Throughout the old covenant, priests were necessary to represent the people before God and make atonement for sin. However, past priests were not sinless, and so could not fully pay for the sins of their fellow man. Jesus WAS perfect, which is why he was the perfect priest and sacrifice, to atone for our sins and represent humanity. Fully God & fully Man!

Ezra was approached by the nations leaders who shared the negative behaviors and lifestyles of the people. It was as if they had forgotten God. Ezra's response of honest confession before a holy God ought to teach us something about his character and about our need to do likewise. Ezra confessed the sins of the nation to God through prayer and sought forgiveness. Ezra took his sin seriously, asked for repentance and celebrated God's grace .

This weekend we start a new unit with King Joash. Joash became king at age of seven. One incredible detail about King Joash is how he is described in 2 Kings 12:2: "Throughout the time the priest Jehoiada instructed him, Joash did what was right in the LORD's sight.”