Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

Ezra was described as a “ready scribe in the law of Moses” (Ezra 7:6). The word “ready” means skilful. It means he was well versed in the knowledge of it, had studied it thoroughly, and was abundantly qualified to teach it to others.

The only way to understand the scripture is to be prepared to do it. Ezra was skilful because he had the right attitude: he prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD. It means he purposed in his heart, fixed it, and laboured to achieve it. What was his motivation? He wanted to be a better servant for God: He had the desire to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

A good preacher and bible class teacher is one who really knows the bible. Anyone can prepare a lesson and it is even simpler now to do it in this internet age. But not everyone can be a master teacher. A good teacher stands up from among the rest. Ezra was a rare breed and he stood up from among the thousands of preachers and teachers and it is because he had prepared his heart; he had set his mind and affections upon it, and made it his chief business.

How did Ezra prepare his heart? I do not have the answer; I wish he had told us. But then again, it should be common sense to all. How do you prepare for an examination?

Firstly, you must acknowledge that it is important. One reason why some are not putting an effort to study well is because they don’t think it is important. Is the knowledge of the bible important to you? “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29).

Secondly, you must have the desire to do well. If there is no desire, there will be no motivation. You must have the desire to excel in your studies before you put in the hard work. Do you desire to know the bible? “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

Thirdly, you must put in the hard work to do well. Ezra had prepared his heart; he fixed his heart on it and made it his chief business. If you want to excel in your examinations, you simply have to work hard. You may have to burn midnight oil and wake up very early in the morning. You may have to forego your football games and computer games and immerse yourself in your books. Getting to know the bible is done the same way; we simply have to spend time with the book. “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night” (Psalm 1:2).

Fourthly, you have to put your knowledge into practice. Ezra prepared his heart to seek the Law of God but he did not stop there; the record says: “and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments” (Ezra 7:10). Knowledge is dead and be lost if we do not do anything after acquiring it. It is true that the bible class teacher learns more than the students because he cannot teach everything in that short period of time given to him. Every morning when I exegete on just one verse to do this devotion, a lot of things come into my mind, even new things that I have never thought of after all these years of bible study, but I simply cannot write everything down. “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).

Lastly, you have to continue to improve. The Chinese has this proverb: “Huo Dao Lao, Xue Dao Lao”. It means, as we live and grow old, we should never stop learning. In every stage of our lives, there are more things to learn; one shouldn’t stop learning. There was a student who passed by his professor’s house every day in the early morning and saw him always hard at work reading, decided to ask him this question: “Sir, you already know so much; why are you still up so early to study?” The professor replied: “I want to be a living stream; not a dead pond.” A good preacher and bible class teacher is one who keeps improving himself through hard work. “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).

Do you want to be like Ezra? Then, prepare your heart, fixed it and study hard on the scriptures. Then, teach it and keep on studying. 

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.