By the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God

Ezra 8:1-36

These are the family heads and those registered with them who came up with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes:

I assembled them at the canal that flows toward Ahava, and we camped there three days. When I checked among the people and the priests, I found no Levites there.

I ordered them to go to Iddo, the leader in Kasiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and his fellow Levites, the temple servants in Kasiphia, so that they might bring attendants to us for the house of our God. Because the gracious hand of our God was on us, they brought us Sherebiah, a capable man, from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah’s sons and brothers, 18 in all; and Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and nephews, 20 in all. They also brought 220 of the temple servants—a body that David and the officials had established to assist the Levites. All were registered by name.

There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.

So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, namely, Sherebiah, Hashabiah and ten of their brothers, and I weighed out to them the offering of silver and gold and the articles that the king, his advisers, his officials and all Israel present there had donated for the house of our God. 

On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way. So we arrived in Jerusalem, where we rested three days.

They also delivered the king’s orders to the royal satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, who then gave assistance to the people and to the house of God.

Why?

Ezra under grace proclaimed a fast, the Lord protected them safely returned from exile, and came to Jerusalem. safely and they may return to the promised land with the protection of King's army. Fast is humbling ourselves to serve the Lord.

Ezra served the Lord and led the people of Isreal with order and he searched the Levits for servants of the Temple. Set apart twelve of the leading priest and bring the offering of silver and gold and the articles that the king, advisers, officials and all Israel present to the house of the Lord.

How?

Serve the Lord needs wisdom and humility to do everything.