The book of Ezra continues the history lesson of Israel documenting the return from Babylonian captivity and the rebuilding of the destroyed city of Jerusalem. It is a book of transition and spiritual renewal. I see many similarities to beginning the Christian life as an adult. One thing that stands out to me is the fact that the 70 years of captivity in Babylon are essentially skipped over (although it is covered later in other books). Far too many people live their Christian lives looking back rather than looking ahead. At the moment we receive God’s forgiveness, the debt of our sin is paid in full. God says to us, “I am He who blots out your transgressions, for My own sake, and remembers your sins no more” (Isaiah 43:25). The first step in living in joy is to focus on the new life. The chapter begins, “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“. It is clear that this Persian king was obedient to God’s will. It is not our nagging, preaching or brilliance, but God’s Spirit that changes people’s heart!
Cyrus gave this proclamation, “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“. The next important lesson for new believers to learn is God can change our circumstances. Cyrus continued, “Anyone of His people among you… let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel“. The king even took a freewill offering to supply all their needs, “All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold“. But notice not everyone accepted the first invitation to go, “Everyone whose heart God had moved prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem“. Is God moving in your heart?
The chapter ends with another cool reminder. “King Cyrus brought out the articles belonging to the temple of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away“. When we have been living “in captivity”, we sometimes feel like we have lost something forever. God can restore relationships and hope and even health and wealth, but our ultimate destination is heaven. I think most of what we believe to be so valuable will matter little in Eternity. It is interesting to note the inventory of items being returned included dishes and bowls of silver and gold. “In all, there were 5,400 articles of gold and of silver. Sheshbazzar brought all these along when the exiles came up from Babylon to Jerusalem“. These items were stored in a pagan temple all those years and perhaps even used degrading ways. But once they were returned to use in God’s Temple they became sacred articles once again. Likewise, when we begin to serve the purpose for which we were created, we become holy instruments. The apostle Paul expresses our purpose this way, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life” (1 Timothy 15). You are precious to God!