Ezra was a scribe, a man who made the study of God’s Law his life’s work. Empowered by King Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra leaves captivity and heads home to Jerusalem. It is a time of promise and of great hope. The people of God are returning to the promised land. The Temple is being rebuilt. Worship is once again instituted in Jerusalem. Prophets walk the streets and call the people to surrender to God. It is also a time of trouble. The return is not welcome by everyone. Foreigners have moved into Jerusalem and made it their home. The right to rebuild is challenged. Threats, bullying, and political maneuvering all come to bear in the effort to stop the people of Israel from regaining their homeland. How does one deal with the shifting moods, changing rules, and uncertain ground that mark the landscape? Ezra 7:10 makes a powerful statement. It reads, “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.” Ezra knows that God is a rock and a refuge. It is only in following God that His people can stand on sure footing. So Ezra sets his heart to study. God’s law brings light, boundaries, hope, promise, and a foundation on which to build. It was true for Ezra and it is true for us.
| Date | Reading |
| March 9 | Ezra 4 |
| March 10 | Ezra 5 |
| March 11 | Ezra 6 |
| March 12 | Ezra 7 |
| March 13 | Ezra 8 |
| March 14 | Ezra 9 |
| March 15 | Ezra 10 |
| March 16 | Nehemiah 1 |