Ezra 8:15 "And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; 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."
We find in the first part of chapter 8 a list of men and their sons who went
back to Jerusalem. Ezra realized there were no Levites (priests) in that
list of men. So they remained in that place until there came to them "men
of understanding.... that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of
our God." (Ezra 8:16-17) They had men of understanding as far as the
physical work was concerned, but Ezra realized the need for Spiritual guidance
and leadership among the men. He was willing to wait for those with spiritual
understanding before returning back to Jerusalem.
Another great decision was made once those men arrived. "Then I
proclaimed a fast there, at the river of 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. (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
them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them
that forsake him. (23) So we fasted and besought our God for this:
and he was intreated of us." (Ezra 8:21-23)
What a great man of understanding was this Ezra! Though he was not of the tribe
of Levi, his spiritual understanding taught him to be concerned for the need of
the Almighty God. How many times do we begin a project without first seeking
the hand of God upon us? Ezra knew there was danger concerning those who
opposed their work in Jerusalem and he was not going to go back and ask more of
the king. He did not place his confidence in the forces of this world;
rather, he proclaimed that they would all spend time in prayer and
fasting. What would they be praying for? Was it just for protection that
they could go on with their own ideas? Let's reread the verse that tells us why
they were seeking the Lord. In verse 21, Ezra said, Let us "afflict
ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little
ones, and for all our substance."
May we be diligent in our approach to things of this world by seeking the right
way for us, for our children, and that we might use the material blessings of
the Lord for His honor and glory.