Neville Goddard on Ezra 7:11-26 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read Ezra 7 in context

Scripture Focus

11Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.

12Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.

13I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.

14Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;

15And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,

16And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:

17That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.

18And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.

19The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.

20And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house.

21And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,

22Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.

23Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

24Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.

25And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.

26And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

Ezra 7:11-26

Biblical Context

Ezra 7:11-26 records Artaxerxes’ decree granting Ezra authority, resources, and legal protection to oversee Judah’s return and to govern by the law of the God of heaven. It ties royal support to obedience to the commandments and the covenant of Israel.

Neville's Inner Vision

View this decree as your inner I AM speaking through Artaxerxes. The royal letter is not a relic of politics; it is the living assurance that the God of heaven is awake to your needs and has granted you authority to proceed in alignment with divine order. Ezra, the priest-scribe, stands for an awakened mind that knows the law and translates insight into action; the house of God becomes the temple of your own consciousness where offerings—focus, energy, and intention—are placed on the altar of attention. The gold and silver, the vessels, and the wine are symbolic of your inner resources made available to sustain sacred work; when you accept them, you empower your projects with purpose and momentum. The directive that no tolls may be laid upon your inner ministers signals freedom from limitation as you obey divine law. The command to judge by the law and to teach those who know not the law points to a self-education process: you train your future thoughts by present discipline. Presence of God is the state of awareness that fills the room of your mind; covenant loyalty is your daily choice to act from that awareness, regardless of outer appearances. This is not history; it is your inner appointment with creation.

Practice This Now

Imaginative act: Close your eyes, assume the decree is already yours: you have all resources and protection to fulfill your sacred task. Feel yourself walking in Jerusalem's temple of mind, and repeat, 'The God of heaven is my present guide; I act now in accord with divine law.'