September 18: Ezra 1-3

September 18, Ezra 1-3

Historically and according to Jewish tradition, Ezra and Nehemiah were one book. We now have them as two separate books, but you will soon see why it would work to have them as one. The first 6 chapters occurred before Ezra’s time and it is uncertain as to who wrote them, some say it was the Chronicler because Ezra flows right out of that. Regardless, the book of Ezra is about God’s faithfulness to His people and promises made, and also about His people’s faithfulness to Him.

Ezra 1 We learn that what Jeremiah prophesied years before had come true. God’s people were going home out of exile. God used King Cyrus of Persia, who just conquered Babylon and God stirred up his heart to make a proclamation to send the Jews back home and that God had put him in charge of building a new Temple for the only true God. King Cyrus wrote up a document stating as much. He also wrote that people should go back home and help build and give their money to the project. The neighbors gave gifts and money and the people obeyed Cyrus. They also brought with them the vessels from the house of the Lord that Nebuchadnezzar had taken for his false gods.  

Ezra 2 is where we get a long list of the names and clans of the exiles that were returning. It is a good list of the Israelites that are returning as well as some that couldn't prove that they were Jewish but wanted to come with. There is upwards of over 40,000 recorded here plus servants and animals. They are settling back into their own homeland that is now occupied by outsiders who have been calling it their home. The prophecy was being fulfilled…

Ezra 3 The high priest, Jeshua and some others set up an altar to God and offered many offerings and sacrifices to God, as commanded by Moses. They observed the festival of booths and other ceremonial laws. They didn't have a foundation built just yet, so they hired some masons and carpenters to build it and paid them. The Levites supervised the work being done. When the builders had laid the foundation of the new Temple, the people went crazy. Some were ecstatic and excited and others wept, both with joy for their new Temple to God. They sang to God and made some real loud noises, so much so that it was heard a long way away. Those that wept were of the older generation that remembered the previous temple (memory lane).  

To sum it all up: 

• We need to celebrate that God fulfilled His promises. It is rewarding to read it because we have been reading about a bunch of prophecies and it is great to see them fulfilled! God always keeps His Word. Period.