For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to the teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.  Ezra 7:10

Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion.  Beside him on his right stood Mattihiah, Shema, Ananiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.  Nehemiah 8:4

Glorify a moment by remembering and understanding its unique importance as a smidgen of time.  Returning home with diamond tears blurring vision, a vision of their once destroyed capitol rapidly reconstructed by the flesh of their own hands.  An instant where each knew God, not only understanding the lore about him, but actually seeing his masterful hand bring them back again from slavery.  And in this priceless instant you would guess that none would miss a single glimpse, utterance or passing breeze.  Yet we have demonstrated weak observation skills.  For who is it that stands to his right and left but men who shared in the captivities of Babylon and Persia.

Numbered among them is one so conspicuously anonymous.  Again we seem perplexed, nonplussed and unaffected.  This man is one of three who were thrown into the raging furnace for refusal to bow to a certain bronze statue.  Now it dawns, oh Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego, which were their pagan names forced upon them, covering their true Jewish names of Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.  Mishael had made it home through the entire ordeal, even when Daniel remained to die and be buried in Persia.  This is the nature of God’s promise, that we will all make it home someday, some sooner and others following after a time, but none shall be lost for we serve the Good Shepherd.

And on that day, not unlike this fine day of return to rebuilt Jerusalem we will worship the Lord with our faces on the cobbles thankful to call him our King.  Whomever says that they have read the Bible through and thus are fully prepared, let them be reminded of this piece of hidden manna.  Mysteries remain in this Living Word given by God.  It is the nature of God to conceal a thing it is the nature of kings to find them out, proverbs.

Will you stumble across new revelation when reading God’s Word?  Absolutely thus is the reward to walking with the Spirit of God through the garden of His direction.  These men were taken into captivity for forgetting to remember God’s Will.  Now the first thing they could think to do upon being returned to the city of grace was to read and reflect upon His Word for days upon end.  It is the true food made for fulfilling our spiritual hunger.  Praising God for His Word and His Promise should take our first ten thousand years or so in heaven.  I look forward to what comes after that.  I love you Lord and I love you my Brothers and Sisters.  Be well in Christ Jesus the King.  May He fill your heart with mystery and abundance through His riches and glory.  Amen.