Ezra 6-7

“The king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him” (7:6).  Ezra the priest was granted permission to leave Babylon, taking singers, priests and Levites, and return to Jerusalem.  He had “set his heart to study the Law of the LORD” and to teach it.  The Persian king encouraged Ezra’s plan, commanding him to appoint judges who knew God’s Law and to encourage obedience to Israel’s God.

Ezra’s heart was set on teaching God’s law, and God used the dominating Persian king to accomplish this.  The “God whose dwelling is in Jerusalem” (7:15) is bigger than we imagine, able to use all circumstances to bring about good.