Restoring life into worship

Ezra 7:1-10 (NIV)

Ezra Comes to Jerusalem

¹ After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, ² the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, ³ the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, ⁴ the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, ⁵ the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest- ⁶ this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him. ⁷ Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

⁸ Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. ⁹ He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. ¹⁰ For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

7:1 好 些年後，亞達薛西作波斯皇帝時，以斯拉從巴比倫回來。他的祖先可追溯到大祭司亞倫；他的族譜如下：以斯拉是西萊雅的兒子，西萊雅是亞 撒利雅的兒子，亞撒 利雅是希勒家的兒子，7:2 希勒家是沙龍的兒子，沙龍是撒督的兒子，撒督是亞希突的兒子，7:3 亞希突是亞 瑪利雅的兒子，亞瑪利雅是亞撒利雅的兒子，亞撒利雅是米拉約的兒子，7:4 米拉約是西拉希雅的兒子，西拉希雅是烏西的兒子，烏 西是布基的兒子，7:5 布基是亞比書的兒子，亞比書是非尼哈的兒子，非尼哈是以利亞撒的兒子，以利亞撒是亞倫的兒子。7:6 以斯拉是一個飽學之 士，精通上主─以色列上帝頒給摩西的法律。因為上主─以色列的上帝賜福給以斯拉，以斯拉要求皇帝的每一件事，皇帝都准他。7:7 亞達薛西在位的第七 年，以斯拉跟一群以色列人從巴比倫動身回耶路撒冷。這群人包括祭司、利未人、聖殿歌手、聖殿守衛，和工人。7:8 他們離開巴比倫是正 月初一日；由於得到上帝的幫助，他們在五月初一就到達耶路撒冷。7:9 併於上節7:10 以斯拉一生專心研究並實行上主的法律，又 把一切法律條例教導以色列人民。

一、中心內容：

內容：
1>描述以斯拉啟程回國的時間點---亞達薛西作波斯皇帝時。（v1）The time frame of Ezra’s return to Jerusalem-- during the reign of Artaxerxes.(v1)

2>介 紹以斯拉的家譜---亞倫的子孫。（v2-5）Verses 2-5, the lineage of Ezra as a descendant of Aaron.
3>介紹以斯拉的學問、生命見證---得著王的信任。（v6）Verse 6 described Ezra’s education and the testimony of his life—winning the king’s trust.
4>描述以斯拉與同伴到達耶路撒冷的時間點----五月初一到達。（v7-8）Verses 7-8, Ezra arrived in Jerusalem with his companions on the first day of the fifth month.
5>描述以斯拉專心追求、實踐、教導上帝的律法。（v10）Verse 10, Ezra devoted to the studying , the observance and the teaching of God’s laws.

主題：重建敬拜的生命 Restoring life into worship

二、上帝、耶穌基督、聖靈是誰？

1>頒佈律例典章的上帝。（v6、v10）God gives precepts. (v6, v10)
2>賜福給人（以斯拉）的上帝。（v6）God blesses. (v6)
3>引領人、幫助人的上帝。（v8）God guides and helps. (v8)

三、給我的教訓（命令、應允、榜樣、責備、警告）是什麼？

1>重建敬拜的生命Restoring life into worship
當上帝預定的日期滿足之後，就藉著外邦君王的手，讓祂的選民重新返回故 土。當回歸故土之後，第一件事就是先建造聖殿。當聖殿建造完成之後，因為已經擁有敬拜的地點，接著包括：敬拜的禮儀、敬拜中的事奉---等，都陸陸 續續的恢復。

When the days of God came to fulfillment, He let His people return to their homeland through the hands of a gentile king. The first thing they did when they arrived was to build their temple. After the construction of the temple was finished, everything concerning worship such as liturgy and ministries in the temple gradually came into shape.
接 下來第二件事就是：重建敬拜的生命。因為空有華麗的聖殿、嚴謹的儀 式，而缺乏敬拜的生命，那樣的敬拜只是一場宗教儀式而已，根本無法與上帝相遇，更無法得 到上帝的喜悅。因此，當聖殿 重建工程完成之後，緊接著就是重建敬拜的生命。上帝將「重建敬拜生命」的重任託付給以斯拉，也就是讓他藉著上帝的話語（法律） 來建造。

Next step was to restore life back into worship. It was not enough to have a magnificent temple and strict rituals. It was only a worship ritual without life and it was unpleasing to God. Thus, after the work of temple was done, the next important task was to restore life back into worship. This was the responsibility God gave Ezra to build with God’s words.
反省：敬拜的場所、儀式雖然重要，敬拜的生命更為重要。每主日參加禮 拜，甚至每天靈修的我，是否藉著上帝的話語，塑造出上帝所喜悅敬拜的生命？
Reflection: The place of worship and liturgy play an important role, yet the life in our worship is even more important. As a person who attends church every week and has daily devotions, do I live a life of worship that is shaped by God’s word and that is pleasing to Him?
2>事奉上帝的話語 Ministering God’s words to people
由於猶太人被擄到外邦，已長達七十年之久，新一代已經不太懂得如何敬 拜。此外，大部份的利未人都已經轉業，祭司也長年沒有執行職務，在這種信仰生活荒涼的狀況之下，突然之間要恢復聖殿的敬拜，實 在需要一位對律法有深入認識的人來協助。

Since that the Israelites had been in exile for more than 70 years, most of the younger generation did not know anything about worship. Besides that, the Levites had been into many different trades and the priests had not practiced their duty since they were in exile. In order to restore worship back into the temple under such circumstance, it needed a person who was familiar with the laws.
話說以斯拉，不僅擁有純正的猶太血統，而且是一位飽讀經學的教師。主前 五八六年，當耶路撒冷的聖殿遭焚燬時，殿內的經卷當然也慘遭焚燒殆盡。當他們流亡巴比倫之後，以斯拉或許藉著口述的方式，將 部份律法記錄下來，並繼續從事律法教導的工作。聖經特別清楚的記載說：以斯拉一生專心研究並實行上主的法律，又把一切法律條例教導以 色列人民。（v10）因為以斯拉擁有這樣的生命、擁有這樣的裝備、擁有這樣的條件。所以，上帝特別揀選他，使用他來事奉祂的話語（律 法）。
Ezra was a pure blood Jew and was a teacher well educated in law. In 586 BC, all the scrolls in the temple were burned when the temple was set on fire. During their exile to Babylon, part of the law was kept through Ezra’s dictation and teaching. In verse 10, it clearly stated that Ezra devoted his life to studying, observing and teaching the law to the Israelites. With such a well-equipped life, Ezra was chosen by God to minister His word to His people.

反省：相較於以斯拉，一生專心研究並實行上主的法律，又把一切法律條例教導以色 列人民。我對上帝的話語，有多少追求？有多少認識？有多少實踐？我能事奉祂的話語嗎？
Reflection: In comparison to Ezra’s dedication to studying, observing and teaching of the law, how much do I pursue, know and observe God’s word? Am I capable of ministering God’s word to others?
3>神僕的生命見證 The testimony of life as God’s servant
以斯拉之所以蒙上帝的揀選與使用，其生命中必然擁有他人所不及的特點。 僅分享如下：
a.熟 悉律法：他雖然生長在外邦國度之中，卻如此渴慕追求、實踐並教導上帝的話語。
b.為 主見證：他在王宮中的事奉，必定為上帝作美好見證。因此，得到王的信任與賞識，以致於要求皇帝的每一件事，皇帝都准他。
c.捨 棄名位：以猶太人的身份，在外邦王宮中謀得一官半職，實在不是一件容易的事。然而，為了上帝的呼召，為了屬靈的責任，他竟然甘心捨棄 王宮裏的名位與前途。

Ezra was chosen by God, because he had some characteristics which nobody could match up. They are as follows:

1. Good understanding of the law: Despite of the fact of living in a gentile country, he thirsted for God’s words and devoted himself to the study, the observance and the teaching of the law.
2. Witnessing for God: He must have been a good testimony of God while working in the palace. Therefore, he had won the trust and favor of the king and he was given the permission for whatever he asked.
3. Abandonment of social status: It was not easy for a Jew to obtain any position in the palace in a foreign country. Yet, Ezra was willing to abandon his position and bright future in the palace in answering to God’s calling on his life.
   反省：以斯拉的捨與得，對我有什麼啟示？他的生命見證，有哪些值得 我效法的？
   Reflection: What insight in Ezra’s sacrifice and attainment did I have? What can I learn from his example?
   4>以神話語為職志 Devoted to God’s word
   以斯拉一生專心研究並實行上主的法律，又把一切法律條例教導以色列 人民。（v10）

¹⁰ For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. (V10)
以斯拉的一生，幾乎是以上帝的話語（法律）為職志，是一個值得我們學習 的榜樣。根據經文的記載，我們可以從以斯拉的身上，學習到三樣寶貴的功課：
a.求 道：他不止一生專心研究上主的律法，甚至是精通的。（v6）
b.行 道：他一生徹底實行上主的法律。
c.傳 道：又把一切法律條例教導以色列人民。

Ezra’s devotion to God’s law is the example that we can learn from. According to the Bible, we can learn three precious lessons from Ezra.

1. Studying of God’s word: He did not merely spend his life studying the law of God, he knew it inside out. (v6)
2. Observance of the law: He observed the law all his life.
3. Teaching of the law: He taught the law and decrees to the Israelites.

反省：在我的生涯當中，用多少心力求道？用多少心力行道？用多少心力傳 道？

Reflection: In my life time, how much do I devote myself to studying, observing and teaching of the law?

四、我的禱告 / 實際應用