Ezra 7:11-27

Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes.

The office and duty of the civil magistrate

It is the office of a Christian magistrate to encourage and protect good men in the exercise of religion, Dora by his own example and wholesome laws, and to promote true religion in his dominions. Thus far the good magistrates among Jews, heathens, and Christians have proceeded to their lasting honour and commendation; but those who acted on the contrary have been branded with infamy and contempt. Joshua, the Judges, David, Solomon and Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Hezekiah and others, destroyed idolatry, erected altars, ordered the courses of the priests, built and repaired the temple, collected and disposed of money for those charges, caused the Passover and other religious duties to be celebrated, and wrought a glorious reformation in true religion, when the priests and Levites were negligent in their office. Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Darius, Artaxerxes, the King of Nineveh, Alexander the Great, and Seleucus, etc., made decrees through all their dominions to worship the true God; they set His people at liberty, ordered them to rebuild the temple to the Lord God of heaven, allowed timber, salt, and similar charges for the sacrifices out of their own treasury; they required the prayers of God’s people for themselves, their families and dominions, they protected them from their adversaries and appointed solemn fasts, etc. Lycurgus, Numa, and Solon made laws concerning religion in Athens, Rome, and Sparta; Timoleon, Augustus, and others rebuilt and endowed all the temples that had fallen into decay in Crete and about Rome. Judas Maccabeus repaired the breaches, purchased holy vessels and instruments for the service of the temple, pulled down the idols, and cleansed the sanctuary from the profanation of Antiochus Epiphanes, chose priests of a blameless conversation, and appointed an anniversary festival in commemoration of the reparation of the temple which our Saviour honoured with His own presence (John 10:22). Constantine published several edicts in favour of Christian religion, granting to all professors the free exercise of it; he destroyed the idol temples, restored the former places of worship to them, and built several magnificent churches and gave great gifts to them; he also commanded fine copies of the Bible to be made. When the heresy of Arius infected the Church, he assembled the first General Council at Nice, consisting of 318 bishops from all quarters of the empire. He banished Arius and burnt his books, he settled the time for the keeping of Easter, and made many good laws for the discipline and government of the Church. Theodosius, Justinian, and others of his successors thought it their duty to enact good laws for the establishment of the true religion. The British, Saxon, and English princes have been as active therein as other Christian monarchs, for King Lucius sent a letter to Eleutherins, Bishop of Rome, desiring his directions to make him a Christian; he also turned some heathen temples into Christian churches and built and endowed others at his own charges. Ethelbert kindly received and main tained Augustine and his companions, Edward the Confessor built and granted great privileges to the Abbey of Westminster, and made many excellent laws for the benefit and protection of the Church, which were rather the laws of his predecessors than those of his own making. William the Conqueror at his coronation took an oath that he should defend the Church of Christ, and all our monarchs have done the like. By Act of Parliament the sovereign is declared to be supreme Head of the Church, and has the glory of being described as Defender of the Faith. (Philoclesius.)

The commission of Artaxerxes

It indicated a spirit of--

I. Great reverence for God.

II. Profound respect for the law of God.

III. Sincere regard the worship of God.

IV. Hearty appreciation of the character of a good man. His liberal gifts may be exhibited as--

1. A rebuke to the parsimony of many Christians.

2. An example to all Christians. (William Jones.)

Verses 15. The Lord God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem.

Jevoah’s habitation

I. This holy alliance: “The God of Israel.” We have here--

1. A description of God and His Church. The “God of Israel” includes both. Israel His Church; and the God that claims it; a living God amidst a living people.

2. Infinitude associated with a royal seed. Israel signifies a prevailing prince before God.

3. A veritable portion on both sides. “The Lord’s portion is His people’; “The Lord is my portion, saith my soul.

4. The living connection between God and His people constitutes the stronghold of faith.

II. His habitation. He dwells--

1. In “the Jerusalem which is above.”

2. In the living Church of God which was typified by Jerusalem.

3. In the Jerusalem of every regenerated soul. (J. Irons.)