September 17, 2026
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Reading along with us in Ezra and James? Here’s today’s reading:
Ezra 8 (NIV)
List of the Family Heads Returning With Ezra
1 These are the family heads and those registered with them who came up with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes:
2 of the descendants of Phinehas, Gershom;
of the descendants of Ithamar, Daniel;
of the descendants of David, Hattush…..Continue Reading
Ezra does well in leading this band of Jews returning to Jerusalem. He is wise to recognize there were no Levites, to seek them out and credit God for moving on their hearts to join them. He proclaims a fast to make sure they are in the right spiritual state to take the journey and asks God to protect them. He also recognizes the balance of trusting themselves to God’s care and asking the king for soldiers. He portions out the wealth that is to go into the temple to those most responsible for it. And what a miracle that God protected them from bandits with all the wealth they were carrying. And so therefore how appropriate to worship God for His goodness and to give the king’s orders to the local officials. How important it is for leaders to dot the i’s and cross the t’s of all things spiritual and logistical when overseeing tasks and people.
Ezra 8
Vs 21. Fasting and humbling themselves asking the Lord for a safe journey. What we should be asking everyday of our journey
Ezra 7 & 8
“For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.” So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.”
Ezra 8:22-23 NKJV
I thought this was interesting, Ezra places his faith in the Lord for protection, recognizing the hypocrisy of asking a pagan king for protection while proclaiming the power of the God of Israel.
Ezra 8
Ezra 7&8
Psalm 27; Ezra 8; Nehemiah 7
Ezra 8
I love that Ezra called for a fast to start the journey. A way to get everyone’s eyes fixed in the right direction. Ezra trusted God but was also of sound mind; being sure to have Levites, provide protection, etc. Ezra didn’t just trust God and sit back and wait for things to happen but rather with God’s leading and direction took proper steps to walk with God to accomplish His work for the people.