Return from Exile: Ezra 1-3 (2)

Pray Psalm 86.10-12.
For You are great, and do wondrous things;
You alone are God.
Teach me Your way, O LORD;
I will walk in Your truth;
Unite my heart to fear Your name.
I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,
And I will glorify Your name forevermore.

Sing Psalm 86.10-12.
(Andrews: Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven)
For You are great, You wondrous deeds do; You are the only and sovereign Lord.
Teach me Your way, let me give heed to, with all my heart, Savior, all Your Word!
Lord, be gracious to me, Lord, be gracious to me!
Praise Your Name forever, Lord!

Read Ezra 1.1-11; mediate on verses 5-11.

Preparation
1. What did God do for the heads of Judah and Benjamin?

2. How did the rest of the people respond to this?

Meditation
It was not enough that God should stir up the heart of King Cyrus. He also had to move the spirits of His people to be willing to return and build the temple (v. 5). Unless God is at work within us, willing and doing of His good pleasure, nothing of His will can be accomplished (Phil. 2.13).

When those leaders were stirred up to respond to the decree of Cyrus, then “all those who were around them”—all their families, neighbors, and friends—got on board and began to provide for their support (v. 6). When God begins to move among His people, everyone has something that can be “willingly offered” to the work of the Lord. Their offerings were good, as far as they went.

Cyrus was as good as his word. Not only did he allow the captives to return, but he returned to them the precious articles related to the work of the temple, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken when he sacked Jerusalem 70 years earlier (vv. 7-11). That must have greatly encouraged those who agreed to return.

For all this happy news, we should see a bit of dark foreshadowing here, suggesting that problems may lie ahead: “And all those who were around them encouraged them…” with what? Praise and thanks to God? Fasting and renewal of Sabbath-keeping? Weeping prayers of joy and repentance? Hearts united in the fear of God? No. Stuff. Silver, gold, goods, livestock, and precious things. It’s not bad that they did this. But as we shall see, encouragement like this—both in the giving and rejoicing to receive it—only goes so far. When this is the most we offer or receive of encouragement, it reveals a condition of captivity.

A condition which many of the followers of Christ suffer from today. We rejoice in the stuff God gives us. But do we rejoice in Him more? Seems we need a fresh stirring of our hearts.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches” (Ps. 119.14).
“The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver” (Ps. 119.72).
“How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Ps. 119.103).
“Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold!” (Ps. 119.127).
“I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure” (Ps. 119.162).

Cyrus’ gesture of giving their belongings back was nice; but also, no doubt, motivated by the knowledge that these items were meant for God’s glory and not human amusement (Dan. 5.1-5). And the generosity of their neighbors was thoughtful. It was a friendly plundering, not unlike the Egyptians’ send-off for them many years before (Ex.12.35, 36). In this way, God was taking care of their material needs and the decoration needs of the rebuilt temple.

God knows what He is doing.

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” (Matt. 6.25).

Well then what should we be stirred up about?

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6.33).

Are we worried about all the wrong things?
Are we stirred up about things that—considering eternity—don’t matter much at all?
True. We are thankful and rejoice in the stuff that God supplies us with—through Cyrus and friends.
“But do we rejoice in Him more?” Well…do we?

Jesus said, “Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you” (Jn. 16.22).
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Phil. 4.4)
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls” (1 Pet. 1.6-9).

Thanks Cyrus, and friends, for the stuff.
Thank you, Jesus, for Kingdom life now, and eternal salvation then.

Lord, stir and awaken me to see the difference!

For reflection
1. Jesus said that seeking the Kingdom and righteousness of God is to be our defining priority. Why?

2. How can you know when you’re becoming more interested in the happiness of things and circumstances than the joy of the Lord?

3. What should you do if you find that to be the case?

Whatever good we do, is owing to the grace of God. Our spirits naturally bow down to this earth and the things of it; if they move upward in any good affection or good actions, it is God who raises them. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Ezra 1.5-11

Pray Psalm 86.13-17.
Commit your work to the Lord. Call on Him for mercy and grace to help in all your times of need. Ask Him to show you His goodness, and be sure to praise Him for all His help and comfort.

Sing Psalm 86.13-17.
(Andrews: Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven)
Great is Your mercy, Lord, toward me; You have delivered my soul from hell.
Though dreadful foes and threats arrayed be, You will Your grace and Your mercy tell!
Lord, be gracious to me, Lord, be gracious to me,
slow to anger, loving well!

Turn to me, Lord; be gracious to me; grant me Your strength; save Your servant, Lord!
Let me a sign of something good see; shame all who hate me beneath Your Word.
Lord, be gracious to me, Lord, be gracious to me,
for You help me, sovereign Lord!

T. M. and Susie Moore

We are convinced that this new study, Return from Exile, will be one of the most important we have done. We encourage you to share this installment with friends. Use the icons at the top of this column to encourage your friends to join you in this study.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available free by clicking here.