We will examine God's faithfulness to his people, as reflected in his words through the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah declared that though the people would be punished as outlined in the Covenant, they would be restored at the end of seventy years. 

(See Jeremiah 25:10-12, Leviticus 26:33-35, 2 Chronicles 36:21). 

Throughout their history, from the Patriarchal period, the years spent in Egypt, both during times of freedom and times of captivity, through the time of deliverance from bondage, through the wilderness years, God had stood by his people. During the times of the conquest of Canaan, during the times of the Judges and the Kings, God had stood by his people, despite their propensity to disobedience. 

God had never completely given his people over to their ‘lost’ state, but had always provided ‘deliverers’. 

God had authorized the people to build an extravagantly, beautiful Temple and many made pilgrimages to Jerusalem to see the glory of God and catch a glimpse of the ‘Shekinah’ glory cloud filling the temple.  God was certainly present in the temple and the nation was so blessed, that King Solomon ruled from the River Euphrates all the way down to the boundaries of Egypt, boundaries promised to Abraham. 

Sadly the glory that surrounded Israel when Solomon began his reign did not last.  God had to act from time to time to reverse the complete corruption of his people. 

During the period of the Kings, God led several of the monarchs to reinstitute covenant conditions and a restoration of the people.  For example, King Asa led the erring nation in a determined effort to obey the law, again entering into a covenant to seek the Lord and swearing oaths to seek God. 

The reign of Jehoshaphat saw another restoration after a time of failure.  He made sure that the rulers went and taught the people the law of God. 

King Joash, made strenuous efforts to repair the temple that had again fallen into disrepair. He restored the building, revived the offering of sacrifices and worship and had the people contributed to the cost of the restoration

 King Hezekiah saw to yet another restoration of the temple. He cleansed the temple when he came to the throne, as it was derelict and filled with garbage.

Then sadly again in the reign of King Josiah, the last good king of Judah, we note that the temple had fallen into complete disuse. It was cleaned up and the neglected Law of God had to be read and taught to both King and people. 

Note, God was always acting to bring restoration to his elect people. 

The inevitable finally happened. The Bible describes a dreadful final scene, with the city of Jerusalem under siege for two years, during which the Jews were starved into submission. 

Lamentations 4:4-5 describes this vividly:

“The tongue of the sucking child cleaves to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children beg for bread, no one extends it to them.

Those who once feasted extravagantly lie destitute in the streets; those who were brought up in scarlet clothing wallow in garbage.”

And verses eight continues:

“Their appearance has become blacker that soot, they are not recognized in the streets; their skin has shriveled on their bones, it became dry as wood”.

Verse 9-11 (KJV):

“They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the land.

The hands of the pitiful women have sodden (boiled) their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

The Lord hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.” 

The nation had hit rock bottom. God’s patience had ended. Divine wrath had come. The line of David suffered an ignominious defeat.  The Babylonians breached the walls of the city on the 7^th of Av, poured in and carried out a mass slaughter. People were slaughtered indiscriminately and none were spared. 

Some Jews regard this day as the date of infamy, for they believe that according to Jewish history, the 9th of Av – Tisha B’Av, is the date when the spies sent by Moses to reconnoitre the land of Israel came back and told the people not to enter the land. As a result of this terrible behavior, God decreed that they wander in the wilderness for forty years and that only the people under twenty  years of age would live to enter Canaan. Joshua and Caleb would be the only exceptions. 

The First Temple was destroyed on that same day by the Babylonians.

The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans on that same date.

Jews were given an ultimatum by the Inquisition to convert, leave Spain, or die.

The prelude to the Holocaust, World War 1, began on that same date. 

Whatever we may think, calamities have come frequently on the people of God, as a result of violation of the Covenant.  

The glory of God had gone, the Temple was lying in ruins, the city had been destroyed, the people were made slaves and taken as bondservants in a strange land. The land was given over to strangers, the last king of Judah had witnessed his sons killed before his eyes. His own eyes were blinded and felt the shackles placed around his neck, waist, and legs, as he began the long painful journey to a prison in Babylon. 

We have certainly seen how God is patient and how he intervenes in human affairs over and over again; calling, teaching, cleansing and urging his people to come back to him.

So it is when we walk in disobedience. 

THE TEXT 

2 Chronicles 36:22-23 

It is interesting to note that this verse is identical to verse one in

Ezra 1.  The book of Ezra starts exactly where the book of Chronicles ends and so many believe that Ezra wrote both books.  It is interesting to note also that in the Hebrew Bible, the books of Ezra and Nehemiah are one book. 

We are focusing again on the concept of “restoration”, which is the work of God in restoring a believer that has been overwhelmed and taken captive by sin and Satan. 

We note first that “restoration” can be done on an individual.  It can also be done on a local church or even on a denomination that honors God.  It can also be looked at as the work of God on a nation, where God recovers it from idolatry and materialism and turn it back to true spiritual knowledge. 

In every case however, we can look at the book of Ezra to show us how God works, when it is time to restore the heart of a person, a church, a denomination or a nation, that has fallen into sin.  

Restoration takes place at the determination of God.  God revealed to Jeremiah and had him prophesy that he would begin this work of reclamation at the end of seventy years of exile. 

We are then looking at the work of God's grace, for God will always take the initiative.  According to one writer, we can be sure of one thing.  He states:

“No one, after falling into a sinful experience, would ever come back to Christ unless God brought him back”. 

We now jump to the end of the exile and note that God had limited the powerful, worldwide rule of Babylon to seventy years after the capture of Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar reigned for forty five years in total, his son Evil-merodach reigned for twenty three years and his grandson Belshazzar for just about three years, before his iniquity led to an end to the Babylonian Empire. 

Even Nebuchadnezzar, that proud, pagan monarch was bravely warned Daniel in 4:7 :

“break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility”.

 The sins of Babylon were such that God would not pardon it any longer and Darius the Mede and Cyrus the Persian allied to destroy Babylon. 

The prophet Isaiah had prophesied one hundred and fifty years before that a man with this precise name would come and be the instrument of God to free Israel.  We read in Isaiah 45:1-4

“Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the to leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;

I will go before thee, and make the crooked laces straight: I would break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me.  I am the Lord, and there is none else.” 

So now we read that in the first year of the reign of Cyrus over Babylon which he had just conquered, God stirred up his spirit, so that the prophecy of Jeremiah would be accomplished. 

We know that the ‘heart of the King is in the hands of the Lord’ and the Lord turns it whichever way it He wills.  Even Nebuchadnezzar agreed with that and makes this point in Daniel 4: 34-37. 

Make no mistake.  God rules and governs the world and he influences men who might not even know him and have them do good at various times, make good judgments and do good for the people of God, so that God receives the glory. 

So Cyrus made a proclamation which he declared throughout his extended kingdom, that God had given him a mandate to build a house for him in Jerusalem in Judah.  This confirms the prophecy off Isaiah, and the prophecy of Jeremiah, and as one writer notes:

 “while he lived was hated and despised; yet thus did Providence honor him long after, that a mighty monarch was influenced to act in pursuance of the word of the Lord by his mouth.” 

Cyrus’ mind was certainly pricked by the knowledge of Yahweh even though he was not a convert to Judaism. It seems that his knowledge of the prophecies and the influence of God on his mind, made him decide to call on the people of Israel who worshipped Yahweh, to go up to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple of the Lord. 

So we see this monarch call on the people to “Return and Rebuild”.  All this was done according to God’s determination.  

Note that Cyrus had to contend with those in his culture, that wanted to keep as many of the leadership of the captive nations in Babylon, working for them.  Cyrus’ policy of religious toleration was certainly enlightened.  Here God was working out his plans in history and through prophecy. 

Note also that he did not tell them to build a temple in Jerusalem to the God of Persia or to the gods of Babylon.  He wanted them to worship only the God of Israel.

EZRA 1-7 

Verse 1

This is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Jeremiah.  This prophecy is somewhat different from others, in that God specifically names a heathen, who He will set up to assist Israel, in their return to a state of communion with Him. Isaiah 44:28 and Isaiah 45: 1-5, mentions this King who will be stirred up by God, to help the captive nation of Israel start on its path towards a return and restoration to God. 

Note that God moved because of an unconditional promise of ‘return and restoration’. This unconditional promise had been communicated to the people by the prophet Jeremiah. The offer to return and to be restored had been guaranteed by God and so we know that there would be a proper and sufficient response by the remnant among the people of Israel.  Every prophecy made by the ‘men of God’ will be fulfilled.  In addition, we know that God would never break any of his promises. 

The chapter starts by informing us that Cyrus the ruler of Persia made a decree, that would allow the children of Israel to go back and rebuild the temple of God. Persia was the nation that had defeated the Babylonian Empire, then ruled by King Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson Belshazzer,.  

It appears that the temple was the last thing to be destroyed, when the nation fell into captivity and now it was the first place that God would begin his work of restoration.  So the book of Ezra would emphasize this first task. 

Isaiah prophesied that this ruler of Persia was specially called out by God and given the desire to do these things for God’s sake.  God had specially anointed him as the ruler who would assist His people’s return.  God had blessed him, so that the Lord’s pleasure might be accomplished in him. God had said that nations will fall before him.  He would go before Cyrus to allow him easy victories.   

Obviously God can use non-believers, for they too are instruments of His will. God obviously controls all things and all peoples. 

The promises to Cyrus are strikingly similar to what was promised to the children of Israel, when they went out to conquer the surrounding nations.  Led by God, no one could challenge them.  

The promises to Israel were of course even more powerful. Despite the promise we see leaders like Jeroboam ignore the promised blessings and bring on themselves the wrath of God. 

Worshippers of God, like Daniel and his associates who were influential in the Babylonian court, as well as Jewish prophets and teachers (Zechariah and Ezra among them) were in Babylon at the time of the capture of the city by Cyrus. They likely played an important role in helping Cyrus to see the will of God and how he would benefit despite the fact Cyrus was a pagan.   

It must be stressed that it was God who ‘stirred up’ the heart of this King to do his bidding.  This is a constant theme throughout this lesson, that it is God who empowers the ‘hearts’ of men to seek Him out.  Without this action, men would continue to follow a course that is directed away from God.  This does not only apply to God’s people but also to those who God would use to secure His people. 

It should be noted that both the book of Chronicles and that of Ezra, emphasize that it is God who puts it into the mind of the Persians, that they should release Israel to rebuild their temple and worship their God. 

This runs counter to the academic position that it was the Persians who came up with the idea. They argue that to get their captured subjects loyalty, the Persians reversed the practice of the Babylonians. They would send the captured peoples back to their respective country where they could resume worship of their own God.  The idea is that this technique would bring peace and strengthen the Persian Empire. 

The Persians of that time were monotheistic and it seems strange that they would encourage all the captured subjects of Babylon, to go back to their many gods.  It would seem that God chose to ‘raise up’ the kind of nation that would be stirred up relatively easily, to encourage Jewish monotheism.  God's choice of which nation to come to the fore is not done by accident, or by blind fate. 

In any case we know that God has the power to turn any kind of mind to the direction that He wishes.  He often works with subtlety and in ways that often seem fortuitous, in bringing about his desired end. 

There is of course the issue of the exact time when the exile commenced according to the prophecy of Jeremiah.  Some believe that the seventy years commenced with the first taking of exiles from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar.  It was then that Daniel and other young men of the royal court were carried off to Babylon in the fourth year of King Jehoiakim.  So if this event was in the year 606 B.C., the seventy years would end in 536 B.C., the first year of the sole rule of Cyrus over the Babylonian Empire.  That is how precisely prophecy was fulfilled.

Verse 2.   In verse two, Cyrus king of Persia clearly states that he understands that it is the God of the Jews that had given him the opportunity.  Despite the fact he wasn’t a Jew himself, or that he didn’t worship God himself, he still knew that there was the Almighty God.   

It might have been that the aged Daniel, as well as Zechariah and Ezra informed Cyrus of the prophecies concerning himself and how God would be with him, allowing him to be successful in his campaigns against other nations.  To that end he was grateful and most likely in awe of God, as he was mentioned in great enough detail by Jeremiah and Isaiah, that he knew that it wasn’t a trick of any kind. He knew that the God of these people had commanding influence over the events concerning mankind.  

Nevertheless, God did ‘stir up’ the heart of the king to do his will.  To that end, Cyrus did acknowledge this, again due in part to God empowering him.  This allowed Cyrus to do something at that time that the vast majority of the children of Israel were not doing, ie. seek a way to rebuild their nation, or more specifically, get back into a right relationship with God. Cyrus’ declaration indicates that he took joy in the fact that this God would use him to rebuild His temple.

As a side note, the king was given a particular honor, in that it was under his rule that the temple would be rebuilt.  Not many kings can ‘boast’ of this claim. 

Verse 3.   King  Cyrus called out to the people of Israel to see who had a desire to serve their God.  Since God had moved him to help rebuild the temple of a people that were strangers, he inquired which people would take on the task to fulfil their Lord’s desire.  In his statement Cyrus, acknowledged that the Almighty God is God, but he did say in Israel, indicating that he was not necessarily persuaded, but knew enough to acknowledge this God of Israel.   

Certainly Cyrus would have heard about Daniel’s dealings with Nebuchadnezzar and his predictions and analysis of world events. 

It is interesting to note that Daniel had been given the rank of president at the court of Darius the Mede, one of three presidents set over the one hundred and twenty provinces in the kingdom.  These presidents were closest of all officials to the King, and we are told in Daniel six that Daniel was very highly regarded.  So obviously since Darius the Mede was father-in-law to Cyrus, Cyrus would have been well acquainted with the God of the Jews. 

Cyrus’ important priority and order of business was to see what people would step forth to complete this plan of their God.  Truthfully, God and Cyrus were looking to see if there were any that were still faithful to God.  God had moved Cyrus’ heart to a position where it seems that he would let the people go and rebuild their temple.  

So Cyrus’s will, was now in line with the will and command of God and he invited the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple.  He called on all the people of Yahweh to make full use of his royal decree. This would included those of the ten tribes previously exiled by the Assyrians, for he controlled all that territory also,.   

He actually seemed to be summoning the people of Israel to go up to Jerusalem, and so he adds the admonition:

“He is the God, which is in Jerusalem”. 

These actions by Cyrus were not necessarily the actions expected of a pagan king, but nonetheless, done due in part to the will of God acting and fulfilling an earlier prophecy.   

It is not possible that Cyrus's faith in his own God Ahuramazda would have prompted him to have such reverence for the God of Israel.  So it appears that the statements of Josephus the Jewish historian, that the predictions of Isaiah about his existence and person would have had a great impact on him.   

It should be pointed out again, that prophets like Daniel and courtiers like Zechariah and Ezra seemed to be very prominent in the hierarchy of  Cyrus’ kingdom, in terms of providing him with guidance and an understanding of God purpose, so that his actions fell in line with the will of God.   

Let it never be said of people of God, when He places them in certain positions, that they can never have great influence on the affairs of state.  Believers can have great influence over unbelievers.  So let us work and be the salt of the earth.

Verse 4.   A few things stand out in this section.  Led by God, Cyrus gave permission for the Jews to leave and rebuild the temple.  Further to that, he said that if there were any that did not go up to Jerusalem, then they were to assist those that were going to rebuild the temple.  He accounts for those who are poor and do not have the financial means to go up to Jerusalem to perform this task, that they should find a way to help those going .   

The Jews were also permitted to ask the people of Persia, who of course were not Israelites, for any assistance towards the rebuilding effort. He specified, beside gold, silver, and cattle, all kinds of other material things. 

There seems to be much harmony between the people of Persia and Israel.  The relationship was certainly better than the one subjugated Israel had when they were in Egypt.   

Cyrus also gave to the people who were returning to work on the temple certain monies.  God had moved Cyrus in a way that he realized that the wealth granted to him by God, was great enough to return a tribute to God.   

This is another illustration of the fact that some Gentiles seem to appreciate the true God better than those that profess to be people of God. Here we see that despite Cyrus’ allegiance to another God, he believed the prophecies or Word of God and he still served the God of the Jews better than many Jews were ready to treat their own God.

Verse 5.   The call by Cyrus, moved some of the leaders of the Jews to take certain actions.  Once again it must be stated, that without God moving the hearts of people, they can never return to Him, because that is no longer their desire.   

Cyrus encouraged the people to use the opportunity to go and rebuild their temple and worship their God.  Then, due in part to Cyrus’ encouragement, the leadership that was presently looking over the Jews started to act under the guiding influence of God.   

Note though that it was the heads of the houses of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites, that are specifically mentioned as being stirred up. 

The call had gone out to all Jews throughout the kingdom, but only some obeyed the call from God and were willing to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.  The heart of these people had been changed.  They were probably the ones that that sung Psalm 137. 

The other point of note is that not a lot of people answered the call.  The number of Israel that remained behind was large, compared to those that left to rebuild the temple and this is much to the shame of Israel.  

The temptation to stay in Babylon was certainly strong, for they had gotten accustomed to the life. The journey back to Jerusalem was long and it would be hard for the older people.  For the young, Judah was just a strange country.  Besides, the land was in ruins and many of their enemies were still there. 

They were naturally attracted to the easier life and they wanted to shun the difficult life.  Hence God's work in their hearts was a most powerful one. 

This indicates that if God does not actively move people, then there would be none that would seek him. God did act and a remnant was moved to return and rebuild the temple.   

Many that remained seemed to be quite settled into being slaves and apart from God, which might serve as a lesson for us today.   

Are we settling into sin, or are we still listening to God’s call and then acting upon it?  How does our situation in the government, our church community echo this situation today?

One writer laments:

“Many that hear this joyful sound used to sit still in Babylon, are in love with their sins and will not venture upon the difficulties of a holy life; but some there are that breakthrough the discouragements, and resolve to build the house of God, to make Heaven of their religion, whatever it cost them, and they are those whose spirit God has raised above the world and the flesh and whom he has made willing in the day of his power.  Psalm 110:3.

Thus will the heavenly Canaan be replenished, though many perish in Babylon; and the gospel offer will not be made in vain.” 

When we think about it, we are certainly not much different from those people that had settled into the life in Babylon, despite its numerous false gods on every corner.  They had become so prosperous, giving themselves over to materialism, that they were satisfied with seeing gross iniquity and things that were offensive to their God every day. 

Mind you, they would help by giving some offerings but would not go themselves.

Verse 6.   The one point that stands out here, is that some valuables were willingly offered.  God had prodded the people and both pagans and Israelites responded to God’s call.  

We probably should not go as far as saying that many of the children of Israel did not want to serve God, but how they did that was the real question.  They would provide and that's all. The people going to rebuild the temple were furnished with silver, gold and other goods.  Since others were not going, then those left behind decided to truly assist them willingly. 

Verse 7.   Cyrus seemed to be the best example of how God wishes His people to be in terms of obedience.  It appears to be a peculiar occurrence that at times, those who do not serve God, seem to obey him when God requests something of them. While His children, who are supposed to serve Him and have an intimate relationship often struggle at this point!   

Nevertheless, Cyrus went over and above what might have been asked of a heathen king.  He returned that which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple of God originally and had them returned to God.   

This showed the level of respect that Cyrus had for God and quite possibly the level of work put in by people like Ezra and Zechariah in terms of educating the king about the knowledge of God, so that he could act accordingly. 

Cyrus’ example on how to serve God, is a good example for believers and provides some encouragement for us.  The rationale is this, if Cyrus, being a heathen can act this way towards God and His people, then when encouraged by Christians, we can do great things for God.  

Cyrus fetched the sacred vessels of the temple brought to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar and gave them into the hands of Sheshbazzar, a prince from the royal house of David.

One writer makes a very interesting and important point as follows:

“How careful Providence was of the vessels of the temple, that they were not lost, melted down, or so mixed with other vessels that they could not be known, but that they were all now forthcoming.” 

He applies this to those who are called and elected by God as follows: 

“Such care God has of the living vessels of mercy, vessels of honor, of whom it is said (2 Timothy 2:19,20),

The Lord knows those that are his, and they shall none of them perish”.

Though they had been put into an idol’s temple, and probably used in the service of idols, yet they were given back, to be used for God.

God will recover his own; and the spoil of the strong man armed shall be converted to the use of the conqueror.”

CONCLUSION

Not one jot or tittle, not one of God ‘s word shall fall to the ground. 

God fulfilled his word spoken by the mouth of the prophet Jeremiah exactly. 

God can and will ‘stir’ up the spirits of kings and commoners, so that his work will be done.  This is a most comforting teaching, for the people of God know that their future is absolutely and totally secure.   

God will as he has promised in his covenant return his people to their land and restore them.  

Returning from sin is always the work of God’s grace. 

Remember that God will take us back to His Promised Land. He will restore us, Isaiah said:

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall b as wool.

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall at the good of the land

But if you refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it….

Therefore saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts, they mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:

And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take  away all thy tin:

And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counselors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.