OVERVIEW:
The decree from Cyrus; the returning Jewish families are listed; the altar and temple are rebuilt; the adversaries come against the work.
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
As we begin the book of Ezra today, keep the “big picture” in mind. This book breaks down into two sections, each based upon the leader and the time period. Chapters 1–6 are under the leadership of Zerubbabel. Chapters 7–10 are under the leadership of Ezra and take place approximately 60 years after chapter 6.
As the books of 2nd Chronicles ended and Ezra begins, also keep in mind that the children of Israel have been in captivity for 70 years. It is then that God works in the spirit of Cyrus, a pagan king, to issue a decree for the Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild their temple. This fulfills the prophecy in Jeremiah 29:10 and Isaiah 44:28 and 45:1. Because of the wording of the decree and its emphasis upon God as “THE God,” many have speculated that Daniel had an influence upon the king’s decree, or even wrote the decree on the king’s behalf. Whatever the case, the Jews returned to their homeland, not because of Cyrus, or even because of Daniel, but because God said they would!
Recognize, however, that the Jew’s captivity in Babylon was not the same kind of slavery and bondage they had endured in Egypt. The Jews had actually functioned quite well as a people during the Babylonian captivity. That’s why only a remnant of the Jews chose to return to their homeland when Cyrus issued the decree. The ones who chose to return, however, made it to the land, and once they did, immediately began the process of restoring the temple.
The restoration is led by Zerubbabel from the “king’s” line, and Jeshua from the “priest’s” line. Knowing the scope and magnitude of this great work, in their wisdom, these two men lead the people to keep God Himself the priority (as opposed to the project!) by first establishing the altar. It is a great reminder to make certain that we constantly keep WORSHIP as our first priority, recognizing that we are all always very susceptible to allowing ourselves to be so caught up in the “WORK” of the LORD that we forget the “LORD” of the WORK!
The remnant begins rebuilding the temple in the second year after their return to the land, starting, of course, with the foundation. (3:8) Once the foundation was completed, an emotional dichotomy erupted amongst the people! The Jews who were too young to have recollection of the glory and magnificence of Solomon’s temple looked at the foundation and were so emotionally overjoyed and jubilant that they burst forth with great shouting and praise! (3:11) The older generation, who had witnessed the previous temple, however, looked at the size of the foundation of this new temple, and immediately burst forth with wailing and weeping. (3:12) The emotional responses were so dramatic on both ends of the spectrum that it was impossible to discern the wailing from the rejoicing! (3:13)
The foundation of the temple was completed in chapter 3, and as chapter 4 begins, the people of God begin to experience opposition to the work. First, the adversaries offer their services to join the Jews in the building of the temple. However, when Zerubbabel and Jeshua refuse their offer, their real motives surface. The adversaries begin to trouble the people (4:4), and even hire counselors to “frustrate their purpose” (4:5). The adversaries then appeal to the new king to make the people stop the construction, citing the history of the Jewish people as the reason, and in essence, accusing them of being a “rebellious” people, constantly guilty of “sedition” and “insurrection”. The new king investigates their claims and comes to the same conclusion, so the work was halted.
However, Zerubbabel (from the kingly line) and Jeshua (from the priestly line), along with the prophets, are able to encourage the people and lead them to begin the work again, even without permission. When they are questioned about it, they make request to the king and their request to continue the work is granted.
My, oh my, what a beautiful picture of the restoration God intends for our lives! It begins by making sure that like this remnant in Ezra 4, we, too, are being led by a King and a Priest. A “King” that we submit to as Lord to do His will; and a “Priest” that not only can “cleanse us from all sin” but can also be “touched with the feeling of our infirmities”! There are times, folks, when we just need to get back to the altar of God, where it is just us and God so that the intimacy of our fellowship with Him can be restored and revived! The good news is, unlike the Jews in today’s reading, we don’t have to lay the foundation again! First Corinthians 3:11 says that Christ is our foundation! He is the foundation that cannot be moved! (2nd Timothy 2:19) We need only to concern ourselves with how we build “our temple” upon that foundation! (1st Corinthians 3:10–15) As we do, may we keep ever-present in our minds, that there will be adversaries! (1st Corinthians 16:9)
As pictured in today’s reading, we must recognize that the first attack of the enemy will be an attempt to get us to compromise by becoming “unequally yoked” with them. (4:1–2; 2nd Corinthians 6:14–18) If that doesn’t work, the adversary will then “trouble us” attempting to “frustrate our purpose.” Many well-intentioned Christians have been knocked out of the battle for the simple reason that their purpose was frustrated. When those times come (and they will!) we need to persevere in the work to which God has called us, and appeal to our King to intervene on our behalf. We don’t always know how God’s plan will unfold. Our responsibility, however, is simply to be faithful to our purpose and persevere in the work of the Lord! (1st Corinthians 15:58)
CHRIST IS REVEALED:
- Through the GREAT STONES used in building the temple of God — Ezra 5:8. Christ is the Stone which the builders rejected, and He has become the Cornerstone of our faith. (Psalm 118:22; Matthew 21:42)