Authorities Are God's Servants - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Ezra 7:27-28,

"Praise be to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king's heart to bring honor to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way and who has extended his good favor to me [Ezra] before the king and his advisers and all the king's powerful officials. Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me."

The priest Ezra prepared to go to Jerusalem following the rebuilding of the temple. He would play an important part in teaching his fellow countrymen the Scriptures and insure the nation was off to a good re-start. King Artaxerxes of Persia wrote a letter to insure all Ezra would need in his endeavors would be provided him.

I note in a number of places (8) in his letter, Artaxerxes refers to God as Ezra's God, "your God". The king also refers to God as "the God of Jerusalem" in verse 19. From this it is difficult to tell whether Artaxerxes recognized the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as his own God, but it doesn't seem so to me. However, Artaxerxes does refer to God as "the God of Heaven", verses 12, 21 and 23.

In any event, King Artaxerxes was fully driven by God to insure all was in place for Ezra's mission. Clearly the Lord had control over this monarch. Not surprising since we are told that all authority on earth belongs to God. I am reminded of Paul's observation, "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves." Romans 13:1-2. We are also told the authorities are God's servants, verse 4.

This certainly could not be clearer in the case of the Persian King, Artaxerxes.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.