Chapter 8:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 2 Chronicles Nehemiah
Ezra 8
Concise Complete
The companions of Ezra. (1-20) Ezra implores God's
blessing. (21-23) Treasures committed to the priests. (24-30) Ezra arrives at
Jerusalem. (31-36)
Verses 1-20 Ezra
assembles the outcasts of Israel, and the dispersed of Judah. God raised up the
spirits of a small remnant to accompany him. What a pity that good men should
omit a good work, for want of being spoken to!
Verses 21-23 Ezra
procured Levites to go with him; but what will that avail, unless he have God
with him? Those who seek God, are safe under the shadow of his wings, even in
their greatest dangers; but those who forsake him, are always exposed. When
entering upon any new state of life, our care should be, to bring none of the
guilt of the sins of our former condition into it. When we are in any peril, let
us be at peace with God, and then nothing can do us any real hurt. All our
concerns about ourselves, our families, and our estates, it is our wisdom and
duty, by prayer to commit to God, and to leave the care of them with him. And,
on some occasions, we should decline advantages which are within our reach, lest
we should cause others to stumble, and so our God be dishonoured. Let us ask
wisdom of God, that we may know how to use or to refuse lawful things. We shall
be no losers by venturing, suffering, or giving up for the Lord's sake. Their
prayers were answered, and the event declared it. Never have any that sought God
in earnest, found that they sought him in vain. In times of difficulty and
danger, to set a season apart for secret or for social prayer, is the best
method for relief we can take.
Verses 24-30 Do we
expect that God should, by his providence, keep that which belongs to us, let
us, by his grace, keep that which belongs to him. Let God's honour and interest
be our care; and then we may expect that our lives and comforts will be his.
Verses 31-36
Enemies laid wait for the Jews, but God protected them. Even the common perils
of journeys, call us to go out with prayer, and to return with praise and
thanksgiving. But what shall we render when the Lord has led us safely through
the pilgrimage of life, through the gloomy vale of death, out of the reach of
all our enemies, into everlasting happiness! Among their sacrifices they had a
sin-offering. The atonement sweetens and secures every mercy to us, which will
not be truly comfortable, unless sin be taken away, and our peace made with God.
Then had the church rest. The expressions here used, direct us to the
deliverance of sinners from spiritual bondage, and their pilgrimage to the
heavenly Jerusalem, under the care and protection of their God and Saviour.
Chapter 8:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 2 Chronicles Nehemiah
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
