Ezra 7:27 - Meaning and Application

Ezra cannot go on with his story without first giving thanks for God’s goodness to him and to his people in this matter. As soon as he finishes recounting the king’s commission, he does not simply add, “God save the king,” though that would have been fitting enough. Instead, he says, “Blessed be the Lord,” because in everything we should give thanks. Whatever turns out well for us, we must recognize God’s hand in it and praise his name.

Ezra blesses God for two things. First, he blesses God for the commission itself. We may think Ezra honored the king by taking the letter, but that was not all. He says, “Blessed be God, who put such a thing into the king’s heart.” God can put thoughts into people’s hearts that would never rise there on their own. He does this by his providence, his wise rule over events, and by his grace, his unearned help, in matters that touch both daily life and godliness.

If we see anything good in our own hearts or in the hearts of others, we must say that God put it there and thank him for it. He is the one who works in us “both to will and to do” what is good. When rulers and officials act to restrain evil and encourage true religion, we should thank God just as much as if they had given us a personal favor. When God’s house was being built, Ezra rejoiced in what was done to make it beautiful. Scripture does not say they painted it, gilded it, or decorated it with precious stones. Its true beauty was that God’s worship was carried out there constantly, carefully, and exactly as he had ordered.

Second, Ezra blesses God for the help he received to carry out his commission, as he says in Ezra 7:28, “He has extended mercy to me.” The king may have honored him because he saw Ezra as a wise and capable man, but Ezra gives the credit to God’s mercy alone. That mercy is what brought him into the king’s favor. Ezra was also a man of courage, but he did not credit his boldness to himself. He knew he was strengthened to do this work only because the hand of the Lord his God was on him to guide and support him.

If God gives us his hand, we become bold and willing. If he withdraws it, we are weak as water. Whatever service we are able to do for God and for our generation, God must receive all the glory. The strength for it comes from him, so the praise for it must go to him too.