“EZRA HAD PREPARED HIS HEART” – WHAT ABOUT US?

Every Monday morning is almost the same. All who have a job prepare to go to the offices with thoughts about work and the related anxiety. This is but normal. For some, job that they do can become a challenge. For some others it could fill them with stress and tension. 

Now, how do we as Christians look forward for a work week? Are we excepted from such natural human tendencies as anxiety, stress and tension? No, we are just as human as everyone else. If so, what is the point is being a Christian? Would not God help us? Yes, He will help us with our work and all its workload. Our LORD Jesus will enable us to carry through any anxiety, stress and tension. However, we should care to listen to God, and do what He is asking us to do. We cannot and should not try and tell God how He should help us with all our work related issues.
– “10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.” – Ezra 7:10

What Ezra did is precisely the answer that we are looking for. Ezra, a priest from Aaron. The Persian king, Artaxerxes I, had appointed Ezra in 458 BC, to go to Jerusalem, and help restore the temple worship and spiritual order among the returned Jewish exiles from Babylon. It is a huge task on his hand. So what did Ezra do? He did four precise things.
1- EZRA HAD PREPARED HIS HEART
2- TO SEEK THE LAW OF THE LORD
3- TO DO IT
4- TO TEACH STATUTES AND ORDINANCES IN ISRAEL
– “Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord…His reigning desire had been to study the divine law—its principles, institutions, privileges, and requirements; and now from love and zeal, he devoted himself, as the business of his life, to the work of instructing, reforming, and edifying others.” – Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

1- EZRA HAD PREPARED HIS HEART
Ezra set his heart, just like how Daniel “purposed” in His heart. Herein is the first and the most important step of all – PREPARE OUR HEARTS. 

– “21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:21

2- TO SEEK THE LAW OF THE LORD
Ezra prepared his heart to “SEEK THE LAW OF THE LORD” and not some “How to Handle the Work and Its Stress” books. The wisdom of God is found in the Word of God. He who seeks the law of the LORD, and devotes time to meditate upon it, night and day, is a blessed man.
– “2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.” – Psalm 1:2

3- TO DO IT
Ezra set his heart to seek the law of the LORD, not because he just wanted to read the Bible. Nay, he was serious about “DOING WHAT IT SAYS” for he knows that obedience – TO DO – is better than sacrifice.
– “8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” – Joshua 1:8

4- TO TEACH STATUTES AND ORDINANCES IN ISRAEL
Ezra knew the secret to a life of blessing – “to set his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it.” He wanted to teach the same to the People of God, so that they would order their lives, and all things related to it according to all what the LORD had commanded for His people.
– “1 Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. 3 Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.” – Nehemiah 8:1-3

Matthew Poole sums up all what Ezra did, which helps us to see what Ezra clearly, and also, do the same in our lives – “The order of things…is very observable; first he endeavours to understand God’s law and word, and that not for curiosity or ostentation, but in order to practice; next he conscientiously practiseth what he did understand, which made his doctrine much more effectual; and then he earnestly desires and labours to instruct and edify others, that they also might know and do it.”

Dear brothers and sisters, would we be willing to set our hearts to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, as is commanded by the LORD, and also, teach the same to others around us? Would we be interested to do so? Do we think doing such a thing is good and profitable? 
– “​1 “Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the LORD your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess…3 Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the LORD God of your fathers has promised you—a land flowing with milk and honey.’…6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” – Deuteronomy 6:1,3,6-7
Even so, the LORD Jesus help us.