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WHEN GOD BROUGHT BACK HIS PEOPLE FROM CAPTIVITY Ezra 1-6 Jun Malazo

A FRE SH START

Note: Unless otherwise indicated, all Scriptures were taken from the NIV.

I. Introductory Thoughts HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE A FRESH START? Perhaps if a survey asking people if they wish they could start over will be done in the churches, many people, maybe among young professionals, will say, Yes, I do. In fact, I desperately need it. When a person is convinced that something is not right with his present situation in life: maybe a business which not going well, a career that is slipping down the drain, an bad loan that causes your nerves to shake involuntarily, a relationship that turns sour and almost unbearable, the idea of starting over would be a very tempting offer. It would be a dream that they wish would happen. For the Jews in the OT times, however, fresh start was a dream come true. God gave Israel a chance to start over after seventy years of captivity. In one of the Psalms they testified, When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, The LORD has done great things for them. After 70 years of captivity, of being a people without a country to call their own, without any prospect of regaining possession of the land of their forefathers, the return came as a dream come true. It was indeed a fresh start. This is the topic that we could find in the first six chapters of the book of Ezra. From these verses, I want us to see the greatness of God in fulfilling his promises to Israel. Consequently, derive encouragement for our souls as we remember that the LORD who has done great things for them is also the LORD who saved us by grace through faith in Christ. II. Overview A. The background (2Chro. 36:15-20). Prior to the exile, the kingdoms of Israel and Judah became greatly displeasing to the LORD. Israel (composed of 10 northern tribes) was sacked early (2 Kings 17:7-41). As for Judah (2 tribes-Benjamin and Judah) the last indictment was, The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they mocked God's messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against his

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people and there was no remedy. 17 He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians, who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and spared neither young man nor young woman, old man or aged. God handed all of them over to Nebuchadnezzar. 18 He carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the LORD's temple and the treasures of the king and his officials. 19 They set fire to God's temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value there. 20 He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his sons (2Chro. 36:15-20). So it was very clear that both Israel and Judah suffered for their own doings. They received what their unfaithfulness to God deserves. They did not heed the warnings given to them in the law. Because of this, they were the kind of which we could say as undeserving of another chance. But their problem was not only in being undeserving of another chance, their situation appeared hopeless as well. Their cities and farms have become desolate. They were scattered. Their temple, the element of the nation that brought unity among the tribes was ruined. The ark of the covenant was no where to be found. They were not united for anything because everyone was busy with his own life at captivity. Maybe for some of them, the idea of going back was too impractical. Even if the prospect of revolt is impossible because they simply did not have the resources to do anything that could at least scratch Babylon's super power. In short, they were an impotent group of people in a hopeless situation. Their only chance of freedom was the LORD. But even that seem to be improbable because the LORD has already left them earlier even before they went to exile (Ezekiel's ichabod in Ezek. 10). They were an impotent group of people in a hopeless situation and they were forsaken by the Lord. Perhaps many of us could identify with these Jews. We find ourselves on difficult situations because of our own doing. We have brought the trouble upon ourselves. We disregard biblical counsel and went ahead with our own plans and wishes. And now we are in trouble. The only chance for us to get out of this problem is by God's grace and mercy, and it would have to be a miracle. And that is what happened to the Jews when God brought back the captives to Zion. B. The royal decree (Ezra 1:1-11). The narrative begins by mentioning a royal decree issued by the Persian king, Cyrus, on the first year of his reign (Ca. 538 BC). But this decree was prefaced with the phrase, in order to fulfill what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet. Read Jer. 25:11-12. This means that their release from captivity did not happen by chance. Rather, it was decreed by God long time ago even before they went to exile (Jer. 25:1, the fourth year of king Jehoiakim, ca. 605-604 BC, approx. 136 years ago). In fact, even much earlier, the participation of Cyrus in fulfilling what God has decreed, was prophesied 150 years earlier by Isaiah (Isa. 45:1-4). It was God's doing. And because it was the LORD'S doing, the captives were not only allowed to go back to Zion, they were also amply supplied from the king's treasury, as well as from their neighbors who voluntarily gave gifts. What happened was so extraordinary that anyone who sees it could only say that it was possible only because God himself was doing it. C. The listing of returnees (Ezra 2:1-70). When you go to a trip, you would usually account for the people who would come, and maybe your belongings. When the captives returned to Zion, it was not an ordinary trip. Rather, it was a fulfillment of a promise. So a census was made. The list began with their leaders down to the family heads, the priests, Levites, temple singers, gatekeepers, and servants, and to those who claim to be Levites but could not prove it through genealogical record. I am not a foreigner to that feeling about listings and genealogies. I am also tempted to skip these

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portions of the word of God many times. Of course, these records are important not only to the Jews who returned, but to Jews today. But to us who are not Jews, what value do these records have? I would answer: First, these genealogies/lists testify to the historicity of biblical narratives. If the Bible is a mere collection of unreal stories (myths or fables), tedious listings such as this would be totally unnecessary. Secondly, they bear witness to the truth that God is personal. God does not redeem nameless people. He knows these people by name. When God gave the fresh start, he was not only giving it to the nation. Rather, he was also giving those families and individuals a fresh start. Thirdly, mindfulness to the promises of God is important (Ezra 2:59). The Levites (cf. v.62) who could not trace their ancestral roots were probably unmindful (unconcerned) about their rich heritage for a long time, they did not bother to check and confirm their Levitical ancestry. Thus, when the Lord called for priests who will have the privilege of serving during the restoration, they disqualified themselves. I think that when people slight the promises of God, they miss-out on the privilege of serving when God does wonderful things as a fulfillment of his promises (cf. Matt. 25:1-13). D. The rebuilding of the temple began (Ezra 3:1-13). After the returnees have settled on the Promised Land, they went on to build the temple, the very purpose for which Cyrus allowed them to go back (cf. Ezra 1:2). A mixed response happened after the foundation of the temple has been laid. The older priests (those who have seen the previous temple) wept aloud, while the younger ones (those who were born and raised in captivity) made shouts of victory. At first reading, one might get the impression that the reason why the older priests, Levites and family heads were crying was because the newly laid foundation was inferior to the old temple, which King Solomon built. That the newly laid foundation was way below as compared to the old temple is true. But that, I think, is not enough reason to believe that the mix response was a comparison issue because when one refers to the testimony of the priests/Levites themselves in Psalm 126, one would realize that they were actually crying in their laughter. Read Psalm 126:1-2. It was like a dream come true. They were not in anyway disappointed by its size. How could they? Rather, they were greatly overwhelmed with joy so that they shed tears and laughed as they cried. E. The opposition to the rebuilding (Ezra 4:1-5, 24). But their celebrative spirit was short-lived for as soon as their enemies saw what they were doing, they began to oppose. Their fist major attack was to infiltrate the ranks of the workers in the rebuilding project. But the Jews refused their offer because it is detrimental to the project itself, as well as, to the spirituality of the people. It is not wise to work hand in hand with an enemy. He may build with the intent of making the building fall or he may influenced the builders to laziness or he may infect others with critical spirit and pessimism. We need to remember that these enemies were their neighbors. When Assyria conquered the Northern kingdom (Israel) they deported many of their people and replaced them with people from other nations in order to intermarry with those who were left (2Kings 17:23-24), thus, producing the people called Samaritans in the NT. This move precludes revolt because it takes away strong nationalism from conquered nations. But more significantly, the intermixing of races also resulted in the intermixing of religious ideas and practices, so that while these half-bred Jews claimed to worship Yahweh, they also worshipped other gods (syncretism). That's why partnership with them was detrimental to the spirituality of the returnees. They simply could not afford to be entagled again in idolatry, the very reason for their captivity. Their refusal to accept help from the Samaritans, however, resulted in greater opposition. Their enemies did not only discouraged the builders, they also hired counselors to do high level opposition so that the project was stopped and the people abandoned it for 16 years (536-520 BC).

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E. The building project resumed and completed (Ezra 5:1-6:22). After a long period of abandonment, the LORD sent his messengers, Haggai and Zechariah, to rebuke the people for their indifference, and to encourage them to resume the work as well. The people responded to the messages and resumed the work, despite fear of their neighbors. Then they were again opposed and this time, reminiscing from their former success as it were, the enemies went straight to high level opposition. A letter was sent to king Darius (successor of king Cyrus) and the search for the archives was requested. This time what the researches found was the royal decree issued by king Cyrus. Thus, instead of stoppage, king Darius ordered the resumption of the building project. He also gave orders that the funds be taken from the royal treasury and tax revenues that these enemies of the Jews collect in the region of Trans-Euphrates. Darius' decree did not only permit the resumption of the work. It did not only secure provisions for it. It also furnished protection for the workers. When the opposition was eliminated, the building project resumed and was completed on the third day of the month of Adar (12th month) on the sixth year of Darius. King of Persia (Ca. 516 BC). Upon its completion, the people dedicate the temple and offered sacrifices as required by the LORD in the law. III. Spiritual Lessons The major spiritual lesson which permeates the whole narrative, which I also believe to be the one intended by Ezra as he wrote this narrative, is the invincibility of God's purpose for his own people. Whatever God decreed in eternity past will happen. No one can cancel it. No one can postpone it. No one can delay it even for a hundredth of a second. No one can improve or diminish it. No one can alter it. Everything that God has decreed will happen. This is possible because God is all-powerful, all-wise, and forever faithful. God possesses the power and authority to execute his plan. He has the wisdom to determine perfect means for every goal he desires. And because God is forever faithful, all these are under his disposal for the good of his own people. He declares, I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed (Mal. 3:6). This is the reason why even after the fall of Jerusalem, the prophet Jeremiah could sing, Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." 25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; 26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. (Lam. 3:22-26). The apostle Paul testifies, As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable (Rom. 11:28-29). It is because of God's invincible purpose of for his people that they continue to receive fresh start, no matter how deep and how many times they fall. How about us? Do Christians have the same invincible purpose to cling to as an anchor to their soul? Absolutely! Consider the following verses: Rom. 8:30 And those he predestined he also glorified. I placed the verse this way because everything that happens after predestination will serve to reach glorification, no one will fall out (cf. John 6:39-40). Eph. 1:4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. It is just right for us to be concerned about the remaining sinfulness that we have. We are to give every effort to subdue our remaining inbred sinfulness. But regardless of what you are right now, if you're a true

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Christian one day you will be blameless in his sight (cf. Eph. 5:25-27). How could this possible knowing that we are being seduced by the world, the flesh, and the devil everyday? 1Pet. 1:5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 1John 1:8-2:1 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 2:1 ... if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. When we face God, he will not parade our sins. How could he if he has already forgiven and forgotten our sins! Rom. 4:8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him. 2Tim. 2:13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. (Cf. Luke 22:3134 "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." 33 But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." 34 Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.") Regardless of how deep we have plunged ourselves in, we still need to lift our heads in hope because God is willing and able to give us a fresh start. But we should not presumptuously claim these promises from God. Rather, we must mimic Daniel who, while conscious of the great promises of God, humbled himself before God, confessed the sins of his nation and asked God to fulfill what he has promised (Dan. 9:1-19). "Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name." (Dan. 9:17-19).