Ezra 8:24-36

Verse 24-27, Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them, {25} And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered: {26} I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred talents; {27} Also twenty basins of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.

I.    Ezra didn't give the wealth to the Levites, or to the lower priests, but to twelve of the chief priests.

A.  The Levites weren't there except they were called, therefore they didn't need the responsibility of wealth.

1.   When they prove they can handle a little responsibility, they will be given more responsibility.

2.   This is how we ought to raise our children: the more responsibility they show they can handle, the more we ought to give them; the less responsibility they show they can handle, the less we ought to give them.

B.   Twelve chief priests were in charge of the wealth.

1.   All of the priests weren't in charge of the wealth because when everybody has the job, nobody will do it.

2.   These people have already proved themselves able to handle spiritual responsibility, therefore, they are given this lessor responsibility of material possessions.

3.   Ezra gives the names of the priest, therefore, he knows who is accountable.

II.   Ezra weighed the wealth.

A.  Ezra didn't expect the priests to take his word for how much wealth they had.

1.   He was open before all about everything.

2.   He wanted their cooperation not only to confirm the total wealth, but also in their knowing he is being completely honest with them.

B.   It is very wise to cause all to understand what is going on.

1.   Many plans fail because everybody doesn't understand.

2.   Many leaders become discouraged because people don't understand the plan when the leaders are at fault for not telling them.

C.   The wealth.

Verse 28-30, And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers. {29} Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD. {30} So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.

I.    Ezra makes them responsibility to God, not him.

A.  He first tells them they are holy unto the Lord.

1.   They are priests of the most high God, and as priests hold a special office before the people.

2.   They need to understand that their position puts them in a place of respect.

B.   He next tells them that what they are entrusted with is holy.

1.   The wealth doesn't belong to men, but to God.

2.   It isn't the result of a business venture, but is a freewill offering unto God.

3.   This places the emphasis upon the individuals who gave from a willing heart.

4.   Ezra stresses the responsibility placed upon them to people who will never know whether they were honest or not.

5.   God will know.

II.   There will come a day of reckoning.

A.  The responsibility of the wealth belongs to the chief priests who Ezra knows by name.

1.   There is no doubt in my mind that there were more than just Ezra and these twelve chief priests that knew about the wealth.

2.   The entire population would know.

3.   This is another reason why all the people would join together to fast and pray for God's protection on the journey to Jerusalem.

B.   There is a time limit to this responsibility.

1.   These priests understand that they are responsible only while on the journey.

2.   When they reach their destination, they will turn that responsibility over to other.

3.   Notice that the "weighing in" at Jerusalem will be public just like the "weighing in" at Ahava.

C.   There is a "place limit" to this responsibility.

1.   The "weighing in" will take place in the chambers of the house of God.

2.   This is where the treasurers of God are stored.

3.   This is a good safe place to deliver the wealth to the proper officials.

D.  Judgment day is coming to us.

1.   God has given us a set time to carry the responsibility of this world.

2.   If we are faithful to God, we have nothing to fear from that day, but if we aren't faithful, we have much to fear.

3.   The judgment day will be public.

4.   All our sins (and rewards) will be shouted from the housetops, all the secret things will be made known.

III. The Priests and Levites accepted this responsibility.

A.  This passage makes it clear that the twelve men are not the only ones responsible for the wealth.

1.   The twelve priests accept the final responsibility, but they have delegated their responsibility to others.

2.   In a church, the pastor is responsible for the stand the church takes, but each individual member is also responsible for that stand.

B.   It is good to accept the responsibility given to us.

Verse 31, Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.

I.    They leave Ahava just two days before the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread.

A.  It would seem they would stay at the river of Ahava until the worship of Passover was ended.

1.   They did not celebrate the Passover because they weren't in Jerusalem.

2.   They could have celebrated the Passover, but they would consider themselves to still be in captivity until they return to Jerusalem.

3.   They will celebrate the Passover as a nation, not as a part of a nation.

B.   The time of leaving.

1.   They met together at the river of Ahava on the first day of the first month.

2.   They stayed there until the Levites had been summoned.

3.   The free will offerings were distributed to the Priests to watch over.

4.   They leave on the twelfth day of the first month.

5.   This time frame indicates they didn't tarry long.

6.   It is usually good to take care of God's business quickly.

II.   God fulfills His promise.

A.  In verse 23, God promised He would guide the Jews safely to Jerusalem.

1.   It is really no surprise that they arrived in Jerusalem safely.

2.   It would have been a great shock to all Christianity of all ages if God had failed.

3.   It would also have been a big shock to God!!!!  (I speak in jest.)

B.   We ought to believe the promises of God.

1.   The promises of God are as sure as God Himself.

2.   The way to live is to live according to the revealed promises God has given to us in His Word.

3.   This is living by faith.

C.   It is always good to remember to thank God, and record His blessings for those that come after us.

1.   We know that the blessings of God is necessary for our survival, but sometimes we forget that it is not necessary for God to bless us.

2.   It is optional with God that He bless us.

3.   God will survive whether He blesses us or not.

4.   When God does bless us, let us be sure to take note of it.

Verse 32, And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.

I.    I would imagine this time was filled with getting acquainted with the city and its people.

A.  This is very necessary at this time.

1.   The Jews have a vast amount of wealth that is intended to be used in worship.

2.   They want to be sure to turn this wealth over to the correct people.

3.   So they spend some time finding out who is in charge of things like that.

B.   Actually, three days is not very long to get acquainted with a brand new city.

1.   It is likely they were somewhat familiar with Jerusalem, for they probably talked about the city on the trip.

2.   They were very swift in taking care of business before they had pleasure.

II.   There is no record of where they stayed, or who supplied for them at this time.

A.  We can imagine that some of the faithful Jews would be glad to have them in their homes.

B.   This would give them opportunity to hear news of relatives in Babylon. 

Three Things That Are Accomplished Right Away

Number 1

Verse 33, 34, Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites; {34} By number and by weight of every one: and all the weight was written at that time.

I.    Ezra continues to keep an accurate record of the events of the trip.

A.  The fourth day is just about as soon as it is possible to weigh the wealth.

B.   The "weighting in" took place where Ezra said it would take place: in the house of God.

1.   Secular things should take place in a secular setting.

2.   Religious things should take place in a religious setting.

II.   There are plenty of witnesses to this event.

A.  This is necessary so everybody will know what is going on.

1.   Having witnesses doesn't mean that Ezra doesn't trust these priests, or that the priests don't trust Ezra.

2.   When there are many witnesses, this stops all reasonable people from doubting what took place.

3.   II Cor. 8:19-21, Paul had many witnesses when distributing church offerings for the poor saints at Jerusalem so everybody would know what was going on.

4.   He avoided any conflict by using witnesses.

B.   The names of the witnesses are given publicly.

1.   If there would be any question, anybody would know where to go to find an answer.

2.   Everything is done "in the open" for honor's sake.

III. The wealth is "weighted in".

A.  There is as much detail goes into weighing in at Jerusalem as there was in the river of Ahava.

1.   This is only right to do.

2.   There is no prejudice shown to anybody.

B.   There is no record that this weighing in agreed with the first weighing in.

1.   The Bible states that everything was written down.

2.   If there had been any differences I'm sure they would have been noted and corrected.

Number 2

Verse 35, Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD.

I.    I think the people that offered sacrifice are those that have just come from Babylon, not those that were then living in Jerusalem.

A.  They offer the following burnt offerings:

B.   These sacrifices are for all Israel, not just for those Jews recently arrived in Jerusalem.

1.   They do not consider themselves to be a separate part of Israel.

2.   They consider themselves to be such a part of Israel that they immediately worship God with all of Israel.

Number 3

Verse 36, And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.

I.    Notice they take care of religious affairs before they take care of secular affairs.

II.   They gave the proper documents to the correct people.

A.  This was their responsibility, and they carried it all out.

B.   They didn't delegate any of this responsibility to others.

C.   They could have delegated this responsibility to others, but it would mean so much more to the government officials if they delivered King Artaxerxes decrees in person.

III. The detailed list of secular affairs they took care of can be found in Ezra 7:21-26.

A.  Ezra 7:21,22 - Permission to receive "tax money" for the upkeep of the temple.

B.   Ezra 7:23 - The reason this permission is granted to Israel.

C.   Ezra 7:24 - Do not tax any temple worker.

D.  Ezra 7:25 - Ezra has the authority to establish whatever system he considers necessary to teach and enforce the law of God.

E.   Ezra 7:26 - The penalty for disobeying the laws of God is death.

IV. All of these things lead to advancing the things of God.

A.  This was a great encouragement to the people of God.

1.   Nobody thought King Artaxerxes was trying to take over their worship, or restrict them in any way.

2.   If the government tries to give us something today, we wonder what they have "up the other sleeve".  (What ulterior motive they have in mind.)

B.   This was a great help in taking care of the temple.

1.   Any building requires a lot of money to keep it in good shape.

2.   The Jews didn't have a lot of money, but God provided for them in a way they would never have thought of.

3.   God will do the same thing for us, if we will just be faithful to Him.

4.   I must notice that there is a lot of difference between being faithful to God and being faithful to a building God has given us to worship in.

Footnotes