So begins the final era before the silence and then the Son.
My husband and I have a saying for long trips when we're not close to home yet, but we're "close to close". It's always our encouragement to one another to hang in there, the end is near.
Beginning with Ezra, we are close to close.
- The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah are long gone. There's no going back to that time.
- And now captivity is coming into the rear view mirror.
- And even though we know they are going to thrive for long this time, God is giving them another chance.
- And the silence.
- And then 400 years.
- And then...JESUS!
I've been working through the Old Testament in this blog for years now and the end is in sight. The captivity behind and the Son ahead. Amen.
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying... Ezra 1:1
There's a lot going on here in one little passage.
- Cyrus was predicted 200 years prior by Isaiah.
- He was fulfilling the prophesies of Jeremiah.
- God is so very sovereign. Nothing surprises Him.
- His will will be done.
“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem. Ezra 1:2–3
- This man, Cyrus, was conquering the known world and he has his own gods.
- Not only does he acknowledge God as The God of the heavens...
- He acknowledges that The God is the cause of his success.
- He specifically acknowledges his assigned duty to the Temple in Jerusalem.
- He actively encourages God's people to return and do the rebuilding. (To which, sadly, only a remnant respond.)
Cyrus is firmly in relationship with God. Which shouldn't surprise us when we read the prophesy about him and how much God shows fondness for him. If I remember correctly, God uses Messiah-like terms for Cyrus as one of the Messiah archetypes in the Old Testament. His place in history was established by God before time began. This is what that looks like as a concrete example. Whatever work God has for you, you can be Cyrus or you can be Sampson, but God's will will be done.
Every survivor, at whatever place he may live, let the men of that place support him with silver and gold, with goods and cattle, together with a freewill offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.’” Ezra 1:4
Here we go. We're supposed to be on the look out for parallels between the Egyptian exodus and the Babylonian captivity exodus and this one just screams at us. God provides for His people. And in this case, the human gentile leader is demanding the gentiles to bless and provide for God's people. Silver, gold, goods, and cattle. Everything God's people need wherever they go. No excuse to not head home.
Sending them home is one thing, Cyrus is known for dispersing captives back their nations; but he's making very special provision for God's people here.
Similarly, another parallel if God using the human leader to collect for the building of the Temple. The second part of the decree is a freewill offering for the house of the Lord. It seems like this would be unheard of having a Gentile leader collect on behalf of another God's Temple in a foreign land.
Then the heads of fathers’ households of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites arose, even everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up and rebuild the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem. Ezra 1:5
So three tribes, Judah, Benjamin, and Levi (or at least their leaders) Packed up and headed out, plus all of the others stirred up by the lord to go. Very important tribes to be accounted for. Sadly, all of the tribes that Chose the northern kingdom of Israel were largely scattered and not part of those God protected during the Babylonian captivity. I'm not sure I can emphasize enough how blessed the captives were. Not killed and not scattered, i tact for just this victorious return.
Sadly, we'll learn in chapter 2 that only 50,000 took advantage.
All those about them encouraged them with articles of silver, with gold, with goods, with cattle and with valuables, aside from all that was given as a freewill offering. Also King Cyrus brought out the articles of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and put in the house of his gods; Ezra 1:6–7
God's impossible math.
The fact that captives and their gentile neighbors had that much to give shows God's common grace. He provides for those around us to provide for us.
And Cyrus sent home the sacred instruments that were also protected during captivity. He can protect inanimate objects...He can protect us for His purposes.
. . . and Cyrus, king of Persia, had them brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and he counted them out to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. Ezra 1:8
We never know why God gives us one name and leaves others nameless. In this case, knowing the name of Cyrus' treasurer shows us that Ezra had access to governmental data, giving credence to his accounts.
Sheshbazzar:
- This is Zerubbable's Babylonian name.
- Zerubbable is the godly prince of Judah.
- He is the grandson if wicked kin Jeconiah.
- Somehow, this is the missing link to the line of David, even though I thought they were all wiped out.
Zerubbable is bringing back 5,400 sacred items that had been hauled off, plus all of the gifts and offerings. He' bringing back the basic infrastructure to start again in Judah. Last time, when they arrived from Egypt they were given houses they hadn't built, vineyards they hadn't planted, and all the rest of the infrastructure as gifts from God. this time, they are coming in to rubbled ruins, bu they have what they need and they have the sacred elements to start the Temple—which is all we need.
Also, I think there's more to these instruments than I can see right now. Daniel Chapter 1 mentions them, they are present in on the night Babylon loses to the Medo-Persinas, and they are highlighted here as this new, final era begins. I bet there's something extremely important in their symbolism or power that I cannot totally understand.
In verse 11 the whole group starts the journey from Babylon back to Jerusalem, knowing they will be provided for and under the physical protection of Persia and the actual and spiritual protection of the One true God.
Absolutely amazing?
Do you doubt that there is a God?
Trace the history of Israel (Judah in this case) and see the absolutely, unequivocal miraculous care. Inexplicable. Super natural.
There is a God and we can see Him wherever these people go.
And we are grafted into that vine. We are His children. He loves us and provide and protects us just like that.
Amen