GOD in the Old Testament - Ezra - Part 7

Ezra 8:31-33  (continued)

    On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way. So we arrived in Jerusalem, where we rested three days.

     On the fourth day, in the house of our God, we weighed out the silver and gold and the sacred articles into the hands of Meremoth son of Uriah, the priest. Eleazar son of Phinehas was with him, and so were the Levites Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui.

 

Ezra 8:35  

    Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs and, as a sin offering, twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the LORD.

 

Ezra 8:36  

They also delivered the king's orders to the royal satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, who then gave assistance to the people and to the house of God.

(see all Ezra 8)

 

Ezra 9:4  

Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of this unfaithfulness of the exiles. And I sat there appalled until the evening sacrifice.

 

Ezra 9:5-6  

    Then, at the evening sacrifice, I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the LORD my God and prayed:

 

            "I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, 

        to lift up my face to you, because our sins are 

        higher than our heads and our guilt has reached 

        to the heavens." 

 

Ezra 9:8-9  

            "But now, for a brief moment, the LORD our 

        God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant 

        and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and 

        so our God gives light to our eyes and a little

        relief in our bondage. Though we are slaves, our

        God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has 

        shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of 

        Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the 

        house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has 

        given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem." 

(Ezra 9 continues tomorrow) 

    

(parentheses are mine) 

 

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Limited to 15 verses per post