Day 270: God's Favor with Ezra (2026)
September 27, 2026
AI Summary
5 min readGod's Favor and the Shape of True Devotion
On day 270 of the Bible in a Year journey, Father Mike Schmitz walks through Ezra 7–8, Zechariah 7–8, and Proverbs 20:12–15, drawing attention to the figure of Ezra and a central tension in Zechariah's prophecy about fasting. Roughly sixty years have passed since the events of Ezra 6, and a second wave of exiles is returning to Jerusalem under Ezra's leadership. The first wave was marked by Zerubbabel; the third will be marked by Nehemiah. But Ezra's arrival brings something distinctive: remarkable favor from the Persian king Artaxerxes, and a model of what it means to hold Scripture with seriousness.
Ezra's Threefold Commitment
Father Mike highlights Ezra 7:10 as the key to understanding the man. "Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach his statutes and ordinances in Israel." That is three distinct movements, and Father Mike emphasizes that Ezra did not stop at study. He studied in order to live it, and he lived it in order to pass it on. "He studied it in order to do it, in order for that to actually change his own life," Father Mike says. "And that's remarkable."
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What you'll learn
- 1 (01:01) **Episode Introduction & Reading Plan** - Fr. Mike introduces the podcast, the day's readings (Ezra 7-8, Zechariah 7-8, Proverbs 20:12-15), and notes that Ezra and Nehemiah were originally one scroll.
- 2 (01:37) **Ezra 7: Arrival and Favor of Ezra** - The reading of Ezra chapter 7, where Ezra, a scribe and priest from Aaron's line, travels from Babylon to Jerusalem with the king's support.
- 3 (06:16) **Ezra 8: The Return Journey** - The reading of Ezra chapter 8, detailing the genealogy of those returning, the recruitment of Levites, and the journey back to Jerusalem.
- 4 (11:25) **Zechariah 7: Hypocritical Fasting Condemned** - The reading of Zechariah chapter 7, where God challenges the people's fasting practices.
- 5 (13:20) **Zechariah 8: Restoration and Joyful Fasting** - The reading of Zechariah chapter 8, where God promises to restore Jerusalem and turn fasts into feasts.
- 6 (16:58) **Proverbs 20:12-15** - The reading of Proverbs, emphasizing that the hearing ear and seeing eye are made by the Lord, and that the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
- 7 (17:24) **Closing Prayer** - Fr. Mike prays for awareness of God's constant and faithful love, asking for help to receive it daily.
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Show Notes
Fr. Mike explains how God’s favor was with Ezra because he set his heart to study God's laws, to obey his laws, and to teach his laws to others. We also learn about hypocritical fasting, and how our sacrifices should remind us that everything ultimately belongs to God at all times. Today's readings are Ezra 7-8, Zechariah 7-8, and Proverbs 20:12-15.
For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear.
Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
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