READ: Ezra 7-8
Verses
chosen for meditation: Ezra 7:9-10
9 For on the first day
of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of
the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. 10
For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to
teach his statutes and rules in Israel.
REFLECT
After
6 chapters, we finally meet Ezra, the man the book is named after. There’s a 60-year
gap between the events in Chapter 6 and this chapter. At this point, there’s
not much recorded about what happened in Judah in those 60 years. It was during
this period that the events in the book of Esther happened. The historical
background in those years sets the stage in studying the rest of the book of
Ezra.
In
those 60 years, the excitement over the rebuilding of the temple dissipated.
The Jewish people began yoking with unbelieving Gentiles. Teachings of the
Mosaic law were neglected, and temple worship suffered. It was in this backdrop
that God raised Ezra to lead a 2nd group of exiles back to Judah to
ignite another restoration, to remind the Jewish people of the laws of God.
After
Ezra’s introduction as a scholar with high proficiency in the law of God, we learn
that King Artaxerxes, a pagan king, supported and provided generous resources
for Ezra’s trip to Jerusalem, for the hand of God was on Ezra (Ezra 7:6). In
v9-10, we find the reasons behind the success of Ezra, and this provides a
model for Christian education: He prepared his heart to study God’s law, to
practise it, and to teach it. V10 is the key behind why God blessed Ezra’s
ministry.
Ezra
made the Torah his primary textbook, the source of his life’s instruction. He
was not content to be just a hearer only, but committed himself to be a doer of
the Word. He was determined to then teach others to follow in these truths. The
order here is crucial, for people cannot correctly practise what they do not
properly understand, and cannot convincingly teach what they themselves do not
practise.
RELATE
What
makes an effective communicator of the Word? Good in public speaking? Clear
explainer? Engaging story telling? Some teachers of the word, though gifted
with eloquence and impeccable articulation, have limited success. Many may
listen and even enjoy, but very few are stirred or transformed, remaining in a
state of mediocrity. Then others, who lacked certain technical skills often
associated with good preaching, become effective ministers who move people into
genuine relationships with God.
We
see then that there are elements that matter more than just technical skills. Ezra
7:10 shows what these elements are: a heart that seeks to understand and
meditate on the Word, a steadfastness in doing the word, then wanting to help
others learn. Technical skills help immensely, and we will do well to pick them
up, but preachers will come to realise that such skills can only carry you for
a while, if they are not backed by the elements in v10. As v9 showed, God will
bless one’s ministry if v10 is being carried out.
My
youth leaders sometimes 2nd guess their effectiveness, and whether
they are doing things right, in a ministry that is very challenging. The work
is complex, energy-demanding, with much sacrifice and thankless toiling, but with discouraging
results sometimes. One leader can express fears of inadequate knowledge.
Another may share struggles with articulation and clarity of explanation. Then
another worries about connecting with people and lack of experience. All of
them could well use today’s verses to back up their argument that they may not
be effective leaders, saying that they don’t study the Word enough, or struggle
to do the Word enough, hence can’t teach it well. Funnily, using the same verses,
I can argue the opposite.
Ministry
can be discouraging because not everyone will respond positively to our
efforts, but we should not be too quick to use that to conclude
ineffectiveness. Even Jesus, the best teacher, faced much rejection. Despite
the lack of confidence sometimes, it still stands that many youths they lead
faithfully turn up in their sessions, bother listening to them, and go to them
in times of trouble. I believe this happens because the leaders largely walk
the talk (they will argue they didn’t), and will not be afraid to admit in the
times they fall short, turning them into lessons of human brokenness and God’s
grace. In my book, they do follow Ezra’s model of education, though not to
perfection, but as best as they can with right attitudes.
I
know they do not have full knowledge of the Word (I don’t either), and they
still struggle with a sinful life as we all do, but I do observe a desire from
them to understand the Word better, a commitment to concretely apply what they
just understood and crucially, driven by love and a desire to convey these
truths to the young so they may be saved. Perhaps I do not affirm them enough,
but I must say, I’m really inspired by them, and learn so much from them.
Unlike me who can tap on a greater wealth of experience and training from
previous jobs, they tackle these obstacles with a lot of uncertainty, lack of
experience and much fear. Still, they buckled down to do their faithful work
for God. This can’t happen without love, God-given courage and reliance on God.
Their courage is not the absence of fear, but facing these fears head on and trusting
God to carry them through. I can’t say I can do the same if I were their age.
There
are other teachers of the Word in our church who may be the same and this is a
tribute to them: our Sunday school teachers, small group leaders, counsellors,
ministry leaders, programme facilitators, befrienders and preachers.
Coincidentally, this period happens to be Teacher’s Day and we spend some time
to appreciate them, but also reflect on what it takes to be an effective
teacher of the Word. Some teachers may find themselves like my youth leaders,
sometimes doubting themselves and not wanting to tarnish the Word by teaching
it wrong.
This
concern and awareness can be a good thing, if we don’t let the fear get the
better of us. It is good as it leads to a humility and self-assessment that promotes
more careful studying of the Word, and wanting to obey what we studied because
we are motivated by wanting to teach it rightfully and powerfully. So let us
not be deterred. May we encourage one another to have perseverance in our
calling as teachers. We do this following the model for Christian education,
growing in confidence as God blesses our ministries. But we guard against pride
and arrogance which usually accompanies confidence. If not, we become someone
eager to teach, but not immersing in the Word anymore, not self-examining and
not living it out. We will surely lose effectiveness then and God’s hand would
no longer be upon us.
For
those who are not teachers by designation, we should strive towards what Ezra
did too. In our own small ways, we are called to share the Word of God, be it
as parents, friends or providing counsel to someone. There will be
opportunities to help make our God known, and we will want God’s hand upon us at
that time so we can be effective. Don’t let it come down to regret, when an
opportunity to share with a person you care about comes, but you hesitated because
you don’t know enough due to lack of study, or worry that your loved one would not
listen because you did not live out what you want to share.
REST
Father, sustain all your servants. Comfort them, remove
their fears, give them strength and wisdom, bless them and encourage them in their
service for You, as they seek to let others know the gospel message, and the
gift of your love and grace for them. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Chris Chong
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