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Ezra Set His Heart
Ezra Set His Heart
The biblical 'heart' is a composite idea of both knowledge and desire. It encompasses the very character of an individual. "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it comes the issues of life" (Prov. 4:23). The heart not only can be controlled but MUST be. Ezra did.
Ezra was a priest out of the very family of Aaron. One of the functions and duties of the priests was to instruct the people in the ways of God. Malachi, written in the same time period as Ezra, rebukes the priests because they were failing in this duty (Mal. 2:1-9). Such failure was due to bad heart decisions - their hearts were set on other things. Out of this situation arose Ezra.
He SET his heart… This involves a conscious decision about life. Serving God doesn't happen by accident but by choice. The problem with the heart is that it doesn't multi-task well (if at all). Such decision is also commanded of God's people today: "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth" (Col. 3:1-2).
He set his heart TO STUDY the LAW of the LORD. He was said to be a scribe. While that would give him time and access to God's word, he made a choice to use those to change his life. He acknowledged not only the existence of God but the revelation of God. He realized that godliness must be directed by a knowledge of God's word and such knowledge come from study. Such learning process hasn't changed. It would have required not only the reading of the word of God, but the analyzing of it, the memorization of it, and the meditation upon it.
He set his heart to DO IT. Knowledge without action is dead. One of best life changing principles is to what you learn. Again, such principle is taught to God's people today: "What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. " (Phil. 4:9).
He set his heart to TEACH God's statutes and rules in Israel. Lack of knowledge among God's people brought about the Babylonian captivity (Hosea 4:6). In Ezra's day they were making the same mistake and the people were again in trouble. The solution was a personal one. Rather than 'wishing someone would do something', he got busy and acted.
The result of Ezra's heart decision brought about a corresponding working of God: "the good hand of his God was on him". This then became the underlying principle at work in the life of Ezra (cp. Ezra 7:6, 9, 28; 8:18, 22, 31; and Neh. 2:8). Hence Paul would write: 'these things DO, and the God of peace will be with you" (Phil. 4:9 KJV).
Hugh DeLong
