Ezra 6:19-22 – Consecrated Living

The Jews who returned from exile had rebuilt the temple at Jerusalem. They would have wished that it was a straightforward and smooth project. But it was not. For they were besieged by many struggles. First, the opposition from the Samaritans that led to the cessation of work, then the personal lethargy, discouragement, and distraction. Thankfully, among them, God had given godly prophets and Darius who was kind toward them and showed them much favor. So through the coaxing of Haggai and Zachariah the project resumed, was completed, and was dedicated.

With all that done, Ezra 6:19-22 then describe the celebration of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. On the fourteenth day of the first month, they observed the Passover as stipulated. The priest and the Levites purified themselves before the slaughter of the Passover lamb. They did it on behalf of everyone including themselves.  Verse 21 reveals that not only did the Jews eat of the Passover but the proselytes who had turned to seek the God of Israel, and purified themselves were also allowed to join in the Passover.  

Then they also celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This was a weeklong feast stipulated in Exodus 12:14-28. In this feast, God specifically instructed that any yeast in their midst be removed. At the Passover, they were instructed to eat yeast-free bread because they had to leave Egypt in haste and there simply wasn’t enough time for any yeast to rise. But at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, all yeast was to be removed. Yeast was a symbol of the corrupting nature of sin. Sin has devastating consequences in our life. Its effect lingers longer than we want it to linger. God has all along wanted His people to live sinless lives. The Feast of the Unleavened Bread served to remind them that they must seek to live a sin-free life. Hence after observing the Passover, they followed up with the observation of the Feast of Unleavened Bread willingly and joyfully.

God was the engineer. He was the one who had given them a reason to rejoice. He had turned the heart of the foreign king to treat them favorably. The King of Assyria here of course was referring to King Darius, whose kingdom Persia had conquered Babylon which had defeated and dominated Assyria.    

The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened bread were celebrated together. This weeklong celebration paints us a picture of the process of salvation. God was showing us through all these that being saved is just the first step. There is also the need to live a progressive sanctified life. It is one thing to be saved but quite another to live a life that is increasingly free from the grasp of sin.  God wants us to seek to live a consecrated life.