“For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel” Ezra 7:10

“Ezra was God’s prophet, the second of three key leaders to leave Babylon for the reconstruction of Jerusalem. Zerubbabel was first, then Ezra, and then Nehemiah. Zerubbabel reconstructed the temple, Nehemiah rebuilt the walls, and Ezra restored the worship.

Any person who has tackled the task of presenting the Bible to people will find a friend in Ezra. He was a student. He was an interpreter. In fact, the clearest Old Testament reference to exposition is attributed to Ezra. He was the head of the Levites who “read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read” (Nehemiah 8:8).

Don’t you appreciate that last phrase, “making it clear . . . so that the people understood . . .”? Don’t you appreciate the person who can take the Word and reveal it for your life? Perhaps you can do that. If so, stay faithful. There is no higher task.

Perhaps you have a teacher like that. If so, be grateful. There is no greater friend.”         –Max Lucado, Introduction to Ezra, Encouraging Word Bible

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Even though people are unfaithful to God; God is faithful to His Word. For the nation of Israel, for at least forty years, the prophet Jeremiah had warned the leaders of Judah that the Babylonian exile was inevitable (see Jer. 20:4–6; 21:7–10).  Jeremiah begged and pleaded with the Israelites to repent of their sins and surrender to Babylon. Only then could they save the city of Jerusalem and the temple from ruin. But the leaders didn’t listen; in fact, they called Jeremiah a traitor—and the holy city and the temple were destroyed in 587–586 B.C. Jeremiah wept; but God knew what would happen next.

God had not given up His authority or His love for His people during their exile due to disobedience to God.  “This is what the Lord says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:10-11.

Ezra 1

Cyrus Helps the Exiles to Return

In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:

² “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:

“‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. ³ Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. ⁴ And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’”

⁵ Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. ⁶ All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings.

⁷ Moreover, King Cyrus brought out the articles belonging to the temple of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his god. ⁸ Cyrus king of Persia had them brought by Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.

⁹ This was the inventory:

¹¹ In all, there were 5,400 articles of gold and of silver. Sheshbazzar brought all these along with the exiles when they came up from Babylon to Jerusalem.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God moved the heart of the king of Persia, an unbeliever, to rescue the hardened hearts of His people who were held in captivity in Babylonia.  There was a remnant of people who still believed—even in captivity.  God is amazing! God does what only God can do—rescue us from our own selfish rebellion against him.  The remnant is rescued to go home and rebuild all that they had given up in rebellion against God—with the bonus of offerings given from their neighbors!  Our God’s  compassion for us; they fail not and His mercy is astounding. Lamentations 3:22-23 records this truth of His character that does not change.  We learn that God’s deep mercy, lovingkindness, and tender care for people are endless, don’t run out, and are renewed every single morning, offering constant hope and a reason to trust Him even in suffering. Are you encouraged by these words this morning?  I am!

What Cyrus did twenty-five centuries ago reminds us today of some important spiritual truths. God is faithful to His covenant. In spite of their sins, these exiles were God’s chosen people and children of the covenant He had made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12:1–3). The nation had broken the covenant, but the Lord had remained faithful to His Word.

“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:21-24

Lord,

You are my everything.  I give myself back to you as an offering.  All I am, warts and all, I give You to use for your glory.  Even today, may your glory be seen in me.  You are my portion—all I need to live eternal life to the full. 

In Jesus Name, Amen