Ezra 7:17 – “With this money be sure to buy bulls, rams and male lambs, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and sacrifice them on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem.”

Extended Explanation of the Verse

Ezra 7:17 is part of the instructions given by King Artaxerxes of Persia to Ezra as he prepared to return to Jerusalem. In this verse, Artaxerxes gives specific directions on how the silver and gold collected for the Temple should be used. The money is to be spent on purchasing animals—bulls, rams, and lambs—for sacrifices, along with the necessary grain and drink offerings. These sacrifices were central to the worship practices in the Temple, as they symbolized the people’s devotion to God, their repentance, and their desire for fellowship with Him.

The king’s instructions show his respect for the religious customs of the Jewish people. The sacrifices mentioned here were a key part of the Old Testament worship system, and they were offered on the altar in the Temple to honor God. These offerings helped restore the proper worship that had been neglected during the exile, reminding the people of their covenant relationship with God.

Historical Context

The Israelites had been in exile for many years, first under the Babylonians and then under the Persian Empire. After returning to Jerusalem, they rebuilt the Temple, but their religious practices still needed to be reestablished. Under the leadership of Ezra, the focus shifted from merely physical rebuilding to spiritual renewal. The Persian king Artaxerxes not only allowed the Jews to return to their homeland but also provided financial and material support for their religious practices.

During this time, sacrifices were an essential part of worship in the Jewish faith. The sacrifices of bulls, rams, and lambs were prescribed in the Law of Moses as offerings that would express gratitude, repentance, and the people’s desire to be in right standing with God. The king’s support for these offerings showed the respect he had for the Jewish religion and his desire to maintain peace and order in his empire by supporting the religious practices of his subjects.

Theological Implications

Ezra 7:17 highlights the importance of worship and sacrifice in the life of God’s people. In the Old Testament, sacrifices were a way for the Israelites to express their worship and devotion to God, as well as to seek forgiveness for their sins. These offerings, though necessary in the Old Covenant, pointed forward to a greater sacrifice that would one day be made for the forgiveness of sins.

Theologically, this verse also shows God’s provision for His people. Although they had been in exile and their religious practices had been disrupted, God provided for the restoration of their worship through the resources given by the Persian king. It reminds us that God cares about how His people worship Him and that He will provide what is needed for proper worship to be restored.

Literary Analysis

Ezra 7:17 is part of a larger royal decree that provides detailed instructions for Ezra’s mission to Jerusalem. The verse is very practical, outlining exactly how the money should be used to purchase animals and offerings for the Temple sacrifices. The specific mention of bulls, rams, and lambs, along with grain and drink offerings, ties this verse back to the sacrificial system established in the Law of Moses, particularly in the books of Leviticus and Numbers.

The use of the phrase “be sure to” emphasizes the king’s desire for careful adherence to the Jewish religious practices, reflecting both respect for and awareness of their traditions. This instruction serves to reestablish the rituals that had been neglected during the years of exile, underscoring the importance of returning to God in both heart and practice.

Biblical Cross-References

• Leviticus 1:3-9 – This passage describes the burnt offering of a bull, which was one of the primary offerings made by the Israelites. It gives detailed instructions on how the animal was to be sacrificed, connecting directly to the types of offerings mentioned in Ezra 7:17.
• Numbers 15:1-10 – Here we see the requirements for grain and drink offerings that accompanied sacrifices, similar to what is outlined in Ezra 7:17.
• 2 Chronicles 29:21-24 – King Hezekiah also reinstated sacrifices as part of restoring proper worship in the Temple, showing a pattern of renewal through the sacrificial system.
• Hebrews 10:1-4 – This New Testament passage explains that the Old Testament sacrifices were temporary, pointing to the need for a greater and final sacrifice, which was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

For Christians today, Ezra 7:17 teaches us the importance of worshiping God with our best and in a way that reflects our devotion to Him. Although we no longer offer animal sacrifices, the principle of giving our best to God remains. The sacrificial system of the Old Testament was a way for the people to show their love, respect, and dependence on God, and today we are called to worship Him with our whole lives.

This verse also reminds us that God provides for our needs, including our spiritual needs. Just as God provided the resources through the Persian king to restore the sacrificial system, He provides us with everything we need to worship Him today, especially through the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

Ezra 7:17 reflects God’s love in how He cares for the spiritual well-being of His people. Even after years of exile and separation from the Temple, God made a way for His people to return to proper worship. He used a foreign king to provide the resources necessary for the offerings that symbolized the people’s repentance and devotion to Him.

God’s love is also seen in how He set up a system of worship that allowed His people to approach Him. The sacrifices were a way for the Israelites to be reconciled with God, showing that God desired a relationship with His people and provided a way for them to come to Him, even after they had sinned.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

The sacrificial system mentioned in Ezra 7:17 ultimately points forward to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The bulls, rams, and lambs were temporary offerings meant to cover the people’s sins, but they could never fully remove sin (Hebrews 10:4). These sacrifices were a shadow of the greater sacrifice that was to come in Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

Jesus’ death on the cross was the once-for-all sacrifice that fulfilled the requirements of the Law and made it possible for us to be reconciled to God. Just as the Israelites offered sacrifices to maintain their relationship with God, Jesus’ sacrifice has made it possible for us to have eternal life and a restored relationship with God through faith in Him.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. How does this verse challenge you to think about the way you worship God today? Are you giving Him your best?
2. What does the restoration of the sacrificial system in Ezra’s time teach you about the importance of repentance and worship in your own life?
3. How does this verse remind you of God’s provision, both in the past and in your life today?
4. In what ways do the Old Testament sacrifices point you to the greater sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross?
5. How can you live in gratitude for the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made, and how does that impact your daily worship and devotion to God?

Ezra 7:17 teaches us about the importance of worship and sacrifice, both in the time of the Old Testament and today. It reminds us that God provides for the needs of His people and desires their full devotion. Most importantly, it points us to Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, who has made it possible for us to be in a right relationship with God, not through temporary offerings but through His eternal gift of grace.