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1 Samuel 7:3
And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts,then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

1 Chronicles 29:18
O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:

2 Chronicles 12:14
And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.

the law

Ezra 7:6
This Ezra went up from Babylon; and hewas a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

Psalm 1:2
But his delightis in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psalm 19:7
The law of the LORDis perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORDis sure, making wise the simple.

to do it

Deuteronomy 16:12
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.

Matthew 5:19
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teachthem, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 7:24
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

and to teach

Ezra 7:25
And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, thatis in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people thatare beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that knowthem not.

Deuteronomy 33:10
They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar.

2 Chronicles 17:8,9
And with themhe sent Levites,even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests…

to study the Law of the LORD
Ezra's focus on studying the Law underscores the importance of Scripture as the foundation of faith and practice. The "Law of the LORD" refers to the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, which were central to Jewish life and worship. This dedication to study is echoed inPsalm 1:2, where the blessed man delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night. Ezra's role as a scribe (Ezra 7:6) highlights his expertise and authority in interpreting the Scriptures.

to practice it
Ezra's commitment goes beyond mere academic study; he aims to live out the teachings of the Law. This practical application is crucial, as seen inJames 1:22, which urges believers to be doers of the word, not hearers only. Ezra's life exemplifies the integration of faith and action, serving as a model for believers to follow. His practice of the Law would have been a powerful testimony to those around him, demonstrating the transformative power of God's Word.

and to teach its statutes and ordinances
Ezra's mission includes teaching, which is vital for the preservation and transmission of faith. The "statutes and ordinances" refer to the specific commands and decrees within the Law. Teaching is a key component of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), where Jesus instructs His disciples to teach others to obey everything He has commanded. Ezra's role as a teacher aligns with the prophetic tradition, where leaders like Moses and the prophets instructed the people in God's ways.

in Israel
Ezra's work is set within the context of Israel, the covenant community chosen by God. His efforts to teach and reform the people occur during the post-exilic period, a time of rebuilding and renewal for the Jewish nation. This setting is significant, as it fulfills the prophetic promises of restoration found in books like Jeremiah and Isaiah. Ezra's leadership helps to reestablish the spiritual and communal identity of Israel, preparing the way for the coming of the Messiah, who would ultimately fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17).

Ezra made a deliberate, whole-hearted choice. He wasn’t content with casual acquaintance; he aimed his inner compass toward God’s Word. Scripture often links spiritual resolve with God’s favor—think of Daniel who “set his heart to understand” and received swift angelic help (Daniel 10:12). Jehoshaphat “set his heart to seek God” and saw Judah spared (2 Chronicles 19:3).Psalm 119:112 echoes the same idea: “I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever.” A firmly fixed heart is God’s starting point for revival.

Study here means prolonged, attentive digging. Ezra wanted to know exactly what God had said, not hearsay or tradition.Deuteronomy 17:18-19 commanded Israel’s kings to copy the Law by hand and read it daily so they would “learn to fear the LORD.”Psalm 1:2 depicts the blessed man whose “delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.” Paul urged Timothy, “Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture” (1 Timothy 4:13) and to “rightly handle the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Ezra stands in the same stream of devoted learners.

Head knowledge alone is barren; obedience proves belief.Joshua 1:8 links meditation with “doing everything written in it,” promising success.James 1:22 calls believers to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only.” Jesus said, “If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (John 13:17). Ezra’s life matched his study; later, when he confronted mixed marriages (Ezra 9–10), he applied the very commands he had absorbed. True discipleship always moves from the page to the pavement.

Having learned and lived the Word, Ezra shared it.Deuteronomy 6:6-7 tells parents to teach God’s commands diligently to their children;Malachi 2:7 says the priest’s lips “should preserve knowledge.” Ezra fulfilled both roles by reading the Law aloud, giving the sense, and helping people understand (Nehemiah 8:8). The Great Commission echoes this pattern: “teaching them to obey all I have commanded” (Matthew 28:20). An open Bible in a faithful teacher’s hands changes nations.

Ezra 7:10 sketches a timeless chain: a heart set on God, a mind immersed in His Word, a life shaped by obedience, and a mouth ready to pass truth on. When any link weakens, ministry falters; when all four align, God’s people thrive.

CHAPTER 7:11-28 THE DECREE OF ARTAXERXES WITH RESPECT TO EZRA (vers. 11-26). The present decree was of the nature of afirman granted to an individual. It embodied, in the first place, a certain number of provisions which were temporary. Of this character were -

1. the permission accorded to all Persian subjects of Israelite descent to accompany Ezra to Jerusalem (ver. 13);

2. the commission to Ezra to convey to Jerusalem certain offerings made by the king and his chief courtiers to the God of Israel (vers. 15, 19); . . .

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