Ezra 8:15-20 – No one should be passive in advancing God's Kingdom

Ezra 8 begins by giving us a list of the Jews that returned with Ezra from Babylon to Jerusalem. So verses 1-14, give us the list of names totaling 1,496 males. In verse 15, Ezra said that he assembled them at  the river that ran to Ahava and there they camped for three days. He then observed among the people that came back with him and could not see any Levites. 

In the earlier group under Zerubbabel, 74 Levites returned to Jerusalem with him. But there was none that came back with Ezra. Why? It was suggested that the Levites were used to the good life and position in Babylon and did not want to move. And it could also well be that they were not sure if they could get the same level of support when they returned to their impoverished homeland.       

So, Ezra then sent a team of leading men to Iddo and his brothers who were temple servants at Casiphia. In verses 16-17, they were instructed to ask these temple servants to bring ministers to them for the house of God in Jerusalem. And because the good hand of God was on them, they found favor with Him. Verses 18-20 then give us a list of Levites that were given to him. One was a descendant from among the sons of Mahli, a descendant of Levi, Sherebiah by name. He, together with his sons and brothers 18 of them, came to  Ezra. In verses 19-20, they were also given some others  such as “Hashabiah and Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, with his brothers and their sons, 20 men.” Together with these, they were also given 220 temple servants, the Nethinim mentioned in Ezra 7:24.  

In our affluent condition, Christians can also become like the Levites who had become accustomed to an easy lifestyle. Like them, many too may no longer want to be too involved in the work that God is doing. There is a need for these to be reminded of their responsibility and obligation to the Kingdom of God.  A pertinent question to ask ourselves would be: Am I like one of them? We are called not just to be a part of the Kingdom of God, but are called to enlarge it. Let us arise and do the work of God and expand the Kingdom!