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Chapter 1. Homeward Bound !!
For ten years (1981–1990) it was my privilege to conduct 98 “Walk Thru the Bible” Seminars. And one thing that has been impressed upon me time and time again is the ignorance of so many Christians concerning the Babylonian exile.
People know the story of the Jews in Egypt well
enough – bricks without straw – Moses in the bulrushes – and all that!
But start talking about Nebuchadnezzar’s invasions
and Zerubbabel’s leadership and the blank faces reveal what words need not
tell.
Besides which, at the close of an Old Testament
seminar there will be many who admit that for the first time they have
understood this sequence of events.
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In 606 BC Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, had
attacked the tiny state of Judah – and taken some prisoners (including Daniel,
incidentally) back to Babylon.
Then in 586 BC he led his armies across for the
third time (the second attack was about 10 years previously), and this time the
rest of the inhabitants were taken into exile.
Solomon’s magnificent temple was destroyed, the
walls of Jerusalem were broken down, King Zedekiah had his eyes put out – it
was indeed a sorry day in Jewish history.
But they had no-one to blame except themselves. The prophets had warned them over and over
again. The Babylonians were God’s
instrument to chastise His people. They
had despised His laws, broken His Sabbaths, oppressed the poor and perverted
justice.
Thus it was in 586 BC that Jerusalem was left a
smouldering ruin occupied only by “the poor of the land”, who later went to
Egypt.
………………………………………..
So the Babylonian exile dragged on. Psalm 137
records how these home-sick Jews wept by the rivers of Babylon as they
remembered Zion. The soldiers asked them to sing one of their Jewish songs –
but “how can we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?” was their reply.
For 70 years this exile lasted, and then Cyrus the
Great, King of Persia, appeared on the scene.
The story of Babylon’s overthrow is recorded for us in Daniel chapter 5.
And Cyrus has a different ‘foreign policy’ to that
of the Babylonian kings.
…………………………………………
1. The
Proclamation of Cyrus
Here it is – right in the opening verses of Ezra:
“Thus saith Cyrus – the Lord God of heaven has charged me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, in Judah!” - and any of the Jews who desire to return to their homeland may do so! (Ezra 1:1-4).
Whereas the Babylonian kings said we will rule over
them in our land, Cyrus permits the exiles to return and he will appoint
governors over them in their own land.
Interestingly enough, in 1880 an archaeologist found
“the Cyrus Cylinder”, which reveals that such was the ‘foreign policy’ of this
Persian monarch.
And Josephus, the Jewish historian, adds his
testimony that it was the prophecy of Isaiah (45:1 – which mentioned Cyrus by
name, and was penned 150 years prior to his birth!) – which led him to act so
favourably toward the captives of Babylon (Antiquities of the Jews, Book
XI).
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2. The
Prophecy of Jeremiah
This man of God lived on the other side of the exile
– he was there when the soldiers of Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple and
emptied the land. His Book of Lamentations is a sad reminder of that time. But Jeremiah also foretold this ‘Babylonian
exile’ – and not only the exile, but its duration.
“This land, Judea, shall be desolate,” he
cried. “The Lord will bring
Nebuchadnezzar, His Servant, against us. And we will be in exile for 70 years!” (Jeremiah 25:9-11).
And thus it was.
From the first attack (606 BC) to the Decree of Cyrus (536 BC) was the
exact fulfilment of Jeremiah’s inspired prediction.
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3. The
Person of Sheshbazzar
In Ezra 1:8, 11, Sheshbazzar is spoken of as the
leader of the 50,000 Jews who plan to return and rebuild their beloved
Jerusalem. But in Ezra 2:2 the leader of the group is Zerubbabel.
(How many times have I paused in my Walk Thru the
Bible seminar and asked the audience:
“How many of you have ever heard about Zerubbabel?” Those who have responded are a pitifully
small number.)
But wait a minute!
Is this a contradiction in God’s Word?
Who led the Jews back to the Promised Land? Sheshbazzar – or Zerubbabel?
Some have suggested that these are two names for the
same individual. Just like Daniel had
another name given to him in Babylon (Daniel 1:7). Such is the Amplified Bible’s comment on Ezra 1:8. Others (and
this appeals to me as the better explanation) say that Sheshbazzar died, and
Zerubbabel took his place (Exile and Return, by C.F. Pfieffer, p. 105).
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4. The
Pilgrimage of Israel
Here they go – with happy hearts – 50,000 exiles
returned to their homeland. Those who remain (possibly two million) shower them
with gifts (1:6). The “vessels from the
House of the Lord” taken by Nebuchadnezzar are restored (1:7). There is no
mention of the Ark of the Covenant being with them … or restored. What happened to it? The Apocrypha suggests that it was hidden by
Jeremiah in a cave.
Weird and wonderful stories have circulated ever
since as to its present hiding place.
But let’s not get side-tracked on such speculations.
………………………………….
What we have here is a delightful illustration of
the Gospel.
(a) BONDAGE … Like the Jews, we were in
bondage to the prince of this world.
(b) DELIVERANCE …As Cyrus set the captives
free, so did King Jesus. And we might
add that Cyrus was foretold by name before his birth by the prophet Isaiah, and
so was the Lord Jesus (Isaiah 7:14).
(c) BLESSINGS … What they had lost is now
returned. And so much more. These Jews leave the land of bondage laden
with precious things – “5,400 vessels of gold and silver” (1:9-11).
And we are ‘set free’ – not just be restored to what
we lost in Adam’s fall, but to be so much ‘better off’ than if he had never
sinned in the first place! If I may paraphrase Romans 5:15 – “there is no
comparison between the depths of which Adam’s sin dragged us down and the
heights to which our Lord’s grace has lifted us” – “not as the offence, so also
is the free gift!” No comparison
between the two!
“In Him the tribes of Adam
boast more blessings than their father lost” (I. Watts).
(d) NAMED
… Just as the returning
Israelites had their names recorded in God’s Book (see Ezra 2 for one of those
lists that you jump in your daily readings!) – so our names are recorded in
God’s heavenly book! (Revelation 3:5).
One commentator describes Ezra 2 as “a specimen page from the Book of
Life.”
(e) REJOICING … One can almost hear the
50,000 singing – “we’re marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion …” But Isaac Watts had not written it
then! However, we can sing it. For we, too, are on a pilgrimage – heading for
the Jerusalem which is above.
Let those refuse to sing who
never knew our God;
But children of the Heavenly
King must shout His joys abroad!
Amen!
D.P.
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Chapter 2. Lessons in an Unlikely Place
The exiles have returned from their 70 year
captivity in Babylon. They have come
back to a ghost town – “haunted by the atrocities of pagan soldiers”, is how
one write puts it. One can hardly imagine the emotions of this faithful 50,000
as they sort through the overgrown rubble of what used to be their homes. At
least, that would be true of the older ones among those returned refugees. No doubt there were many in that group who
had been born in captivity. But oh! The
heartache and anguish for those who remembered Jerusalem as it had been in days
gone by.
There are a number of lessons which present themselves
to us in this seemingly irrelevant second chapter.
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This great catalogue of names and numbers is inspired of God.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration,” writes Paul – and that
includes Ezra 2!
Indeed there was a time when Ezra 2 was of supreme
importance. The returned exiles wanted
to know their family groups. Some
wanted to know if they were eligible for priestly duties – but “their register
was not found, therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood…” (Ezra
2:62).
Alas, there are those who make an outward show of
faith and who journey with the Lord’s people today – heading for the heavenly
Jerusalem – but who will find their names are unrecorded in the Lamb’s Book of
Life.
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(2) A Lesson in Confirmation
How the critics love to take every opportunity to
attack God’s Word!
A case in point is found in Ezra 2:69: “They gave 61,000 drams (or darics) of
gold.”
C.C. Torrey once argued that this was an error in
the Bible – that such a coin was unknown at this time. But Merril Unger writes: “Archaeological evidence now shows that the
Attic drachma was in use as a standard coin in Palestine from the middle of the
5th century BC on. In the
excavations at Beth-zur, six drackmas belonging to the Persian period were
unearthed in 1931 …” (Archaeology and the Old Testament, p.305).
Again, the spade has confirmed the Scripture and
silenced the critic.
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When the numbers are totalled up we find that 4,349
priests returned (2:36-39) … but only 74 Levites (2:40)! There should have been about 7,000 to serve the number of exiles …. so why did only
74 offer to return ?
Could it be that they were unwilling to play ‘second
fiddle’ to the sons of Aaron? After all, the Levites were the priests’
helpers. They were like the ‘deacons’
and ‘elders’ to the pastor. If they remained in Babylon there was every chance
of making good in the world of business, but in Palestine they would be
servants to the priests!
One wonders if Psalm 84:10 was penned by one of the
Godly Levites: “I had rather be a
doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness…”
There are too many ‘sons of Ono’ (Ezra 2:33) in Christian service – you ask them to sweep the floor or give out the hymnbooks or hand out leaflets in the shopping centre, and they reply, “Oh, No!” They refuse to sing in the choir, unless they sing the solo part. They refuse to join the board if they are not elected as chairman.
Like the Levites of old, they choose to stay in
Babylon rather than do menial tasks as the priestly assistant. But God has
called the Levites to this task (Numbers 3). And the Levite faithful in the
duty God has given him would be rewarded equally as the priest who was faithful
to his God-appointed ministry. Both
were equally precious in the Lord’s eyes.
Even 29 knives (Ezra 1:9) are itemised. Even the hairs of one’s head are
numbered. He notes the cup of cold
water given in His name, and He is ready to bless the faithful servants – be
their task great or small.
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(4) A
Lesson in Expectation
We turn the clock back some 70 years to when
Jerusalem was under attack by the hordes of Nebuchadnezzar. The final siege had begun. And Hanameel visited his cousin, the prophet
Jeremiah.
Would Jeremiah care to purchase the family plot of
land at Anathoth? (Jeremiah 32:7)?
Mind you, at this stage it was already overrun by
Babylonian soldiers and the future existence of Judah seemed precarious indeed.
No-one but a fool would buy it – or a man of faith – and Jeremiah was just such
a man, for he saw beyond the exile. He
had predicted that in 70 years’ time the Jews would be back in their land
(Jeremiah 25:11). So the transaction took place and the land was purchased by
God’s prophet in an act whereby he ‘puts his money where his mouth is’! He said
that the Jews would return one day, so he bought the deeds to Anathoth, the
land of his ancestors. Now they are back and in Ezra 2:23 we read the
fulfilment of Jeremiah’s prophecy: “The
men of Anathoth, 128 of them…”
Like Jeremiah, we too can look beyond the days of
tribulation that seem to loom ominously ahead.
Crime, vandalism, AIDS, wars – beyond it all we see “a land that is
fairer than day”, and we confidently assert that one day our expectation will
likewise be fulfilled. The day is
coming when we will enter the homeland that has been purchased for us.
D.P.
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Chapter
3. Recipe for Revival
If ever there was a formula for blessing, it is found in the first 11 verses of Ezra 3. Here they are – 50,000 of them – back in their beloved homeland, or should we say, what’s left of it! Homes are gone, streets are covered with rocks and thorns, the temple and palace are in ruins. But this is the land God gave to their ancestors, and they are home in it ready to rebuild.
Notice five things about them:
What was the first thing to erect? Their homes? No! “They builded the
altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings thereon” (Ezra 3:2).
hey were saying ‘Thanks’ to the God who had done so much for them, and
rededicating themselves afresh to Him.
Their priorities were right!
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When God’s people squabble among themselves, nothing
is built to His glory. Fellowship was an integral part of the apostolic church
as they joined together in ‘one accord’ (Acts 2:46).
In Africa, a child was lost in the tall grass. The men of the tribe searched fruitlessly
until darkness fell. Next day they
tried a different method. A long line
of natives held hands as they made their way through the grass.
The child was found, but he was dead. “If only,” said the chief, “if only we had
held hands sooner.” And we need to say
to fellow believers – as Jehu spoke to Jehonadab – “is thine heart right… If it be, give me thine hand” (II Kings
10:15).
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They offered the sacrifices – “as it is written” (3:2). They kept the feast of tabernacles that was
due – “as it was written” (3:4). We have just seen that these people
were united, and that is a basic necessity if we are to enjoy God’s
blessings. But they did not
unite with the Samaritans (chapter 4) or any other nation that did not go by
the Book. Our unity is based upon the
fundamental truths of the Faith once delivered unto the saints.
The early believers were in “one accord” we noted
(Acts 2:46), but that unity was based upon the “apostles’ doctrine” (Acts
2:42). Their activity was Scriptural!
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“Everyone … willingly offered a freewill offering
unto the Lord”
(3:5). I recall, in my early Christian life, seeing a sermon advertised: “How to Pay the Preacher without Using your
own Money.” I did not get to hear it,
but in retrospect I am sure the preacher said, “Tithe”.
After all, Malachi speaks of “tithes and offerings”
(Malachi 3:8); one has not even made an
offering to the Lord until one gives over and above the tithe.
At least such was the Old Testament law. Whether it is still binding on Christians is
a matter on which good men of God differ.
They should still ‘hold hands’, but the lesson is obvious – God’s work
will not be built up unless the Lord’s people give gladly and willingly. And He is no man’s debtor.
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(5)
Their Rejoicing was Sincere
Having been delivered from the bondage of Babylon,
these Jews had something to sing about!
“They sang together … praising and giving thanks unto the Lord,
because He is good and His mercy endureth forever” (3:11).
The laying of the foundation of the temple took
place with trumpets blaring and congregation and choir singing!
I heard of the preacher who decided to liven up his
morning service by taking a bag of peanuts into the pulpit and sitting three of
his deacons directly below. “When I drop a peanut on your head,” he told the
first deacon, “I want you to shout ‘Hallelujah’”; to the second deacon he said, “When I drop a peanut on your head
you will cry out ‘Praise the Lord!’”;
and to the third deacon he said, “When the peanut hits you I want a
rousing ‘Amen!’”
So the service commenced. Things were as funeral-like as usual. The preacher dropped a
peanut and a loud “Hallelujah” put some semblance of life back into the
congregation. Three minutes later – “Praise the Lord”. Everyone present at least seemed to be awake
now. Five minutes later the third deacon started to shout: “Amen!
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Amen! Amen! …”
“Quiet down there,” whispered the preacher, “my
bag’s got a hole in it!”
Now let there be joy and praise and excitement in
our worship. Let there be a
“Hallelujah” or a “Praise the Lord” – as long as it is the spontaneous
response of a believing heart, and not the result of a manipulative preacher!
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These Jews had something to sing about, and they did
– sincerely. And so should God’s people
today.
D.P.
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Chapters 4-6. The Building of God’s Temple
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The foundation of the new Temple was laid (3:10), a
reminder, if you like, of the Temple our Lord Jesus is building made of ‘living
stones’. But before that Temple is
completed there are times of opposition to face. And that is well illustrated
for us in chapters 4-6 of the book of Ezra.
These three chapters pack a powerful message and
deserve careful study.
(a) There is Discouragement
Within the new-born nation. Old
men who recall having seen Solomon’s Temple before it was destroyed now weep at
the commencement of this new structure. For surely this Temple will be a poor
substitute for the glory they once knew.
(b) There is Opposition
from Without! The Samaritans offer
to help in the rebuilding program.
Because of their idolatrous practices (II Kings 17:33) Zerubbabel says,
“No!” (4:1-3).
Rehum, spokesman for the Samaritans (4:17) writes to
the Persian king assuring him of Jerusalem’s past history … “a rebellious city”
(v. 15) and how it is being rebuilt to rebel once more (v. 16). This new king
of Persian … Artaxerxes … seems ignorant of the decree of Cyrus and orders the
work to stop! Rehum made sure that the Jews did just that!! (4:23-24).
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(2) The Work Recommences (720 BC)
About then years later God sends two prophets to
rebuke these returned exiles for not building His Temple … Haggai and Zechariah
(5:1-2). And they start building again!
The Persian governor, Tattenai, asks why this building, and they reply
that Cyrus gave permission to do so! (5:3).
So the Jews await the reply to Tattenai’s letter and search is made of
the Persian archives. A copy of the
decree of Cyrus is found (6:1-2).
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Ezra 6:15-22 tells of the completion of the Temple
and the great festivity that took place.
It is all a lovely picture of the completion of the
spiritual temple now taking place … to be finished when the last ‘living
stone’ is put in place and we sit at the Festive Table in the New Jerusalem.
* On that Day there will be no weeping, as when the foundation
was laid …just rejoicing!
* On that Day the saved will gather from the East and the West …
Jews and Gentiles … to sit at the great marriage supper (Matthew 8:11 … see
Ezra 6:21!!)
* On that Day the enemies of God’s people will be destroyed
(Matthew 8:12 … see Ezra 6:11).
* And on that Day we will sing the praises of
the (Passover) Lamb of God, whose sacrifice made it possible for us to
be a part of the spiritual Temple (Ephesians 2:20-22).
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Chapters 7-10 …
HERE COMES EZRA !!
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It is always of the utmost importance to study these
Old Testament books against their historical setting. The Jews had been in exile in Babylon for 70 years. But Babylon had been conquered by the
Persians and Cyrus had made a decree permitting them to return. It was 537-6 BC. Back they went … 50,000 of
them, led by Zerubbabel. And after some
hassles, built their temple. The story
was told in Ezra 1-6.
Some 60 years later Ezra lades a group home to
Jerusalem … about 6,000 … and he is involved in rebuilding the people! Sin is starting to creep back into God’s
holy nation!!
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(1) HIS
CHARACTER …
(a) Ezra
was Selfless … he had learned to think of others.
He had a concern for his brethren back in Jerusalem … over 50,000 and
only 74 priests had returned with Zerubbabel!
He determines to make the long and dangerous journey and take some
Levites with him!
(b) Ezra
was Studious … he loved the Word of God (vs 6, 10).
(c) Ezra
was Supplicating …
praying for his people. In 7:27-28 we
see him crying out to the Lord. He has been granted permission by Artaxerxes to
return and restore many civil liberties to the Jews … and even financial
assistance from the Royal Treasury! (7:11-26).
In 8:23 we see Ezra praying again … and 9:5-15
records his confession of sin on behalf of his nation.
(d) Ezra
was Sorrowful … with tears and rent garments he grieves over the sin that confronted
him when he arrived back in Jerusalem (9:5).
He was not ‘acting’ as a liberal theologian suggests! (Roy L. Smith, p. 33).
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2. HIS
DESIGNATION …
(a) A
Priest. In 7:1-5 Ezra traces his genealogy back to
Aaron! Had he been in Jerusalem … and
not born in Persia … he might well have been the High Priest! But there was no temple in Persia where he
could officiate.
(b) A
Bible Teacher! (see 7:6!). Although deprived of priestly opportunities,
Ezra became a SCRIBE … one who copied the Scriptures and became skilled in
teaching them to others. Today there is no need for a sacrificing priesthood
(one sacrifice has been offered (Hebrews 10:12), but Bible teachers are still
needful.
The more we understand our Bible … and do what it
says … the more we will become the kind of Christians we really ought to be!!
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3. HIS
EXAMPLE …
Look at 7:10 again.
And notice the order …
He studied God’s Word … then obeyed …
and then taught it to others.
It’s no good teaching it if we don’t put it into practice ourselves!
(4) HIS WITNESS
Ezra
refuses to ask the king for an armed escort!
Despite the fact the party he is leading home is taking millions of
dollars worth of precious metals and utensils!
(8:25-26). But Ezra had told the king that his God would protect them …
and to ask for earthly protection may well have caused Artaxerses to doubt the
greatness of Israel’s God!
Later on, in Nehemiah 2:9, we read that that man of
God did have a military escort on his journey to Jerusalem. There is nothing sinful about taking wise,
sensible precautions.
We are not to tempt the Lord, our God, by placing
ourselves in foolish and dangerous situations and then expect a miraculous
delivery. But in this case it would
have been a bad witness to this king, and Ezra deemed it wise to forgo asking
for an escort (v. 22).
His faith … and prayer … was rewarded and God
watched over them during the journey! (v. 23).
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5 . HIS FIDELITY …
The tremendous wealth entrusted to him is carefully
weighed at the outset of the journey … and weighed again (v. 33) when they
arrived in Jerusalem.
One day we will arrive at the Gates of the Heavenly
Jerusalem and an account will be taken of what I did … what you did … with the
Gospel that is now entrusted to us to share with others! (I Timothy 6:20).
………………………………………………..
5. HIS
GRIEF …
(a) The
Reason
… Mixed marriages. And of course, this
meant idolatry and other forbidden practices!
The number of Jews involved may seem small … only 113 … but this
included some influential leaders of the people and priests! And a little leaven leaveneth the whole
lump! (I Corinthians 5:6).
(b) The
Result
… The heathen wives are ‘put away’ … each case is studied individually and
there is no need to doubt that provision of some kind was made for them. Ezra is often vilified by modern theologians
for this act … but it was not he who was at fault … it was the men who broke
God’s Law and married the heathen women in the first place.
Bear in mind also that this is Old Testament
teaching and under that Law Ezra did the right thing. The New Testament does not teach the divorcing of unsaved
partners. But Ezra acted courageously
and ‘nipped in the bud’ what could have developed into a serious matter!
Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be
courageous, be strong. Let all that you
do be done in love. (I Corinthians 6:13-14,
RSV).
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