I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.
In the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes, Ezra the priest traveled from Babylon to Jerusalem, along with other priests and Levites. Artaxerxes gave Ezra a letter to take with him to Jerusalem. The letter gave Ezra permission to travel to Jerusalem with funds and articles for worship he had received from Artaxerxes and his officials. In addition, the letter instructed the officials of the region of which Jerusalem was part to supply Ezra with a stipend out of the taxes which they collected. They were also instructed that the priests and other Temple workers were exempt from taxes.
Upon receiving the letter from Artaxerxes, Ezra gathered Jewish leaders in exile to go with him to Jerusalem. These leaders were accompanied by their families and other men of Israel. When the group had gathered, Ezra discovered that he had priests and other people, but no non-priestly Levites. Ezra sent word to a group of Levites living in exile in another city requesting they send representatives to accompany him. His request was granted and a group of Levites and other Temple servants joined his expedition.
Paul wraps up his teachings on our attitudes towards the various teachers of the Gospel today before starting on other topics. He tells the Corinthians (and us) to view leaders such as himself and Apollos as mere servants of Christ. We should not be proud of following one teacher over against another. Paul asks them what makes them better than anyone else. Isn’t it true that anything that might be listed as making us better than someone else is something which was given to us by God? If it was a gift from God, then by what right do we boast of it?
If everything about us that makes us people of value was a gift from God, how dare we claim to be better than anyone else? God could just as easily give them the gifts which He has given to us.
Today’s psalm is a reminder of our all too human tendencies. When times are good we often forget God and think that we are invincible in our own power. When that happens God brings trouble upon us that is beyond our ability to master. However, if we turn back to Him in those times of trouble, He will rescue us once more and bring us back to times of peace. When God restores our fortunes, let us not forget Him a second time. Rather let us praise His holy name and not be silent. Let us thank Him forever.
It is through love of, and faithfulness to, his people that a ruler’s power is made secure. While the young are rightfully proud of their strength and dexterity, we should not be ashamed of the signs that show we have gained experience and learned how to deal with diverse problems. Sometimes physical punishment is the only way to teach someone, ourselves included, the folly of evil.