Homilist Ezra 7:1-10 Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,… The text indicates man's duty in relation to God's redemptive truth. The "law" here refers undoubtedly not to God's truth in general, but to that truth which He has condescended to reveal to man as a fallen being. In relation to this he has to do three things — I. HE HAS TO LEARN IT. "Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord." Two things are to be attended to in our endeavours to attain a knowledge of the truth which God has revealed to fallen man. 1. It must be sought for where it is to be found. Truth from God may be found written in the volume of nature, in the facts of human history, in the constitution of the human soul: but the truth from God which man wants as a sinner is to be found in the Bible. It must be sought for here; it is here under the cover of facts and histories, metaphors and poetries. 2. It must be sought for in the manner in which it is to be found. There is a right way of seeking as well as a wrong way. "Ezra had prepared his heart to seek" it. It must be sought — (1) With devout earnestness. It must be regarded as the supreme good. (2) With persevering diligence. It must be searched for as hidden treasures. II. HE HAS TO PRACTISE IT. Ezra had not only "prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord," but "to do it." The truth that God has revealed to sinners is not a subject for mere speculative thought or logical debate, it is a practical system. 1. The doing of it is essential to a thorough understanding of it. "He that doeth the will of God shall know of the doctrine." There are some things that a man may understand without practising. A man may understand architecture who has never built a house, agriculture who has never cultivated a farm, but no one can understand theology unless he has practised it. 2. The doing of it is necessary in order to be really benefited by it. Truth as ideas in the mind is only like floating clouds, rolling undischarged over the barren soil; but truth as deeds is like living streams so intersecting each other, and winding in every direction, as to touch the whole region into life, verdure, and beauty. III. HE HAS TO PREACH IT. "And to teach in Israel statutes and judgments." God's truth to sinners is to be taught by men. But none can teach it but those who have learnt it and practised: the right kind of preaching is life preaching. This life preaching is — 1. The most intelligible. 2. The most incontrovertible. 3. The most constant. 4. The most Christlike.Conclusion: We must learn, practise, and preach the Bible. The last can only be done by those who have accomplished the first and second. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, |
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