(REFLECTIONS ON Ezra 2:1-70)

61 And from among the priests: The descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name). 62 These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 63 The governor ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.

As we read the list of men that returned to Jerusalem and Judah, it is amazing that there were such clear records of who was the descendent of whom. However, even though such immaculate record keeping was kept, we see that there were certain people, the descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai where their family records could not be found.

These, although claiming to be descendants of priests, were excluded from the priesthood as unclean and ordered not to eat any of the most sacred food until there was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.

The Urim and Thummim were parts of the garment that the high priest wore while ministering to the Lord, and it was believed that requests or inquiries could be made of the Lord through the Urim and Thummim. Although this exclusion from the priesthood seemed temporary until the Lord could be sought, there is actually no evidence that the Urim and Thummim were ever found.

Fortunately, for us, we don’t rely on the Urim and Thummim, or any other physical object in order for us to pray and inquire of the Lord. Thankfully we also don’t have to depend on our record keeping skills, and physical records to prove that we are part of God’s kingdom, or that we are sons and daughters of the Lord Most High.

Sure, perhaps we have baptism records, but that piece of paper isn’t what Jesus will be looking for as an entrance into the kingdom. What is important rather is the Lord’s record keeping. In the Book of Revelation 20:12, 15, we read about the book of life,

12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Yes, we will all have our deepest and darkest secrets clearly written in the books, but our hope is in God’s grace and mercy. Our hope is that through our belief and trust in Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, that our names are written in another book, the book of life.

Although we also deserve to be judged according to what we have done as recorded in the books, but the book of life is our saving grace and will serve as the ultimate record of our true identity in Christ. We are again reminded through today’s Scripture of the flaws inherit in humanity, and it is in seeing these flaws and the impact they have on Israel that help us to understand why Jesus Christ’s sacrifice was necessary in order to make up for our deficiencies.

We are also reminded today that if things depended solely on our own record keeping that there could be mistakes and errors along the way, however in the Lord’s book of life there is no uncertainty or confusion.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Ezra 2