Ezra 8:22

For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.

Cross-references

Ezra 8:18 Parallel

Ezra 8:18 uses the same phrase 'the good hand of our God on us,' confirming the principle Ezra stated about God's favor on seekers.

Ezra 8:31 Parallel

Ezra 8:31 reports the fulfillment: God's hand protected them from enemies, exactly as Ezra trusted in v.22.

Ezra 7:6 Historical context

In Ezra 7:6, the hand of God was on Ezra himself – the same divine favor he relies on here for all who seek him.

Ezra 7:9 Historical context

Ezra 7:9 credits Ezra's safe journey to the good hand of God – the protection he trusts in here without an armed escort.

Ezra 5:5 Parallel

Ezra 5:5 notes 'the eye of their God was on the elders,' echoing Ezra's confidence that God's hand is for good on those who seek Him.

1 Chronicles 28:9 uses the same condition: seeking God brings his presence, forsaking brings rejection – exactly the principle Ezra states here.

2 Chronicles 15:2 uses identical language: God is with those who seek Him and forsakes those who forsake Him, directly echoing Ezra's confession.

Lamentations 3:25 directly mirrors the promise of God's goodness to those who seek Him, confirming the first half of Ezra's statement.

Joshua 24:20 warns that forsaking God brings harm, directly mirroring Ezra's statement that God's wrath is against those who forsake Him.

Nehemiah 2:7 shows Nehemiah requesting letters from the king for safe passage, contrasting with Ezra's refusal to ask for human escort.

Nehemiah 2:9 confirms the king sent officers and horsemen with Nehemiah, directly opposing Ezra's decision to rely solely on God.

2 Chronicles 16:9 says God's eyes support the blameless – mirroring Ezra's claim that God's hand is for good on seekers.

Psalm 33:18 Parallel

Psalm 33:18 says the Lord's eye is on those who fear him – parallel to Ezra's trust that God's hand is on those who seek him.

Psalm 34:15 Parallel

Psalm 34:15 affirms God's attention to the righteous – consistent with Ezra's confidence that God's hand is good for seekers.