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Ezra, Psalm95, and 3John
Ezra, Psalm95, and 3John
Yes, all three of the passages are to be read today. It is interesting to compare the 3 groups of people that are written about. First, in Ezra, the people are listening to God through the prophets and rebuilding the temple. As they begin to re-establish their worship of God, they do so “as it is written in the book of Moses”.
Then, as we read Psalm 95, we are reminded of the generation that came out of Egypt under the leadership of Moses. They are a people that did “err in their heart, and they do not know My ways’ said the Lord.
Then, we turn to 3John. Here John writes: “3 For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth” (3 John 1:3-4). He continued by stating that they were ‘acting faithfully’ (vs. 5).
Each generation had it problems and privileges! The first generation SAW the great acts of God and how Moses was proven by them to be God’s spokesman to them. Yet, they were not only unfaithful, they were rebellious.
Both Ezra’s generation and that of John had the writings. To these they paid attention and ‘walked in truth’.
This brings us to OUR generation. We also have the written word of God. Will we prove ourselves faithful and obedient? Will God find us ‘walking in truth’? Or will we prove to be like the generation whom the Lord loathed (Psa. 95:10)?
Hugh DeLong
