“And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand…” (ESV)
Last time we saw Ezra comply and bring out the Revelation – the Book of the Law – to the congregation of men and women, all capable of listening with an intent to obey. Today we see where Ezra stood and part of the men who stood by his side.
Scribe Ezra stood (amad – take one’s stand) on a platform (migdal – tower, podium, watchtower) of wood (ets) which they had made (asah – accomplished) for that purpose (dabar – word, account, fulfillment). And stood (amad) beside (etsel – beside, near, with) him Mattithiah (“gift of Yah”), Shema (hearing, proclamation, fame, report), Anaiah (from anah – “Yah has answered”), Uriah (from ur – “flame of Yah”), Hilkiah (“my portion is Yah”), Maaseyah (“work of Yah”) on his right hand (yamin – hand)…
OR:
Ezra took his stand on a platform prepared for this word. And with him Gift of Yah, Fame, Yah has Answered, Flame of Yah, My Portion is Yah, and Work of Yah took their stand at Ezra’s right hand.
Were you as struck by those names as I was? Upon my first pass-through reading, I shut the laptop and muttered how I would get stuck in their meanings. Happily stuck.
But let’s chat about Ezra’s platform. If you remember, the people of Jerusalem have gathered during the 7th month of their calendar, the month of Tishri. We have talked on here before about this month’s significance. The beginning of the month (which spans the Gregorian calendar months of September and October), the people of Israel were to celebrate the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah), followed by the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) 10 days later. Rounding out the month of feasts is the Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles).
We will see special significance of the people learning more about these festivals and their duty, delight, in keeping them as our verses continue. For today, let’s focus on the Feast of Trumpets and the commanded national introspection. As a group, they were to think through whom they had sinned against and how it could be made right. In ten days, after being washed in the blood of the sacrifice, the priest was to enter the holy place and atone for the community’s sins.
Seems to me most nations could use some individual and communal introspection these days as well. Spending time thinking through wrongs we can make right, ways individual and systemic sins are perpetuated, acknowledgement of how we are complicit, and recognition of how society treats the most vulnerable would do much to usher in Shalom to our broken world.
It is significant Ezra was able to read the Revelation high on a platform, a watchtower, during such an important month in Israel’s history. And it had been specifically made for this purpose, prepared for this word. As we will see, national introspection does follow reading of the Book of the Law. Knowledge of our shortcomings usually calls for it.
I’ve been thinking about how Ezra’s platform clearly was large enough for multiple people. On either side of him were men also taking their stand. People whose names meant things like Yah has Answered and Flame of Yah.
Who are your people? Those willing to link arms and take their stand on Truth and Love? Those unafraid of climbing the watchtower with you to see where God is on the move?
As much as those friends mean to us, I have been reminded again this week they, too, are finite. Taking our stand together is beautiful. But making sure the platform belongs to the Only One worthy Who goes with us all the way is essential.
Let’s link arms with those He’s given us and take our stand.