Ezra 5:6-17

The copy of the letter that Tatnai.

The letter of the king concerning the work

This letter has three chief divisions.

I. The inquisition of the Persian authorities.

II. The reply of the Jewish leaders. It presents the following aspects of the work. That it was--

1. Not a mere human enterprise, but a Divine commission.

2. Not an innovation, but a restoration.

3. Not in a spirit of presumption and pride, but of obedience and humility.

4. Not in opposition to, but in conformity with, royal authority.

5. Not political, but religious in its character.

III. The appeal of the Persian authorities to the king. Conclusion: Two things we may well admire and imitate.

1. The fairness of the Persian officials.

2. The faithfulness of the Jewish leaders. (William Jones.)

We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth.

The supremacy of God

Consider:

I. The universal supremacy of God.

1. Its ground.

(1) The perfections of His being.

(2) All things were created by Him.

(3) All things are sustained by Him.

(4) The benefits He bestows upon us and especially our redemption by Christ.

2. Its extent.

(1) Throughout heaven.

(2) Throughout earth.

(3) Throughout hell (2 Peter 2:4).

II. The great obligation of men to obey Him. Our obedience should be--

1. Complete.

2. Perpetual.

3. Hearty.

4. Joyous.

III. The exalted privilege of men. When the service of God is rightly estimated, it is regarded as a glory and rejoiced in as a privilege. (William Jones.)

But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven.--

Arguments against sinning

In this verse we have three weighty reasons against abstaining from sin.

I. It provokes god. This will be more impressively realised if we reflect that He is a being of--

1. Infinite purity.

2. Infinite patience.

II. It deprives the sinner of his protection.

III. It strips the sinner of power to battle with his foes. Guilt robs a man of courage. The consciousness of right action in a righteous cause is the mightiest inspiration in conflict and the surest defence in peril. (William Jones.).