Ezra Introduction
The books of Ezra and Nehemiah, much like 1 and 2 Samuel, originally started off as one long story that was eventually split up into two separate books. Ezra, which came first, covers a span of roughly 90 years, beginning in 538 B.C. following the original destruction of the first Jewish temple. After decades of exile in Babylon, it was time for God’s people, the Israelites, to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. Enter Ezra and Nehemiah.
These two books fall under the category of a historical book, similar to Joshua or 1 and 2 Samuel. Ezra and Nehemiah are interesting reads because they tell us different parts of a story that can, at times, appear somewhat unresolved. While you read, parts may even feel anticlimactic. So why are these two books important? These books give us a guide to revival within God’s people. It’s far too common to let apathy and the desire to go through the motions creep into our lives, our small groups, and our churches. Ezra and Nehemiah both call the people of God towards spiritual revitalization, and there is much we can learn from their stories.
As we read, grab a journal and take good notes. What do these chapters teach you about God’s character? What does it teach you about humanity? What are the implications for you today? We have said it before, but it’s important to remember the significance of these Old Testament books. Too often we get confused by the Old Testament because some of the names sound funny and because we equate “old” with “irrelevant.” There are so many things we can learn about God and ourselves through the lens of this book. As we read the book of Ezra (and then Nehemiah), start each day with a prayer asking God to open your heart to what you need to learn today. Thanks for reading along with us!
Read Ezra 1
Cyrus Helps the Exiles to Return
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:
2 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:
“‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. 3 Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. 4 And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’”
5 Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. 6 All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings.
7 Moreover, King Cyrus brought out the articles belonging to the temple of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his god. 8 Cyrus king of Persia had them brought by Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.
9 This was the inventory:
| gold dishes | 30 |
| silver dishes | 1,000 |
| silver pans | 29 |
| 10 gold bowls | 30 |
| matching silver bowls | 410 |
| other articles | 1,000 |
11 In all, there were 5,400 articles of gold and of silver. Sheshbazzar brought all these along with the exiles when they came up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
Go Deeper
Ezra 1 introduces us to a notable person and a notable group of people. While this book is named after Ezra, we won’t actually meet him until chapter 7. The first person we’re introduced to is King Cyrus, the new Persian king in the first year of his reign. The Jews had lived in exile for decades, and finally, the new king was allowing them to return home. Not only did King Cyrus allow them to return to Jerusalem, he also gave them an important instruction—go rebuild the temple.
The notable group of people we meet next are the Israelites—God’s people. For some, this was an answered prayer! For others, the news was met with a shrug. Many were comfortable with their new lives in their new lands. The idea of going to Jerusalem to build a temple wasn’t appealing—they would rather just stay where they were. But for some, Scripture tells us that their hearts were moved (v. 5). Those who were ready to go back to Jerusalem were a minority, but they were a faithful minority. As we have seen time and time again throughout Scripture, you can never underestimate what God can do through a faithful group of people. They loaded up their belongings and made the trek back to Jerusalem to begin working on the task at hand.
So, what can we learn from these faithful few? They were obedient when God started moving in their hearts. Oftentimes we feel that same stirring—our hearts are moved—yet we don’t respond with full obedience because it requires us to give up something. While exiled, Israelites built homes and established livelihoods. To return to Jerusalem meant sacrificing comfort and their new normal, but God stirred their hearts and the faithful responded with obedience. As we go about our day today, pay attention to those nudges from God. He could nudge us to pray for a person whose name comes to mind, to call or text a friend, or he could move our hearts to respond to a need. It may not be as drastic as uprooting your family (although it could be), but obedience is God’s expectation every time.
Questions
- Why do you think so many of the Israelites in exile didn’t want to go back to Jerusalem?
- When was the last time God moved your heart? How did you respond?
- What does this chapter teach you about God? What does it teach you about humanity?
Did You Know?
Curious why King Cyrus was so willing to send the Israelites home to Jerusalem? According to Josephus, the first century Jewish historian, Cyrus was familiar with the prophecies about him found in Isaiah 44 and 45. Whether or not he was a follower of Yahweh we can’t know for sure, but he had seen enough evidence of God to implore God’s people to rebuild the temple.
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9 responses to “Ezra 1 + Introduction”
Does anyone remember the story of Daniel and the lions den? Yes, that one where King Darius makes a proclamation, gets entangled in the web of deception, regrets it, throws Daniel in the lions den and tells Daniel that Daniel’s God will protect him.
Cyrus was the king after Darius and Daniel served Cyrus. Daniel 6:28. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
I’m thinking that Daniel probably had a lot to do with the heart if Cyrus sending believers to rebuild the temple.
Interesting!
This is about HOPE! Their hope but also about ours.
BUT GOD wow, He has interwoven so much detail in His Word. When you read the Bible as written, you can miss quite a little if you do not realize how God intertwined His plan. Cyrus and the plan to rebuild the temple was written about and foretold in Isaiah , Chronicles, 2 Kings, Jeremiah, Lamentations.
God gave divine commission, permission to return, and provision for the journey. This is the pivotal point of Israel’s restoration.
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What do you hope for? Hope is truly a decision.
We can hope for the right spouse, or the right job, the right school, the right education. But we are placing hope in what we can control. What happens when we get a bad diagnose, our marriage fails, or we get fired? He will restore our broken hope.
For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Psalm 62:5-7
God thank You for today, these minutes of this day and my hope. God I rest in You alone. You alone are my rock and salvation, my fortress and I shall not be shaken. God You are my salvation and glory, my mighty rock and refuge. God thank You for showing me where and how to place my hope in You. You will never leave me nor forsake me. Continue to make me have the eyes to see You in all I do and say. Help me to love You and to keep my eyes and hands open to Your wonder and grace. God thank You for the details of today within the minutes of this day, that You are glorified and exalted in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem” (v5).
What’s amazing is that God asks us to partner with him to carry out his mission on earth. He clearly doesn’t need us but wants us to participate to see his glory fill the earth. May the next Holy Spirit nudge move our hearts to join him where he is at work.
Yes!
1 “the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia . . .”
Yes, Lord move the hearts of the kings of today!
Rick, thank you for sharing the comments about Daniel. Further evidence that the God of the Universe is in control.
Praise His Holy Name!!
The Israelites were moved by God to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, which required courage and faith.
When God stirs the hearts of individuals, it often leads to significant action.
This teaches us that when God inspires us, we should be ready to act, as He equips those He calls.
What in our lives is God nudging us to do in faithful obedience?
Just last night I got a call from a beloved family member — who is not a believer — who needs heart surgery. (It’s not the major, open-heart kind — but heart surgery is still heart surgery.)
This news comes just after reading 2 Chronicles 36 and right before Ezra 1, both of which refer to “hearts being moved.”
The Lord stirred the heart of Cyrus (2 Chronicles 36:22) and “stirred the hearts of the priests and Levites and the leaders of the tribes of Judah”
(Ezra 1:5 NLT).
And a loved one who needs their heart worked on…is getting their heart worked on.
I’m so thankful that God is THE Author of Heart Change. Praying for all who could use a special “stirring of the heart!”