Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Ezra+002
CHAPTER 2 (ESV)
1 Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. 2 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah…
64 The whole assembly together was 42,360, 65 besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337, and they had 200 male and female singers. 66 Their horses were 736, their mules were 245, 67 their camels were 435, and their donkeys were 6,720.
68 Some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, made freewill offerings for the house of God, to erect it on its site. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury of the work 61,000 darics of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priests’ garments.
70 Now the priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all the rest of Israel in their towns.
REFLECTION:
- Genealogy was the most important proof for the Hebrew. If they could not prove to be the descendants of Abraham, they would not be regarded as Jews. This would lead to discrimination and they would not be able to fully integrate into Jewish social life. Therefore, the Jews found out and affirmed their identity through their genealogy. Reflect how do you know that you have a place in heaven. How are you sure that you are the child of God?
- When the temple was rebuilt, everybody contributed according to their ability and willingness, some even generously offered their rich wealth. Such a huge project required everybody’s cooperation and sacrificial offering. Today we may think that we have offered a lot through tithing but the Bible tells us to offer everything from the bottom of our heart. Reflect if you could only offer the leftover portion to God today, or you willingly offer all your gifts to God according to His calling.
PRAYER:
Thank God for adopting you to Himself as son or daughter. Pray that God will give you a humble heart, and mold your character to live a holy life that is commensurate with the status of God’s child. Dedicate yourself to God and tell Him you are willing to offer everything to Him according to His calling for pleasing Him.
HYMN:
“How He Loves” – www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS1d-u3oQp0
