Testimony in Troublous Times

by Ian McKee (Northern Ireland)

Paper 15 — Retaining Worth and Weight in Testimony (Ezra Chapter 8.24-36)

The two priests mentioned in Ezra 8.2 evidently brought with them a considerable number of kinsmen as Ezra separates twelve of the chief of the priests in addition to twelve Levites already mentioned in Ezra 8.18,19. These were selected to be guardians for precious things, "silver and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God," Ezra 8.25.

These officially designated guardians were sufficient in number to know that the energy and exercise of each would provide encouragement and protection for them all. Indeed the task that lay before them resembled the tasks allocated to the sons of Kohath, Gershon and Merari in Num.5. There was no self-selection for specific tasks; all was allocated by another. But each must now, as then, become familiar with worth and weight. And this was immense. Ezra weighed into their hands 22 tonnes of silver and over 3 tonnes of silver vessels. He also weighed over 3 tonnes of gold, 8.5 kilograms of golden vessels plus 2 brazen vessels of golden brilliancy that were as desirable as gold. Yet the combined value could not be calculated in pure economic terms. The value of exercise in giving by saints enhanced the monetary value. So did the goodwill expressed by the civil powers. The true value could only be calculated by the assessment of heaven.

While the 24 men tasked with this onerous responsibility were all of the lineage of Levi, an additional criterion applied. Holiness. They were set apart for a distinct purpose. The vessels are holy also and the silver and the gold. So persons and possessions are both holy. The men selected, therefore, must answer in personal character to the public task they must perform. God will not entrust special tasks to men of dubious worth.

A severe charge is then laid upon them. "Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the Lord," Ezra 8.29. Not only had they witnessed a day of weighing, but also they would be present on a coming day of reweighing under a severe and discriminating scrutiny! Care must therefore be given to ensure that nothing is lost, mislaid or stolen. Full account must be given of stewardship. It is incumbent that those entrusted with the holy vessels should ensure that sufficient of their number are awake and on duty at any time. They must not be naïve or gullible in discharging their responsibility. And they must have sufficient witness to each transaction.

That the faithfulness of these men will be assessed by the weight delivered "in the chambers of the house of the Lord" is reminiscent of the lesson of the wagons in Num.7. The princes of Israel offered six covered wagons for the service of the tabernacle. Natural reasoning may have suggested an equitable division among the Levites. But instead two wagons were given unto the sons of Gershon, four wagons were given unto the sons of Merari and "unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders," Num.7.9. Kohathites were to feel the full weight of the testimony and show all due care for "they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die," Num.4.15. Too many believers assess the worth of testimony by wrong criteria: by counting numbers, by physical dimensions or in financial terms. But we serve the God who measures by weight at the commencement and, again, at the close of our service. Sadly, the service of many is in large volume, low value and combustible material. Fewer specialise in high value, low volume and durable material, 1Cor.3.11-15.

Accepting their onerous responsibility, the priests and Levites depart "from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lie in wait by the way," Ezra 8.31. In spite of prevalent danger and the potential for attack, God preserved His servants along some 900 miles of the caravan route until they "came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days," Ezra 8.32. Thus they had three days of rest at the start of their journey (8.15) and now at its end. There would be relief, rest, rejoicing and reunion. And this was followed by review on the fourth day with "the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites," Ezra 8.33.

Ezra was not to be the judge of his own service. Another priestly man is responsible to assess his faithfulness. So he weighs in the house of God the value of Ezra’s faithful service. This suggests a foretaste of the judgment seat of Christ where value and weight of service will count, rather than apparent success. This should sober us all, and particularly those who preach to sinners and teach the saints.

So the vessels were both weighed and counted and an accredited inventory prepared of all that was delivered, Ezra 8.34. While this may have been required by Artaxerxes it was nevertheless good practice even without a legal imperative. In this there is a practical lesson for those today that discharge financial matters in co-operation with other faithful men. "Let all things be done decently and in order," 1Cor.14.40, is a comprehensive principle. Also relevant is the parallel with Paul’s writings to the Corinthian assembly relative to both the collection for the poor and regarding the messengers: "Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men," 2Cor.8.21. It is vital to ensure that good practice is both done and is seen to be done!

Those who returned with Ezra were not forgetful to give God His portion by offering unto the God of Israel, Ezra 8.35. This implemented the command of Artaxerxes, Ezra 7.17. But it is commendable that they who sought God’s face for protection at the start of their journey remembered to return to give God glory at its end. Their expression of gratitude embraces the whole of Israel both in burnt and sin offerings. And only after spiritual matters were attended to did they address the secular. "And they delivered the king’s commissions unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God," Ezra 8.36. Their loyalty to the civil and military powers was evident. But it was demonstrably subordinate to their reverence for God. This provides another vital lesson for us today.

—to be continued (D.V.)