Ezra 2:3

There are several interesting things to notice in the record. The first is that the list exists at all. That shows how precious to God was the response which His grace had produced in the hearts of His people, however feebly they may have entered into His thoughts about His house. For this reason He has caused this list to be preserved. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work, and that the very names of His people are known and proclaimed. This encourages everyone to walk in His ways, to be identified with His interests, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and falling away.

Still, is it not a precious truth that God takes pleasure in letting His people know that every one of them is prized by Him? A sad change had come through Israel's sin, through Judah's sin, and not least through the sin of David's house. Sin gives occasion to His grace, but it cannot be without man's humiliation, and faith takes account of both. But God always waits to bless, and to give His own the proof and sense of His blessing. We see this even in the numbering of those who returned from Babylon.

So we see that the remnant are watchful to stand plainly and clearly as sons of the covenant. Descent by natural birth, in the line of promise, mattered as much to them as being born of God matters to the Christian. Never before had such jealous care been necessary, and it was needed most in the priests, as we shall see. But it was true of the people too: none but Israelites can be allowed to build a temple to the God of Israel.

This very long chapter consists mainly of lists of names, most of them completely unknown to us. But God is pleased to take account of those who took this great step, those who went up out of the captivity, to Jerusalem (v. 1).

"How can a minority be right? When Israel left Egypt, they were 600,000 men plus families. When they entered the land of Canaan, they were about the same number. Since then the people must have grown. And now there are just 43,000 who think Jerusalem is the place to be."

But faith does not look to the numbers for guidance; it looks at God's word.

Dear saint of God, where are you? What feast are you keeping? Are the Lord's interests first, or your own? Your name may be in the Lamb's Book of Life. Every redeemed sinner's name is there, all of grace and mercy for Christ's sake alone. But does your name also have a place in what answers to Ezra 2?