instead, let us approach God with intentionality and passion. Let’s seek to buy speedily, to offer, and give our best to the God who deserves our all. May our lives be a testament to the sacrifices we make in faith, reflecting the glory of God in our lives just as Ezra did in the restoration of God’s house in Jerusalem.
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Ezra 7:17 - "That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem."
"That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem." - Ezra 7:17
Ezra 7:12 - "Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time."
Ezra 7:10 - "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."
Ezra 2:17 - "The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three."
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,"
Ezra 7:11 - "¶ Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel."
Ezra 7:2 - "The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,"
Ezra 7:4 - "The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,"
Ezra 7:3 - "The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,"
Ezra 2:7 - "The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four."
Ezra 8:7 - "And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males."
Ezra 10:17 - "And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month."
Ezra 7:8 - "And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king."
Ezra 7:21 - "And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,"
Ezra 7:7 - "And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king."
"The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three." - Ezra 2:17
Ezra 7:5 - "The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:"
1 Chronicles 4:17 - "And the sons of Ezra were, Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon: and she bare Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa."
Ezra 7:6 - "This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him."
Ezra 7:25 - "And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not."
"Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time." - Ezra 7:12
"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." - Ezra 7:10
Ezra 5:7 - "They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace."
"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," - Ezra 7:1
Ezra 4:17 - "¶ Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time."
"The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki," - Ezra 7:4
Ezra 7:19 - "The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem."
"The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth," - Ezra 7:3
"The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub," - Ezra 7:2