Oh. He's boundless, He's unimaginably, He's the ransom for your pain! Sing, oh sing, of my Redeemer, with His blood He purchased me! ♪ O sing the hymn of help ♪ ♪ String on string of my Redeemer ♪ ♪ With His blood He purchased me ♪ ♪ Out of the cross He sealed my bond with You ♪ ♪ Fade the dead and make me free ♪ see Wood turned to 353. I'm sorry, 357. On the heights of all the shore! Let your love, Lord, as we pray, Send the flame across the land! Sun of faith, eternal receiver, You may rescue! ♪ Some say the devil's tossed ♪ ♪ Trying now to make the horn grow ♪ ♪ In the darkness gray he goes ♪ ♪ Let the low lights be burning ♪ ♪ Separating across the way ♪ ♪ Some will laugh and some will sing ♪ ♪ And they rest in the air they say ♪ precious treasure thou art mine. Mine to tell me whence I came. Mine to teach me what I am. Mine to chide me when I run. Mine to show a Savior's love. suffering in this wilderness Oh precious treasure All right, we'll try 357. 367. Oh, 367. 367, sorry. Yeah, come on. It is so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word, just to rest just to know, thus saith the Lord. Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him, how I've proved Him o'er and o'er. Jesus, Jesus, bread and wine, Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus Just to trust His cleansing blood Just and simple faith to plunge me Neath the healing, cleansing flood Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him How I've proved Him o'er and o'er Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus Oh, for grace to trust Him more Yes, it's sweet to trust in Jesus Just from sin itself to cease just from Jesus, simply taking life and rest and joy and peace. Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him, how I've proved Him o'er and o'er. Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus, I'm so glad I learned to trust Thee Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend And I know that Thou art with me Will be with me to the end Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him How I've proved Him o'er and o'er, Jesus, Jesus, precious Lord. He's the apple of my eye. I go walking through the vineyard when the grapes go growing high. He's so plum wonderful. That's the reason why I just go bananas for I just forgot a little bit of it. He's still working on it. He's still working on me to make me what I ought to be. It took him just a week to make the moon and the stars, sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars. It took... Impatient he must be, he's still working on me I really ought to be, a sign upon my heart Don't judge me yet, there's an unfinished part But I'll be perfect just according to his plan Fashioned by the master's loving hand He's still working on me to make me what I ought to be. It took him just a week to make the moon and the stars, sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars. I love being patient, he must be. He's still working on me. He's still working on me. I think I can play that. If we're all honest, he's still working on all of us, isn't he? You know what? It is awesome to hear the kids sing, singing songs that brings honor to God. We see them here, and what better place to see them than where they can honestly bring honor to our living God, and we thank them so much for that. But at this time, I'd like to ask Brother Adam Smith if you would come and preach what the Lord's laid on your heart. Most definitely love those songs tonight. Always a blessing to be here. This church is such a blessing to me and my family. Just praying for y'all. I couldn't turn to Ezra, excuse me, chapter 7. kind of had this on my mind that I was going to be preaching this tonight, but then this morning I jumped on Facebook and I follow George Washington's Mount Vernon on Facebook. Yeah, I'm a dork, I get it, but one of the posts this morning was a painting of George Washington and it said, 250 years ago this morning, George Washington left Mount Vernon to go to Philadelphia to the Continental Congress, and he was then going to become the commander of the Continental Army. This was shortly after the Battle of Lexington and Concord, just a few weeks ago, before that. And he wasn't going to return home for six years the morning he left 250 years ago. So he didn't realize it was going to be quite that long. So I thought about that and I thought about, I think about our country a lot because I love history and you look at the circumstances surrounding our country and we shouldn't be here. We shouldn't be a thing. Going up against the British Army and the fact that we were given that victory and declared our independence and won our independence, that was the hand of the Lord. on all the founding fathers, on all the soldiers, on this country. And here in the book of Ezra, we're going to look at the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, and I couldn't help but link George Washington to that as well because he's just, I know it's very cliche, but I think he's probably my favorite founding father because he just, he didn't go home for six years. I mean, other founding fathers went to and back and forth from their homes and things. Some lost their homes, sure, but his faithfulness, he talked about God, he prayed a lot, he referenced Providence a lot with a capital P in his writings, talking about Almighty God and God's providence in his life. That's just a godly leader and we're gonna look at Ezra a little bit tonight. It's the same thing He is he was a godly leader and the Bible's filled with people who live their lives under the influence of God who were godly men and women but Ezra here is had such a deep faith, he had a willingness to serve, and God just used him to fulfill his purpose. And the running theme through this, what we're going to look at tonight through the book of Ezra, is that the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, because none of the things that Ezra was able to accomplish, he would not have been able to accomplish unless God's hand was upon him. And the first six chapters of Ezra describes the work of Zerubbabel. The final four chapters relate Ezra's arrival for the restoration that he brought about. And it's just an amazing thought. The hand of the Lord was upon me, upon Ezra. Six times in two chapters. That's what he attributes his success to. The hand of the Lord his God was upon him. We'll begin. in Ezra chapter 7 and in verse number 6. Then Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given. And the king granted him all his requests according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him. So we see in receiving requests from the king notice he the hand of the Lord was upon him because our exert sees the king here Allowed him to go up to Jerusalem Why would the king just let him go I Spent a great a lot of time in Nehemiah. I love the book of Nehemiah. That is a A fantastic book. The hand of the Lord was upon Nehemiah as well. The things that Artaxerxes allowed Nehemiah to do, obviously the hand of the Lord was upon Nehemiah as well. But we see he's going to be able to go to Jerusalem. Verse 12, Artaxerxes, king of kings unto Ezra the priest and scribe of the law of God of heaven, perfect peace. And at such a time, I make a decree. that all they of the people of Israel and of his priests and Levites in my realm, which are minded of their own free will to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee." Why would he let all these people go? Because the hand of the Lord was upon him. They're going to be able to go back home and have this great restoration. But it doesn't stop there. You would think that would be enough, right? They would just jump on this and go and just be thrilled that they were given permission, that they had a decree. He made a decree there in verse 13 that they could go. But notice in verse 14, for as much as thou art sent of the king and of his seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of thy God, which is in thine hand, and to carry the silver and gold which the king and his counselors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, and all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem, that thou mayest buy speedily with this money, bullocks, rams, lambs with their meat offerings and their drink offering, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God, which is in Jerusalem." They were allowed to take silver, gold, I mean massive amounts of this stuff, blessing upon them. They're getting to go, but then they're getting paid to go. Here, take all that you need to go and to worship the Lord in your land. That's an amazing thing. How is this even possible? You don't really hear tell of things like this happening. Letting captives go? But they were allowed to go and given all that they needed to go and to worship the Lord. It's an amazing thing to buy whatever was needed for the house of God. Let's look at verse 18, and whatsoever shall seem good to thee and to thy brethren. That's pretty amazing too, right? Whatever shall seem good to thee and thy brethren to do with the rest of the silver and the gold. No restrictions? Are you kidding me? He didn't earmark anything for his own benefit. The king didn't. You all do what needs to be done. Do what you need to do. that do after the will of your God, and the vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem. And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house. And I, even I, or Xerxes, the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily." Cut all the red tape and get them what they need. Verse 22, unto a hundred talents of silver, and to a hundred measures of wheat, to a hundred baths of wine, and to a hundred baths of oil. and salt without prescribing how much. So no restrictions on that. Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? So whatever is needed, speedily get it to them so they can do what needs to be done. Wouldn't that be nice if Congress would do that today? You know, let's help the churches out. You know, when they were building the Capitol building, they had church services in the Capitol building. They did. Congress had purchased Bibles to distribute to people. My, how we have fallen, right? I wish the government made sure everybody had a Bible. I think they're more interested in trying to take them away anymore. But whatever is needed, make sure it's given. But not only that, you're going to be given all of this, and you're not going to have to pay tax on it either, verse 22. Also, we certify you that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, nethanim, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom upon them." I mean, the blessings just keep coming, one after another after another. They're given liberties to set up magistrates and judges. Verses 25 and 26, and thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river. A king relinquishing this much power? You get to pick the judges and the magistrates to handle all of the people beyond the river, may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God, and teach ye them that know them not. and whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment." The fact that he was able to pick magistrates, judges, those to have a level of authority without any restrictions from the king, the arzurtzes isn't putting his two cents worth into it. just more and more freedom to do what needs to be done for the service to the Lord. So all of this laundry list of blessings, how do you think Ezra's gonna respond to this? Well, it's gonna obviously be a time of thanksgiving. Verse 27, blessed be the Lord God of our fathers. Because the only way they were given this amount of blessing is because it came from God. Whatever we have, it comes from God. There's nothing special about me or any one of us. What we are is through God's grace and His mercy and He gives it to us. Anything we accomplish is through Him. Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart. Who's in control of the kings? You go back a little bit. Ard Xerxes, there in verse 12, it says, Ard Xerxes, king of kings, but all those kings, those words are lowercased. Who's the actual king of kings? The first king capitalized. He's the king of kings. Almighty God moved Ard Xerxes to do all of these things. Ard Xerxes was in the hand of God, and he was being moved by God to do all of these things. put this thing in the king's heart to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, and hath extended mercy unto me before the king and his counselors, before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me." So there it is again. And I gather together out of Israel chief men to go up with me. So all of these blessings that came from God through our Xerxes here. God using our Xerxes to give all that they would need for the restoration of God's house. But you go to chapter eight, and there's a list of companions here with Ezra and so on and so forth, but prepared to leave, he's finding servants for the temple. We see here in verse 15, and I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Aheba. And there abode we in tents three days. And I viewed the people and the priests and found there none of the sons of Levi." So he's gathering people to go and he notices there's none of the sons of Levi. So who in the world is going to take care of the things that need to be taken care of in the temple? So that's not going to sit well. We got to get some sons of Levi here in verse 16. And I sent I for Eleazar, for Ariel, and for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jerob, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshulam, chief men also for Joarim, and for El Nathan and giving of understanding, men of understanding, and I sent them with commandment unto Iddo, the chief at the place Cassiopaea, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo and to his brethren, the Nethanim, those were folks that assisted the sons of Levi in temple worship, at the place of Cassiopaea. that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God. What good is having all of that gold and silver and everything that they needed for the restoration of God's house if they didn't have the sons of Levi? They didn't have ministers. So go and find some and bring them. Verse 18, and by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding of the sons of Mali. the son of Levi, the son of Israel, Sherebiah with his sons and his brethren, 18. So they go and they find servants to go. 38 Levites, 220 Nethanim, go to assist them. So they receive all of these blessings from the king. They are able to find servants for the temple. And now they're providing safe journey to Jerusalem. God provided safe journey to Jerusalem. Verse 21, then I proclaimed a fast there at the river Ahava that we might afflict ourselves before our God to seek of him a right way for us and for our little ones and for all our substance. That's a, seek the right way for us and for our little ones. I like that. A concern for the little ones. and for all our substance. Because all that they had, all that they were, all their little ones and all their substance was given to them by God. So they want to seek the right way. They want to seek God's way. Verse 22, for I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way. Because we had spoken unto the king saying the hand of our God is upon all of them for the good that seek him. But his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. So we fasted and besought our God for this, and he was entreated of us." So, having told the king that God's hand would be upon them and sharing that God would bless them, he said here he was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers. He didn't want to ask for protection because he wanted all the glory to go to God, right? God's going to get us there safely. We're not going to rely on the king and his army, a band of soldiers to go with us. God's going to take care of us. The hand of the Lord is upon us and that's how we will make it there safely. So he did not even ask for a military escort. Well, God's hand was upon them. And they safely arrived in Jerusalem. You jump to verse 31, we have their arrival there in Jerusalem. And then we departed from the river of Ahava on the 12th day of the first month to go into 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. And we came to Jerusalem and abode there three days. So we see they did get there, even with enemies that were that lay in wait by the way, God protected them, kept them safe, and got them there to continue to do this work God had called them to do, just providing step by step by step, more than they could have even ever dreamed of. God is blessing them. Their cups are overflowing here. So we see God's hand upon him. We see God's blessing upon Ezra as he leads these people. Why was the hand of the Lord on Ezra? Why? Well, going back to chapter 7, in verses 9 and 10, for upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month Excuse me came he to Jerusalem according to the good hand of his God upon him For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord and to do it and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments so we see Why was the hand of the Lord upon him? Well, it's laid out for us here in verse 10 because he prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord He was a student of God's Word He took in as much as he could from God's Word. He loved God's Word. He sought the Law of the Lord and he wanted to learn what God would have him to do. But not only that, it's not enough just to know it. It's not enough just to learn it. But we also find here, and to do it. You know in Scripture, It's not enough. You have to apply it to your life. He knew it, he sought the law of the Lord, and he did it. What good is it if you know it if you don't do it? And not only did he seek the law of the Lord, not only did he do what God wanted him to do, but he knew how important it was to teach others. We see at the end of verse 10 here, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. So he wanted that for everybody. He wanted everybody in God's Word and doing God's Word. And he taught others the same thing. It's like it says in 2 Timothy 2.21, prepared unto every good work. This is Ezra here. Back in chapter eight, we find in verse 22 Ezra sought the Lord he believed that God would be with those who seek him for I was ashamed again to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help against help us against the enemy in the way because we had spoken unto the king saying the hand of our Lord God is upon all them that all them for good that seek him but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him I like the contrast there That's some good contrast. We find that the hand of the Lord God is upon all them for good that seek him. But the opposite of that is his wrath is on those that forsake him. So he sought the Lord and he entreated God's protection through fasting and prayer here in verses 21 through 23. Ezra believed that God rewarded those who just diligently sought Him and seek Him. And I know that such faith pleases God. That's the kind of faith we're supposed to have. But Ezra was also willing to step out in faith. In verse 31 that we read a moment ago, it talks about he trusted the Lord would protect them. And as they began on this journey, we see that there were enemies. There was a potential for enemies and problems, but we find here in this verse that he delivered us from the hand of the enemy. So there actually were enemies of such as lay in wait by the way. So he had a working faith. He knew that God would just protect him. Just be faithful. Do what God says to do. But Ezra was also willing to deal with difficult situations. We get to chapter 9, and Ezra's facing a difficult situation here. They arrive in Jerusalem, they've had all of these blessings, the hand of the Lord is upon them, but people, I mean, when you're dealing with people, sinful people, things are going so good, right? But then chapter nine, verse one, now, when these things were done, the princess came to me saying, the people of Israel, And the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations. Even of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Ammonites, and the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons. so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands. Yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass." So upon his arrival here, Ezra finds that many of the Israelites had intermarried with the people of the land. Gentile women, the rulers and leaders of Israel, were the worst violators, unfortunately. We have a spiritual compromise here. The Israelites had intermarried with these pagan nations and what's that going to lead to? If you intermarry and mingle with pagan nations, you're going to be led astray into paganisms. You don't go messing with fire or you're going to get burned. They were told specifically in Deuteronomy chapter 7 to not intermarry and intermingle. Because it always leads to idolatry. But they did it anyway. There was a leadership failure here. Even the priests and leaders were involved in this disobedience. Which made the situation even worse and more grievous. We saw the term holy seed here, that phrase refers to the people of Israel, God's covenant people. They were to remain distinct, as I just mentioned there in Deuteronomy 7, but they failed in that. They did not do that. Israel was to maintain a purity, but they defiled themselves by intermingling. and their worship and relationship with God suffers. So dealing with this, what's Ezra going to do? Let's look at verse 3 here of Ezra 9. When I heard this thing, I ripped my garment and my mantle and plucked off the hair of my head. I haven't done that. I shave it. And of my beard and sat down astonished. I bet he was. Things were going so good, right? And then this happened. He just sat down astonished. How? Why? What were you all doing? What were you thinking? It's like when the Israelites did the golden cap there in the wilderness. It just happened so quickly. What were you thinking? He just sat down astonished, verse four. Then were assembled unto me everyone that trembled at the words of the God of Israel because of the transgression of those that had been carried away. And I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice. And at the evening sacrifice, I arose up from my heaviness. And having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God. He is going to pray. He's in a kind of a state of mourning here in the fact that he shaved his head and plucked his beard or whatever, plucked his hair out, and rent his mantle and everything. And he is just mourning, but he's also, he's getting down on his knees and praying to God, how am I supposed to take care of this? We need to remedy this situation. I need God's leadership in this. I need to know what to do. verse 6 and said, Oh my God, I am ashamed and I blush to lift up my face to Thee. When's the last time we've ever been ashamed for our sin? Because we all sin, right? Are you ashamed? I'm ashamed and I blush to lift up my face to Thee, my God, for our iniquities are increased over our head. And our trespass is grown up to the heavens. This is a prayer of repentance here. He is torn up about this. But notice the personal pronoun here, our. He wasn't involved in this. Ezra was not involved in this sin. But he takes ownership and possession of it. His people are in this sin. and he's gonna help lead them out of it. And he's lumping this upon himself as well. He's putting himself in this position. The phrasing of this, our iniquities are increased over our head. Yeah, they're in over their head all right. Verse seven, since the days of our fathers have we been in great trespass unto this day, for our iniquities have we our kings and our priests been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day. And now, for a little space, grace hath been showed from the Lord our God to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes and give us a little reviving in our bondage. For we were bondmen, yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken thy commandments. He goes through the whole list of all we just read, how God had blessed them, brought this remnant out. They're going to rebuild the house of God and all the remnants of the city around them and build this wall. Well, they eventually get to the wall. Nehemiah helps with that. But now, we had all of those blessings. But now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken thy commandments, which thou hast commanded by thy servants, the prophet saying, The land unto which ye go to possess it is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, and hath filled it from one end to the other with uncleanliness. Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace. or their wealth forever, that ye may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever." So we see the laying out of the rules of stay separate. And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and our great trespass, seeing that thou, our God, hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this, should we again break thy commandment and join in affinity with people of these abominations. Wouldest not thou be angry with us, till thou hast consumed us, so that we should be no remnant nor escaping? O Lord God of Israel, thou art righteous. For we remain, yet escaped as it is this day. Behold, we are before thee in our trespass. For we cannot stand before Thee because of this. So he was moved to such a deep prayer, a mournful prayer to see the state that they are in after all of God's blessings. What a shame. But thank God Ezra's there to lead them through this issue. Others joined with him. we saw in verse number four, and he offered this confessing of sin of the sins of Israel. Ezra's just such a wonderful example. Let's jump to chapter 10, verses one through eight. Now, when Ezra had prayed, when he had confessed weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children, for the people wept very sore. So we see a stirring here, right? And Shekiniah the son of Jehil, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, we have trespassed against our God and have taken strange wives of the people of the land. Yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives and such as were born of them. according to the counsel of my Lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the law. Arise, for this matter belongeth unto thee, for we also will be with thee. Be of good courage and do it. Then arose Ezra and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel to swear that they should do according to his word, and they swore." So we see Shekiniah and some folks saying, all right, we need to make this covenant. We're not going to do this. We need to correct this. We need to put away these strange wives and so on and so forth. So Ezra gets all of this, all of the people together, made chief priests, Levites, and all Israel to swear that they should do according to his word. Verse six, then Ezra rose up from before the house of God and went into the chamber of Johanan, the son of Elisha. And when he came thither, he did not eat. He did eat no bread nor drink water for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away. And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem, and that whosoever would not come within three days according to the counsel of the princes of the elders, all his substance would be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away." So in the midst of Ezra's deep sorrow, In this public display of mourning, people joined in. Again, Shekiniah, a member of the community, steps forward, proposes a solution to make this covenant with God to separate themselves from their foreign wives and all of that. He acknowledges the gravity of their transgression. We need to understand the gravity of our sin and puts an emphasis that Israel needs to get back in line with God and His law and God's word. Of course, Ezra responds by exacting this oath that we talked about with the priests and Levites, that they're going to do everything that needs to be done. It's not going to be easy, it's going to be painful, it's going to be hard, but it needs to be done. Ezra's not afraid to deal with a difficult situation. A proclamation is issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem. that all exiles must assemble in Jerusalem within three days. We found there in verse 8 that if you did not come within the three days, all your substance should be forfeited. So they would have a forfeiture of property and they would be excluded from the community. Decisive action. Ezra was not afraid to deal with a difficult situation. We see in verse 9 that all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. So they started doing what needed to be done. Where's the verse? I've got to find the verse. Verse 16. And the children of the captivity did so. Thank God for revival, right? Thank God for revival. They saw their sin, they repented, they're making steps with this covenant to correct the situation. Ezra leading the charge in this instance, and the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, And all of them by their names were separated and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter, doing what needs to be done." We go on through the rest of this chapter, there's a list of those who put away foreign wives. So, Ezra, God used Ezra, the hand of the Lord was upon him. Because he sought the Lord, he prepared himself, he was willing to step out in faith, and he was willing to face difficult situations and lead the charge. Ezra's not the only person to experience the hand of the Lord being upon him. I mentioned earlier in the message Nehemiah, Nehemiah 2.18. Let's just read it because I love Nehemiah so much. Then I told them of the hand of my God, which was good upon me, as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, let us arise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work." Yet another good, godly leader leading the charge here with the rebuilding of the wall. For this good work. Sometimes the hand of the Lord was used for the purpose of judgment. Go back to 1 Samuel chapter 5. And verse 6, but the hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them and smote them with emeralds, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof. God has a strong hand. He can raise you up, sustain you, He can put you down too. We've considered the working of God for good in the life of Ezra. His faithful servant. How will the hand of the Lord be for us? I think Ezra's just a wonderful example that we can follow. Preparing ourselves to be useful servants for the master, seeking the Lord with diligence and faith, stepping out in faith, doing what He has called you to do. I mean, who knows? Stepping out in faith is not always easy, is it? I don't know about tomorrow, but I know who holds tomorrow. And God will bless you if you're faithful. And then facing difficult issues and situations head on. It would have been so easy for Ezra to be like, eh, let's just sweep this under the rug. I don't want to deal with this. We've got work to do here. We're getting distracted. Nah, he dealt with it. He knew you couldn't let that splinter fester. You have to pull that splinter out. It was going to be a problem and continue to be a problem if he did not deal with it. The hand of the Lord God upon me. God bless you all. ♪ Let a barb on the land, on the sea ♪ ♪ As the day is breaking in ♪ ♪ Shall your strength ever be ♪ ♪ Let the wood fire in triumphs of heaven flash on high ♪ ♪ High in praise so sufficient shall be thy supply ♪ Yes, sir. I will serve that I'll Jesus shall leave for repose I will but I will not desert to His cause My soul for all man should endeavor to shame I'll never, I'll never, I'll never forsake