Ezra: Intro

In these later days it seems the church is struggling to retain its mission of the Great Commission and congregations are dwindling in number and size. In many assemblies there seems to be a clear aging of members and a movement of younger believers to more youthful and less traditional worship. Yet, there also seems to be a consistent yearning for restoration of the spirit. People long to recover a fresh and intimate relationship with God as years of busyness and perhaps spiritual neglect have led many of us to a spiritual wasteland of distance from God.

Our need for restoration also touches on our relationships with others. Broken marriages and splintered families fill our communities and our churches. Brokenness seems to touch many parts of our hearts and it seeps into our churches as well. Discord and even hate seem to be priority in our society. Throughout the western world churches are closing their doors. Church leaders in our day are asking “... how can restoration happen in our churches...?”

The wonderful book of Ezra allows us to find answers to these issues. It narrates the story of how God restored His fallen nation after it had been destroyed by the Babylonians. The study of Ezra will help us to become renewed in our own lives. People who are just like us fill the pages of Ezra. Here we find people mourning over the “good old days”, struggling in disobedience to God, facing difficult ethical decisions, confronting the treachery of friends, delighting in some success and reeling in failures.

Even though a gulf of over 2400 years stands between us and those in Ezra, we will find our own lives and struggles portrayed in the pages of the book of the prophet Ezra.

English translations give us the books of Ezra and Nehemiah as two books, the original Hebrew Bible originally and today offer these two as one book, known originally as Esdras B. Most scholars agree the book was finished around 300 B.C., with certain elements of the book clearly documented earlier, perhaps back to 430 B.C. We do know from history that the edict of Cyrus, Ezra 1 & 6, was given in 538 B.C. While the theme of the book is restoration, Ezra himself does not appear until the last four chapters.

David's kingdom had fallen into ruins and his grandchildren divided the nation to two sections with Israel in the north and Judea in the south. The north rejected God and worshiped idols with happy delight and and in 722 B.C. God raised up the powerful nation of Assyria to overwhelm and conquer Israel.

In 586 B.C. the same issues overtook Judea, who had apparently learned nothing from the destruction of Israel, and God raised up Babylon to destroy both the southern lands as well as the Holy Temple. God sent His prophets to warn the people but none repented and sin continued. The captivity of the southern kingdom was to last 70 years. In exile the people longed for restoration, yearning for the day when God would rebuild His chosen people in the promised land. Jeremiah and Isaiah promised deliverance through God's anointed one, Cyrus, who was called by name by God before he was ever born. The appointed time had come and restoration was near as the book of Ezra begins.

The long night of captivity and servitude was over and the shame of the Hebrew people was ending as they began to return to their land. Under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Ezra renewal had arrived. Nehemiah would be appointed by God to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, and Ezra had been appointed to rebuild the faith of the people as Zerubbabel took charge of the physical task of rebuilding the Temple.

The book of Ezra falls into two sections, the expedition under Zerubbabel, chapters 1-6 and then the expedition under Ezra in chapters 7-10.

Under Zerubbabel the work began to restore the Temple, then with opposition, the work stopped, and then after a period of years began again and the Temple was completed and dedicated in 515 B.C.

Under Ezra the focus was on the spiritual restoration with the foundation of the Law of Moses implemented again among the people. Ezra found himself in a most difficult leadership position when great sin was found among the people and Ezra, who was God's messenger, arranged the necessary repentance of that great sin which was widespread and was deemed by Ezra as unacceptable to God.

Ezra's great message was that the Law was to be obeyed and understood by the people. His work was to rouse the people up to renewed faith, prayer, and action.

Ezra - Chapter 1

GOD BEGINS THE RESTORATION

Who is in charge of our lives? Most of the time, we seem to think that we are.

We value financial stability, stable jobs, a regular schedule, and we seem quite sure that all of these important areas are fully under our control.

Unfortunately some of us relearn this lesson of life the day the doctor says, “you have cancer”. At moments such as this one we may ask a common question which is,

“who is in charge here?”

The first chapter of Ezra answers this question as it begins to unfold the story of the restoration of the Temple in Jerusalem, as well as the return of Jews to their promised homeland.

Verses 1-4 begin this strong lesson with the words of Cyrus, the king of Persia. Until 550 B.C. Cyrus rules a small portion of the Median Empire (Iran) until 539 B.C. When he moved militarily against the Persian Empire (Babylon / Iraq). The king of Babylon was so intensely disliked and the corruption of the land so widespread that when Cyrus led his troops against them, there appeared no resistance  and without opposition Cyrus conquered Babylon. 

Cyrus quickly gained favor with all the people when he rebuilt housing for the poor, granted full worship to all in their chosen way, and put into place a plan to rebuild sacred places previously conquered, as well as allowing free opportunity of captive peoples to go home. In terms of the Jews, he opened the door for their departure, ordered and financed the rebuilding of the Temple and returned all religious objects previously stolen when Babylon overran Judea. 

Why would Cyrus adopt such a favorable and lenient policy toward the Jews? Cyrus has written that his hope was to gain favor with all gods by assisting peoples to return to their original worship traditions.

But there was a very interesting factor in the work of Cyrus to free the Jews and to assist them in returning to Jerusalem. Almost 170 years before Cyrus gave his directive to free the Jews and allow them to return as well as to grant the restoration of the Temple the Lord had His prophet Isaiah announce it and in that announcement to actually call the name of Cyrus (before he was born) as the pagan king He would use to arrange the return and freedom of His chosen people. 

Isaiah 45:1-4:

“Thus saith the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him: and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before  him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut. I will go before thee and make the crooked places straight: I will brake in pieces the gates of brass, and will cut in sunder the bars of iron: And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by name, am the God of Israel. For Jacob, my servant's sake and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.”

Ezra 1:1 teaches us that Jehovah God stirred up the spirit of Cyrus to permit the return of the Jews. The historian Josephus wrote that the elders of the captive Jews came to Cyrus and showed him the scripture written long before using his name as the one who would free the Jews. When Cyrus gave the order to free the Jews, he was sure to include the statement that God in heaven had given him his kingdom and charged him to do His will to free His people. Scripture teaches that of the hundreds of thousands who were taken captive, 42,360 chose to go home. We should carefully note that God called Cyrus His anointed one.

In verses 5-11 we see that the heads of the houses (the tribes) arranged the group who would return. The teaching is clear that these were those whose spirits were moved by God to make the return trip. So God moved not only the spirit of Cyrus, but also the hearts of a portion of His chosen people to move home.

The final verse of chapter one says the sacred objects were given by Cyrus to Sheshbazzar, (likely the Persian name for Zerubbabel) who verse 8 notes as a prince. Verse 5:14 will later refer to him as governor.

God had promised through His prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 29:14) that the return would occur and now His promise is kept.

So who is indeed in charge?

Ezra shows that the sovereign will of God can move the heart of a king after delivering to him a kingdom without opposition. Not only human hearts but human history is under the full control of the Lord. His sovereign will done does not mean that problems are not to be seen along our life journey. We see in the NT, John 12:31 that Satan is considered the prince of this world and he works tirelessly to diminish both our faith and our lives. Yet Christians have always affirmed that God is truly in charge of His creation. 

How and when God chooses to act to effect His will is beyond understanding given to us but through faith we remain sure He does so for His good purpose on our behalf. 

Ezra - Chapter 2

THE PEOPLE WHO RETURNED

In this interesting chapter we are given a very specific listing of those people who chose to make the return trip back to Judea after the command allowing the freedom to make this choice was granted by Cyrus.

While there are 70 verses, it is very hard for those of us in our day to make sense of this long listing so we should rather try to reflect on the overall meaning of reason for the listing.

Verses 1 & 2 detail the fact that there are descendants of the original families carried away by Babylon in the first wave of those returning. This list is closely in line with the similar information given in Nehemiah 7:6-72, proving once more the wisdom of perhaps viewing these two books as one as the Hebrew Bible does. History does not allow us to know who was the author of these lists. Verse 64 provides the head count of those returned of 42,360. Unfortunately, standard addition of the listing by family here and in Nehemiah does not total that number (Ezra = 29,818 & Nehemiah = 31,089).

It seems possible that the variance may come from the individual family numbers listing only men while the total is meant to include women and children. There are several instances of such totals in our scripture, even in the total of those in the multitudes fed by Jesus in miracles of multiplication of small amounts of food to satisfy many who were hungry.

There are some important mentions in this long list and are likely included for us to grasp the important foundation of this group for those who would come later. We see that the high priest family of Joshua (Jeshua) was included. A number of Levites were listed to assure understanding of proper worship upon the arrival back into the holy city.

The family of Asaph, the song master of Solomon's Temple, was included to further assure proper musical worship. Asaph was appointed by David and he wrote a number of the Psalms. Two other special groups were included, one of whom was non Hebrew.

The first was the Nethinims (Gibeonites from Joshua 9) who assisted the Levites in worship duties. The second were some Levitical priests who were unable yet to prove their heritage. These were not allowed to serve until the high priest could later consult the sacred stones of God (Urim & Thummim) to gain God's permission.

The chapter ends with the beginning of the resettlement of families in Jerusalem and surrounding areas.

Ezra - Chapter 3

LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS

Chapter 3, verses 1-7, begins the story of laying a solid foundation needed for a restoration of faith and worship inside the promised land after the 70 years of captivity, caused by the chosen people becoming idol worshipers exactly like their pagan neighbors. Ezra 3 illustrates that a solid foundation is needed for the faith of each of us so that the other areas of life might follow as solid. Here in these few verses the spiritual foundation begins.

Seven months had seen some serious efforts to recreate a necessary basis for a renewal. The names mentioned, Jeshua (high priest) and Zerubbabel (civic leader), clearly indicate both portions of life in Judea were joining as one to bring proper strength to this important part of the life of the people who returned. The altar of sacrifice was rebuilt and we are told it was positioned “on its bases” meaning it was rebuilt upon the original position used prior in Temple worship. Now the important Feast of Tabernacles could be held which required much sacrifice to God. Verse 6 allows us to know that this work had been completed even before the foundation of the rebuilding of the Temple began. After the altar was redone, other factors could be considered. Masons and carpenters were hired to take the next step needed for restoration.

Now in verses 8-13, after the spiritual foundation had been laid, the material foundation could move forward. Now Zerubbabel led all other sections of those who had returned into the work necessary to arrange a new Temple. Levite leaders were appointed to oversee the work. Verse 9 allows the actual name of those families appointed.

Verse 10 brings a surprise as just as soon as a foundation had been completed, work stopped for celebration. Musical worship was begun just as King David had long ago commanded and the priests and Levites sang responsively and included all the people in the singing. In joyous song, the people gave credit to God for the progress in the restoration and we are told that they “worshiped with a great shout”. Happiness had returned.

In verses 12-13 we view another surprise as many of the elder priests and family leaders wept with loud voices as they saw the Temple foundation completed before their eyes. These were elderly men who had seen the original Temple.

Ezra three tells a story about foundations, both literal and figurative. On one hand  the people laid Temple foundations which brought much joy, but not before spiritual foundations had been completed. Here a fundamental teaching is given which is that they put first things first, establishing priorities for the lives of those returned.

Jesus Himself later gave this same message by saying we are to seek first the Kingdom of God, and then all other things will be added to our lives.

We should also not overlook a needed bit of wisdom in this chapter which is that we are not to let buildings distract us from what truly matters. After only completing the foundation of the new Temple, praise and joyful celebration was given by the people. The spirit of worship and thanks here are demonstrated before a wall was done.

Our lesson is that we must always remember to put first things first and that our priority is mindfulness of who it is that is truly in charge and how every step we take to build a faith journey should be coupled with joyful thanks.

Ezra - Chapter 4

OPPOSITION TO RESTORATION

In verses 1-5 in chapter four, we begin to view a matter that always seem to find its way into labor done for the Lord, which is opposition.

Certain adversaries appear who are against Judah and Benjamin and bring an offer to those who had returned to rebuild. The offer made in verse 2 was “...let us build with you.” These offering made the offer in a most interesting way. They say that they seek your God as you do. We notice they did not say they seek OUR God, but your God. They claim they have been sacrificing to Yahweh since the king of Syria brought them to the land. We do know from 2nd Kings 17 that many people were indeed resettled into the land while it was under Assyrian rule. The scripture in 2nd Kings does confirm these people did worship the God of the Jews, but the fact is that they did not do so exclusively. They viewed the God of the Jews as one god among many and in such worship were in clear and direct violation of the Lord's holy commandment number one.

Yahweh requires a full trust in Him only.

Zerubbabel and Jeshua refuse the offer not on religious grounds, although that refusal would have been correct. They refuse because they apparently knew that the decree from Cyrus allowed the rebuilding only by those who had chosen to return from Babylon.

We see that the offer was from those who opposed Judah and Benjamin so the first plan was to infiltrate the Jews who were working hard to please God. When that plan did not succeed they went to plan number two which was to trouble the building work by hiring counselors to appeal to Persian officials to frustrate the work. Verse 5 teaches us that plan two seemed to have some effect and the work was delayed after the time of Cyrus until the new king arrived on the throne who was King Darius. This was a period of approximately 16 years.

In verses 6-23 we find other examples of opposition. More effort was made in the court of Persia claiming that the rebuilding effort was one to make rebellion against Persia and therefore was begun under false circumstances so it must be ended. The King seemed to accept this lie and decreed that the work must be stopped. Opposition was a success initially. Verse 24 is clear that the work ceased.

But there is more to this story than meets the eye in the verses above.

God raised up a prophet named Haggai and we see in Haggai 1:3 that the Lord had become displeased that those who returned had spent far more time building their own houses than His house. The description was that they had built their own “paneled”

dwellings while neglecting construction on the new Temple. Their procrastination was evident and it seemed only God could correct them and this is exactly what He did by allowing positive reception at the court in Persia of those who were seeking to end the work.

Here was spiritual warfare at its highest level. Those who had once begun such good work to please God were tempted to leave off that work and to begin more selfish work of personal benefit at the expense of the assigned work of building God's house. Here was wrestling against spiritual wickedness in high places, not against flesh and blood exactly as Paul later warned in his writing in our New Testament.

Opposition prevailed not because it was stronger, but because those who had been stirred in spirit by God to do His work lost their will and yielded to the temptation to do for themselves rather than for the Lord.

Ezra - Chapter 5

RESTORATION RESUMED

We see the Lord's prophet Haggai shedding some light on the stopping of the restoration of the Temple in Haggai 1:2:

“The time has not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built.”

The people were procrastinating and dithering about the completion of the work assigned. Chapters 5 & 6 allow us a view into the need for a restart on the Temple work and a revival of spirit and strength to begin again. 

So help was found from the Lord's prophets as verses 1 & 2 teach us. Haggai and Zechariah stirred up the Jews toward resuming the work and Zerubbabel and Jeshua resumed their leadership positions and arranged the work to restart. These two prophets urged the people to take courage and not be apprehensive and they told the people God had warned them that such delays would occur.

At the same time we see in verses 3-5 that questions arose from some officials asking who had given permission to construct the building. The territorial Governor wrote a letter to King Darius asking if it was true that this work had been blessed by Persia (King Cyrus) bringing perhaps a shadow upon the whole project. Verses 6-7 give us the story of the letter sent.

Chapter 5 allows us the strong lesson that once God assigns work for His kingdom, we should place that work at the highest priority level in our lives and are to trust that God will provide a way and the means to complete it. Such effort is the basis of obedience to the Lord and in verse 5:5 we see that the “eye of God” was on the Jews. So our teaching is that we are to trust God and know that His work and will shall be done and that He has the strength and ability to overcome any who would stand in the way to block his commanded work.  

Ezra - Chapter 6

COMPLETION AND CELEBRATION

After 16 years of delay, finally the Jews had begun again to construct the new Temple for the worship of the Lord. 

The search requested by the territorial Governor had been done in the treasure house of Persia and King Darius had responded as to the findings. The scroll of the original decree made by Cyrus was found and the details were exactly as the Jewish leaders had said when they were questioned as to who allowed their work. The response letter from the King to the Governor was strong and direct. He told this Governor that he and his people were to stay far away from this work and further were commanded to let the Jews continue the work Cyrus decreed. The Governor was also commanded to provide any assistance needed and any expenses are to be paid so that this work may be finished. Even further a command was made that any man who in any way delayed the work was to be hanged from a beam from his own house and the house made a garbage heap after his hanging.

In verses 13-15 we are told that the Governor got the message loud and clear and he and his men diligently did as King Darius commanded. Verse 14 summarizes the story told in Ezra 5:1. Not only did the elders of the Jews build, but also they prospered

through the prophesying of  Haggai and Zechariah. God had raised up these men as prophets and we see clearly that the work they did stirred the hearts of the Jews to restart and to complete God's work. Verse 14 also gives us the good news that the Temple was finished according to the God of Israel and according to the command of Cyrus and Darius. While the work of these two prophets does not appear inside the book of Nehemiah, it is reflected in both books that carry the names of these two sent by God.

Verse 15 even allows us to know the actual day on which completion was seen.

Now in verses 16-18 we see the people celebrate the dedication of the Temple. Great sacrifices were made as sin offerings and there is much joy in the celebration of this great mission that has been completed. The leaders made sure the divisions inside the Temple work assured the new place of worship functioned properly.

In verses 19-22 we see that the people celebrated the Feast of the Passover which marks the deliverance of the chosen people from bondage in Egypt and now the celebration may include the release from their bondage in Babylon back into the promised land.

Ezra - Chapter 7

RESTORING THE COVENANT LIFE

Between the last verse of chapter six and the beginning of chapter seven, fifty years have passed. The Temple was completed in 516-515 B.C. in the 7th year of the reign of King Darius of Persia. The action in chapter seven takes place in the seventh year of the reign of King Artaxerxes or 458 B.C.

Now we are introduced to the man Ezra and his work of restoration. Unlike those who worked on the physical part of Temple building, Ezra worked on the rebuilding of the understanding of the people to obey the Torah, the Law as given through Moses. This area will prove to be far more difficult to implement. The Temple is finished. The work of restoring the covenant life of Yahweh worship is on going and will require continual effort on the part of Ezra.

Now we see in this important chapter the commission given to Ezra and his response to that commission. Verses 1-10 give us the introduction to this man himself. In chapter six Ezra was described as a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses and now we see that the King granted Ezra all his request according to the hand of God upon him. In verses 7-9 we see Ezra makes another journey from Babylon to Jerusalem. Verse 10 says that Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law and to do it and to teach it to Israel.

Here in Jewish writings Ezra begins to assume legendary impressions and in the Jewish book called 2 Esdras he reveals he is granted private revelations from God. 

In verses 11-26 we see that Ezra is given a special commission by the King which is addressed to Ezra the priest a scribe of the Law of God in heaven. This commission shows several points to review. First, it permitted all Jews, including priests and Levites, to return to Jerusalem. Second the King made note that Ezra carried a copy of the Law and he could freely teach it inside Judea and to enforce obedience to it. Third, the King charged Ezra with the responsibility of carrying gifts and financial contributions with him back to Jerusalem. Fourth, great detail was provided of the power of Ezra to appoint magistrates and judges among the people. Fifth, the commission gave Ezra the right and authority to punish those who were not in compliance with the Law of God.

It appears that his commission was almost too good to be true and it provided all the support needed to transform the life of the Jews back to what God had originally commanded Moses to announce, a life of intimacy between God and His chosen people as long as they obeyed His law.

Now in verses 27-28 we are given the response of Ezra to the wonderful commission and we see immediately that he says that God put this thing in the heart of the King and God extended His mercy on Ezra to implement His will among all those who serve the King. Ezra says he is encouraged in the work and journey and he gathered up the leading men of Israel to go with him.

This transforming understanding from the King to God's anointed man Ezra shows the importance of his example. Ezra had set his heart on God's truth. He had committed himself to that study and how it applied to the covenant life of everyday people. He had committed himself to teaching God's truth to those everyday people and we will see in the coming chapters how Ezra had to make some very difficult decisions about that truth to instill compliance to it among the people.

God blessed Ezra and his work because he dedicated himself to obey the Law sent from above to God's chosen messenger of deliverance, Moses. Ezra said clearly he was willing to teach the statutes and ordinances of the Law to the people and was also willing to enforce obedience to it for it is only in that obedience that blessing is to be found.

We remember that this lesson was the hardest lesson taught by Samuel to the first King of Israel, Saul. It is better to obey than sacrifice. Now we will see that this lesson still is the foundation of the covenant life designed by God. The problem was not (and still is not) that God's will is difficult but is that sinful people take it upon themselves to disobey it and do not consider the full result that will come from that violation of living life away from the will of the Lord.  

Ezra - Chapter 8

EZRA RETURNS TO JERUSALEM

Chapter eight begins with Ezra's list of those who “... who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of King Artaxerxes.” He does not list each person by name but instead categorizes people according to their families. Typical of his culture he mentions only the males who journeyed to Jerusalem. The list identifies about 1500 men, so the entire group was likely about 5000 people.

They gathered by a river named Ahava and camped in this spot for three days. Ezra surveyed those who had responded to the invitation given and found none of the sons of Levi among them. Two leaders were chosen to visit Casiphia where they met with Iddo, the chief man, to advise of the need of Ezra to have temple servants with him and were blessed by God to return with a group of those needed. Thirty eight Levites joined, along with 220 Nethinim who were helpers descended from those appointed by King David.

Ezra, an expert in the Law, knew that only Levites were to carry the holy things for the Temple as commanded in Numbers 1 & 3. Based on this understanding Ezra recruited these men to be in charge of the Temple objects given by the current King to be returned to the new Temple.

Once the group had been gathered, Ezra “proclaimed a fast” so that the group would be humble before God and then be able to properly seek the protection of God for the coming journey. This was a journey of about 800 miles. Verse 22 teaches us that Ezra could have requested a military escort for protection, as Nehemiah did. Ezra showed his full trust in God to protect the group and verse 23 advises that God answered the prayer.

Now in verses 24-30 we see the description of the holy gifts they carried. In our previous chapter (7:15-19) we see the King of Persia gave substantial amounts of gold and silver. In these verses Ezra constructs a method of accounting to assure proper control of the precious cargo. Twelve leading priests and twelve Levites were directed to weigh the gifts which would be later weighed at Jerusalem to prove that gifts given were fully delivered.

Verses 31-36 provide the story of the arrival in Jerusalem. Upon arriving people whose ancestors had been originally carried away offered sacrifices to God in thanks for their return to the holy city. These sacrifices were made both as thanks for safety in the trip as well as a sin offering for cleansing from pagan contamination along the way.

Local officials, satraps, received the orders from the King positively and followed the King's orders as given.

We must note that when Ezra trusted God for something major, like the protection of the caravan in travel, he did not presume that since God, who knows all things, including their needs, will simply provide. Instead he called all to fast and pray and importantly to assume a humble demeanor of their hearts to approach God for His blessings. Only prayerful discernment reveals when and how to trust the Lord and only prayerful obedience reflects a truly biblical trust in God's care.

This important lesson in this chapter is clear as a reminder of the great confession of King David in Psalm 51 in which he says God wants only a broken spirit and a contrite heart to be evident as we approach Him.

Ezra gives us the example of integrity in leadership that we would do well to keep in mind.

Ezra inspires us to do the right thing, even if doing so causes us to require added time and effort before we begin any work for God.

Ezra challenges us to act consistently within our convictions. His making no request for military help for protection can be debated as to its wisdom, but we cannot lose sight of the fact that Ezra acted with full integrity according to his personal convictions.

Ezra was careful to account for the shortcomings of men in the journey. Men can be greedy and may in the presence of gold and silver try to find a way to profit themselves over serving God. Ezra knew this and he formed a way of accounting at the start of the journey and at the end of the journey to assure no human failure of character might diminish the mission for God

These special efforts to be consistent in accomplishing the work for the Lord will be seen in far greater depth in the coming two chapters. One of the finest characteristics shown by Ezra, who was chosen by God for this mission, is his consistency in putting his faith convictions above all other factors when serving the Lord.     

Ezra - Chapter 9

THE PAINFUL SIDE OF RESTORATION

In verses 1-4 Ezra must respond to a very difficult report. Our beginning phrase is “... when these things were done...” which refers to the delivery of the precious vessels and other treasures being returned to the Temple by Ezra.  The beginning phrase does not grant us the fact that four months had elapsed since Ezra arrived in Jerusalem. So what was he doing in this span of time? We are unsure how he passed that time but at the end of it the leaders of Israel came to Ezra with a most difficult report which detailed widespread sin.

The people of Israel, including priests and Levites, had not separated themselves from the people of the surrounding areas and instead they had joined themselves in marriage with these pagan peoples. As a result the “holy seed” was mixed now with the peoples of the land around and among the Jews. This unusual phrase blends two concepts of the Bible, the people of God and the seed of Abraham. Israel had been established as a unique people set apart and chosen specifically by God. The Law was so very clear on this matter, commanding the Jews in Deuteronomy 7:1-4 to make no covenant with these peoples nor to intermarry with them. God had warned through Moses that such mixing would cause the people to be lured away from the true and living God. The later history of Israel shows that, in fact, such intermarriage did indeed take the Jewish people away from the Lord.

A much more depressing fact is given in verse 2 which teaches that the leaders and rulers had been found to be in this sin also. These are men who should have known more than any others that God has forbidden this mixing.

Ezra was in much grief. He tore his clothing. He plucked hair from his head. He sat down astonished, which literally meant “horrified”. This problem did not involve those who had stayed in the land after the captivity but was found in those who had returned from Persia.

After hours of concern Ezra arranges a prayer of confession in verses 5-15. He fell on his knees in a gesture of submission to God. He formed the beginning of the prayer to be about himself by saying that he was ashamed for the iniquities and said that this sin had risen up to heaven itself. Verse 7 explains that such things are why Israel is still at that time under foreign domination. But verses 8-9 show that even so, God has provided grace in His treatment of His chosen but sinful people. Verse 10 says that despite God's grace, the people had forsaken the Lord's commandments.

Verses 11-12 detail the commands broken by the intermarrying Jews. Verse 13 assures that the people were punished far less that they deserved. In fact the Lord had delivered them from the hand of Persia and allowed their restoration. Verse 15 concludes the prayer of confession and says that no one can stand in God's presence because of the horrible sin Israel has done. The prayer ends in despair without even a cry for further deliverance. Ezra seemed to believe that at this moment, the people were beyond hope.

What could possibly be done to rectify this most difficult situation in which Ezra found himself? He was God's appointed one to bring this people to restoration and now he found himself in the midst of a problem not of his making but still falling upon his shoulders to resolve.

Ezra - Chapter 10

SOLVING THE PROBLEM

Chapter ten begins with the words that Ezra was praying and confessing and during his time of prayer a very large group has formed around him and were weeping strongly.

Although Ezra may have ended his prayer in a way that seems without hope, a man named Shechaniah, who admitted the seriousness of the sin of Israel, proposed a solution to the problem in verse 2. He did not try to minimize the issues, saying Israel had sinned against God, yet he held out hope for the chosen people in spite of this sin. He proposes that the men who had taken pagan wives put them away, meaning to divorce them. In verse 4 he then reminds Ezra that the handling of this issue is in the hand of Ezra and tells him to arise and handle the matter. He says that this matter should be handled by Ezra and according to the law. There was no Hebrew law to require such divorce after marriage to a non Hebrew woman. The law said not to enter the marriage but did not address what to do afterward.

Chapter 7 had taught us that the Persian King gave Ezra the authority to teach and enforce God's Law. Shechaniah now tells Ezra to be of good courage and to proceed.

Ezra responded to the proposal in two ways. First, he says that all the people including the leaders will swear an oath that they will obey his words (verse 5). The people did indeed swear the oath and the Ezra retires to a room (likely inside the Temple) to continue to fast and to mourn further the sin of these people. The leaders of Judah issued a proclamation that all the people were to gather immediately (verse 7) and that those who did not gather would lose their property and be banished from the faith.

The time had come for national repentance and action.

So in verses 9-17 we see the action needed. The people did gather and it was in the ninth month (our December), a time of heavy rain that added to the trembling of the people. Ezra calls on the people to make confession to God and to do His will. Ezra's position was that God's will was for them to separate from the pagan people and especially from those pagan women they had married. The large number of people gathered and the difficult weather together caused quick obedience of the command of separation to not be practical. So a plan was implemented to grant the authority to elders and judges in the land to assure separation over the coming months. The plan was made and the people did begin to do as Ezra asked, with only a few not coming to compliance. Ezra himself and these appointed leaders questioned these men during the time of compliance to be sure they had put away both wives and children.

Verses 18-44 lists by name those who had married and then divorced these women not of Hebrew blood. Those listed first, verses 18-22, are priests. Verse 23 lists the Levites. These men had led Israel into sin so it seemed proper that they should be first listed to lead Israel in repentance. All these men sent away the women they had loved and married as well as sent away children that had resulted from those marriages.

Ezra 10 tells us what the people of Israel did in their efforts to gain renewal and be restored to God's favor. It is clear that Ezra felt this most difficult transaction was what God wished to happen. He had been much in prayer and fasting and these verses teach us clearly that he believed this action was the right one to atone for the great sin.

Whether or not we may agree with this proposal, it is clear that the people led by Ezra did feel that this solution was right to remedy what was wrong. Here is a great lesson on just how costly sin can be.

The Jews in Ezra's time clearly accepted the thought that a pagan spouse would ruin the holiness of a Hebrew spouse. When we come to the time of Christ, which is revealed to us in great detail by the writings of Paul, the chosen vessel of Jesus, we see that the New Testament view of this matter is quite different.

1st Corinthians 7:12-15 needs to be examined for our study to end properly and should allow us to ponder a different perspective.

“... if any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

And the woman which hath a husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now they are holy.

But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.”

What conclusion may we draw from this evident difference?

Hebrews considered purity to be by their own blood as inherited from Abraham through the twelve tribes.

Christians consider purity to be derived from faith, regardless of family, as faith allows us to enter the family of God when we are born again.

John 1:13 “... which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Our purity is derived from the blood of Jesus Christ, not of our own blood.

Ezra - Chapters 1-6: The Work Begins as God Restores His People

Application: EZRA WAS BOTH A SCRIBE AND A PRIEST AND HE WAS A DIRECT DESCENDANT OF PHINEAS, THE SON OF AARON.

IT IS COMMONLY ACCEPTED THAT HE WROTE THE BOOKS OF CHRONICLES, NEHEMIAH, AND THE BOOK THAT IS KNOWN BY HIS OWN NAME.

IN THE HEBREW BIBLE THE BOOKS OF EZRA & NEHEMIAH ARE NOT SEPARATE, BUT ARE ONE BOOK OF SCRIPTURE.

IN OUR STUDY BOOK WE SHOULD NOTE THAT THIS BOOK IS A CONTINUATION OF THE BOOK OF 2ND CHRONICLES.

THE 70 YEARS OF CAPTIVITY IN BABYLON ARE FINISHED AND THE PERSIANS HAVE OVERTAKEN BABYLON AND HAVE DIRECTED THAT THE JEWS MAY LEAVE AND RETURN TO THEIR HOMELAND.

THIS WAS IN 536 B.C. 

HERE CONTINUES OUR STUDY OF PROPHECY AND HOW THE LORD IMPLEMENTS HIS WILL THROUGH HIS ETERNAL PLAN.

WE SAW IN JEREMIAH 25:9-12 THAT THE LORD'S PROPHET HAD FORETOLD THE CAPTIVITY AND IT HAPPENED EXACTLY AS HAD BEEN TOLD.

NOW AT THE END OF THE 70 YEARS THE LORD ONCE AGAIN USES PROPHECY TO ANNOUNCE NOT ONLY THE ENDING OF THE CAPTIVITY BUT ALSO THE ACTUAL NAME OF THE MAN WHO WOULD MAKE IT SO.

ALMOST 170 YEARS BEFORE THE DIRECTIVE ALLOWING RETURN WAS ISSUED BY THE PERSIAN KING, CYRUS, THE LORD HAD HIS HOLY PROPHET ISAIAH ANNOUNCE IT AND ACTUALLY CALL THE NAME OF THE PAGAN KING HE WOULD USE TO ARRANGE THE RETURN.

ISAIAH 45:1-4:

“Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him: and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut:

I will go before thee and make the crooked places straight: I will brake in pieces the gates of brass, and will cut in sunder the bars of iron:

And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel,

For Jacob my servant's sake and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.”

EZRA OPENS HIS WRITING TO SHOW US QUICKLY THAT THIS RELEASE OF THE CHOSEN PEOPLE WAS NO COINCIDENCE OR HAPPY HAPPENSTANCE OF HISTORY.

EZRA 1:1 TEACHES US THAT GOD STIRRED UP THE SPRIT OF CYRUS TO PERMIT THE JEWS TO RETURN.

JOSEPHUS THE HISTORIAN WROTE THAT THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL'S CAPTIVES CAME TO CYRUS AND SHOWED HIM BOTH THE SCRIPTURES OF JEREMIAH AND ISAIAH AND PROVED TO HIM THAT ALMOST TWO CENTURIES BEFORE GOD HAD CALLED HIS NAME.

SO AN ORDINANCE WAS WRITTEN ALLOWING THE PEOPLE TO RETURN, AND IN IT CYRUS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT GOD IN HEAVEN HIMSELF HAD GIVEN HIM HIS KINGDOM AND CHARGED HIM TO DO HIS WILL TO FREE THE PEOPLE.

ONLY 42,360 PEOPLE OUT OF MANY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS CHOSE TO GO. 

GOD HAD MOVED THE SPIRIT OF THE KING TO FREE THE PEOPLE AND HE ALSO MOVED THE SPIRIT OF THOSE WHO CHOSE TO RETURN TO THE PROMISED LAND. EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE A MINORITY, THEY WERE A SPIRIT – STIRRED MINORITY.

THEY WERE DEDICATED TO THE DIFFICULT AND DISCOURAGING TASK OF RETURNING TO A RUINED CITY AND ONCE THERE TO BUILD THE HOUSE OF THE LORD WHICH IS IN JERUSALEM.

IT WAS ESSENTIAL THAT GOD MOVED THEIR SPIRITS BECAUSE THEY FACED MANY DIFFICULTIES.

THE JOURNEY ITSELF WAS LONG, DANGEROUS, AND EXPENSIVE.

THEY RETURNED TO A CITY IN RUINS WITH NO PROPER HOMES, ROADS, OR CITY DEFENSE NEEDS SUCH AS WALLS.

THEY HAD FEW RESOURCES FOR THE WORK AND HAD TO RELY ON THE LORD TO PROVIDE THEM.

NOT ALL RETURNED TO JERUSALEM PROPER BUT MANY SPREAD ALL OVER JUDEA.

THERE WERE MANY ENEMIES.

THEIR LAND WAS STILL IN THE HAND OF ANOTHER EMPIRE.

BUT THOSE WHO STAYED GAVE SOME TREASURE TO THOSE LEAVING AS A FREE WILL OFFERING FOR THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE.

CYRUS ALSO COMMANDED THAT ALL THE TEMPLE GOLD VESSELS AND TREASURES BE GIVEN BACK TO THE CHOSEN PEOPLE TO CARRY BACK TO USE ONCE AGAIN INSIDE THE TEMPLE WHEN WORSHIP RESUMED.

EZRA 2:1-35 GIVES A LISTING OF THOSE WHO MADE THE RETURN.

EVEN TWO SPECIAL GROUPS RETURNED, BOTH THE NETHINIMS AND THE GIBEONITES WERE PART OF THE RETURN, AS THEY HAD BEEN SPECIAL SERVANTS OF THE LEVITE PRIESTHOOD.

A VERY SMALL GROUP OF LEVITES WHO COULD NOT PROVE THEIR LINEAGE, RETURNED, BUT WERE FORBIDDEN TO SERVE AGAIN UNTIL THE HIGH PRIEST, JOSHUA, CONSULTED WITH THE HOLY STONES OF URIM AND THUMMIM WHICH HAD BEEN GIVEN BY GOD TO AARON TO REVEAL HIS WILL. 

NOW IN CHAPTER THREE WE SEE THE JOY IN THE CAMP.

DAYS OF SORROW FOR SO MANY YEARS WERE OVER AND JOY WAS FULL AS ALL THOSE WHO WISHED TO LEAVE BABLYON HAD THE FREEDOM TO DO SO.

ALL WAS NOT PERFECT HOWEVER, AND WHEN THEY RETURNED, THERE WAS MUCH WORK TO DO REBUILDING.

THERE WAS ALSO MUCH OPPOSITION FROM THOSE WHO HAD TAKEN UP LIVES IN THE PROMISED LAND WHILE THE JEWS WERE CAPTIVE.

CYRUS HAD MADE CLEAR IN HIS COMMAND THAT THE LAND WAS GIVEN BACK TO THE JEWS AS IT HAD BEEN THEIRS BEFORE AND NOW WAS TO BE THEIRS AGAIN. 

THE RETURNING REMNANT WERE A TIGHT KNIT GROUP AND AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS THEY MET AT THE TEMPLE SITE TO DISCOVER WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE.

3:1 SAYS THEY GATHERED THEMSELVES TOGETHER, AND THE HEBREW LANGUAGE SAYS THEY MOVED AS “ONE MAN 

ZERUBBABEL WAS THE APPOINTED CIVIC LEADER OF THIS GROUP.

HE WAS OF THE ROYAL SEED OF DAVID AND THEREFORE IN THE LINE OF THE MESSIAH.

MATTHEW 1:12-13 GIVE US HIS PLACE IN THE LINE OF JESUS.

JOSHUA WAS THE HIGH PRIEST AND WAS IN THE LEVITE LINE, A DIRECT DESCENDANT OF AARON.

THESE TWO GREAT MEN OF GOD TOOK THE LEAD IN THE WORK.

WE HAVE THE INTERESTING STORY GIVEN IN ZECHARIAH 3 OF THE CLEANSING OF JOSHUA BY THE ANGEL OF THE LORD, WHICH WAS JESUS APPEARING BEFORE HE WAS INCARNATE IN THE LIKENESS OF OUR FLESH.

IN THAT MOMENT WE SEE SATAN HIMSELF STANDING NEXT TO JOSHUA TO ACCUSE HIM BEFORE GOD.

BUT GOD CLEANSED HIM FOR THE WORK AND SPOKE IN THAT MOMENT OF A GREAT HIGH PRIEST LATER TO COME TO THE PEOPLE.

THE FIRST REBUILDING TASK WAS TO RECONSTRUCT THE ALTAR OF SACRIFICE, WHICH HAD TO BE FIRST ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF MOSES.

EZRA 3:3 TEACHES THIS TASK WAS UNDERTAKEN AND QUICKLY COMPLETED.

SO THIS FAITHFUL REMNANT WAS WORKING HARD TO ADHERE TO THE LETTER OF THE LAW.

EZRA 3:7 TELLS US OF THE PLANS TO RECONSTRUCT THE TEMPLE.

RESOURCES WERE GIVEN AND CONSTRUCTION BEGAN BY REUSING THE OLD TEMPLE STONES STILL ON SITE FROM THE DESTRUCTION.

VERSES 11-13 SHOW US A REVIVAL MEETING TO CELEBRATE.

THEY GAVE THANKS AND THE ELDERS WEPT WITH JOY, WITH BOTH CRYING AND HAPPY SHOUTING ALL HEARD AT THE SAME TIME.

NOW IN CHAPTER FOUR WE ARE FACED WITH A SOBERING TEACHING THAT STILL IS VALID EVEN TODAY.

WHERE THE WORK OF GOD IS EVIDENT, THE WORK OF THOSE OPPOSED TO GOD IS ALSO PRESENT.

HINDERANCE OF THE WORK OF THE LORD IS NOT NEW OR OLD, IT SIMPLY IS CLEAR FROM THE GARDEN UNTIL NOW. IT NEVER ENDS.

ADVERSARIES APPEARED AND OFFERED TO HELP IN THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE.

THESE WERE NOT JEWS AND WERE NOT INTENDING TO BE HELPFUL IN THE WORK.

LATER IN JUDE 4 WE SEE THE BEST DESCRIPTION OF SUCH MEN, AS JUDE SAYS THERE ARE CERTAIN MEN CREEPING IN UNAWARES.

HERE IS THE AGE OLD LESSON OF THE NEED TO BE VIGILANT TO ASSURE THE WORK OF THE LORD IS NOT EITHER DELAYED OR DETERRED.

ZERUBBABEL QUICKLY DISCERNED THE SITUATION AND GAVE THESE WHO WERE TRYING TO INSERT THEMSELVES AMONG THE JEWS A THREEFOLD ANSWER:

1. YOU HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON WITH US TO JOIN US IN THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE.

2. WE ALONE WILL CONSTRUCT THE TEMPLE TO OUR GOD.

3. THIS WORK HAS THE APPROVAL OF CYRUS.

FROM THIS POINT ONWARD THESE NEWLY ARRIVED PEOPLE TRIED STRONGLY TO STOP THE WORK ON THE TEMPLE.

THEY APPEARED CONSTANTLY TO MAKE FUN OF AND BELITTLE THE WORKERS.

BUT THE JEWISH WORKERS ORIGINALLY STOOD FIRM AND SUPPORTED THE DECISION OF THEIR LEADERS TO DO THIS WORK THEMSELVES.

BUT THESE OUTSIDERS OVER TIME WEAKENED THE RESOLVE OF THE JEWS, CAUSING THEM TO SLACKEN THE EFFORT ON THE TEMPLE.

WHEN THE WORK WAS NOT FULLY STOPPED THESE OUTSIDERS WROTE FALSE REPORTS TO THE ROYAL COURT IN PERSIA SAYING THAT IF THIS WORK SUCCEEDED THEN PERSIA WOULD BE WEAKER AS THE JEWS WOULD BECOME FAR MORE POWERFUL.

THE PERSIAN COURT SEEMED TO LISTEN AND DECREES WERE ISSUED TO STOP THE WORK, AND THE OUTSIDERS SEEMED TO HAVE WON.

THE WORK WAS ENDED UNTIL THE 2ND YEAR OF KING DARIUS, RECORDED FOR US IN HAGGAI CHAPTER ONE.

SATAN'S WORK TO DEFEAT THE EFFORTS WAS TEMPORARILY SUCCESSFUL.

GOD DOES NOT ACCEPT DEFEAT AND WE NOW SEE WHAT HE DID. 

GOD RAISED UP TWO PROPHETS, ZECHARIAH AND HAGGAI, BOTH WITHIN THE REMNANT THAT HAD RETURNED WHO NOW CHALLENGED THE PEOPLE TO RENEW THE WORK ON THE TEMPLE AND THE PEOPLE RESPONDED POSITIVELY.

OPPOSITION ONCE MORE REARED IT'S UGLY HEAD.

BUT PERSIAN LAW WAS INTERESTING THAT ONCE A DECREE HAD BEEN MADE, IT COULD NOT BE CHANGED.

SO THE EARLIER DECREE OF CYRUS PREVAILED AND EZRA HIMSELF NOTED THAT GOD HAD BROUGHT ATTENTION TO THIS FACTOR AND THAT THE ORIGINAL DECREE WAS UNCHANGEABLE BY THE LATER ONE.

IN EZRA 6:6 THESE OUTSIDERS WERE COMMANDED TO “BE YE FAR FROM THENCE”, MEANING THEY WERE TO STAY AWAY FROM THIS WORK AND NO LONGER ATTEMPT TO STOP IT.

DARIUS WAS SENDING A MESSAGE TO THEM TO KEEP THEIR HANDS OFF THE JEWS AND THE WORK THAT HAD BEEN APPROVED FOR THEM TO DO UNDER CYRUS.

RESOURCES FOR THE WORK WERE RENEWED FROM PERSIA AS DARIUS DECIDED TO FULLY SUPPORT THE WORK ON THE TEMPLE.

HE SHOWED MUCH RESPECT FOR THE GOD OF ISRAEL AT THIS MOMENT.

WE SEE IN 6:10 JUST HOW FAR HE HAD COME IN HIS HEART TOWARD THIS WORK BY HIS REQUEST TO THE JEWS:

“Offer sacrifices of sweet savors unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and his sons”

TO ASSURE THE WORK WOULD BE COMPLETED WITHOUT FURTHER DELAYS OR OPPOSITION DARIUS INVOKED A SEVERE PENALTY AGAINST ANYONE WHO SOUGHT TO HINDER THE WORK.

WOODEN TIMBER WOULD BE TAKEN FROM THE HOME OF THE ONE WHO ACTED AGAINST THE WORK, AND HE WOULD BE HANGED FROM HIS OWN TIMBERS AND HIS HOUSE MADE A HILL OF DUNG.

SO OPPOSITION WAS TRULY ENDED WITH THIS SERIOUS THREAT AND THE TEMPLE WAS FINISHED.

BY COMPARING JEREMIAH 29:10 WITH 2ND CHRONICLES 36:20 IT IS FOUND THAT THE TEMPLE WAS COMPLETED AND DEDICATED 70 YEARS AFTER SOLOMON'S TEMPLE HAD BEEN DESTROYED.

SO AFTER MANY HARDSHIPS AND STOPS AND STARTS, THE LORD'S WORK WAS DONE AND A DAY OF CELEBRATION WAS HELD.

TWELVE MALE GOATS WERE SACRIFICEDTO MARK THE FACT THAT ALL TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL WERE PRESENT AT THE DEDICATION.

THE PRIESTHOOD WAS ESTABLISHED ONCE MORE AMONG THE PEOPLE AS INSTRUCTED BY THE LAW OF MOSES.

THE DEDICATION WAS IN THE MONTH OF ADAR, OUR MONTH OF MARCH.

THE NEXT MONTH WOULD BE NISAN, THE MONTH OF THE PASSOVER AND THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD WAS ONCE MORE HELD, WHICH NONE OF THOSE RETURNED HAD EVER HAD AT A TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM.

ZECHARIAH 3 TEACHES US HOW THE LORD WAS WORKING CLOSELY TO ARRANGE HIS WILL BE DONE IN THIS MATTER.

HE MADE THE PRIEST JOSHUA CLEAN OF HIS OWN SIN AND DID SO WHILE SATAN HIMSELF WAS SEEN TO STAND CLOSELY BY BUT SPEAKING NOT A SINGLE WORD WHILE GOD'S WILL WAS WORKED.

NOW LASTLY, IN 6:21 WE SEE THE PEOPLE ALSO SEPARATED THEMSELVES FROM THE FILTH OF PAGAN WORSHIP AND ONCE MORE CAME TO  “SEEK THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL”.

Ezra - Chapters 7-10: The People Return

Application: The student will comprehend how the godly service of one man can lead to blessings for many others.

NOW GOD HAS RAISED UP ANOTHER SERVANT TO LEAD THE PEOPLE SPRITUALLY AS THEY COME BACK TO THE LAND OF PROMISE AFTER THE 70 YEARS OF CAPTIVITY.

IN THE SAME NATURE AS MOSES & JOSHUA & DAVID, EZRA WAS SPIRIT LED TO SERVE THE PLAN OF THE LORD FOR HIS OWN.

EZRA WAS BORN IN THE CAPTIVITY AND WAS A DIRECT DESCENDANT OF LEVI, THE ONE CHOSEN TO BRING A PRIESTLY TRIBE TO MAINTAIN A SPIRITUAL DIRECTION FOR ALL THE CHOSEN PEOPLE.

OUR STUDY BEGINS WITH THE WORDS “AFTER THESE THINGS” WHICH MEANS AFTER THE 2ND TEMPLE WAS COMPLETED.

THE NEXT WAVE OF HEBREWS WAS NOW MIGRATING BACK TO JERUSALEM & THE SURROUNDING AREA OF JUDEA.

THE DEDICATION OF THE 2ND TEMPLE WAS IN 515 B.C.

EZRA WAS NOT ONLY A SCRIBE, MEANING A HIGHLY EDUCATED MAN OF SCRIPTURE, BUT ALSO WAS A PRIEST AND WAS ABLE TO TRACE HIS OWN LINE BACK TO AARON, THE FIRST HIGH PRIEST.

GOD WANTED NOT JUST TO HAVE THE BUILDING COMPLETED BUT ALSO WISHED TO HAVE THE PROPER ORDER OF WORSHIP TO BE RESTORED.

THIS REQUIRED THAT THOSE WHO SERVE IN THE NEW TEMPLE TO BE UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMMANDS OF EXODUS.

EZRA ARRIVES IN PALESTINE IN 486 B.C. AMONG THE 2ND WAVE OF HEBREWS TO RETURN FROM PERSIA.

HE FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO RECENT RECOLLECTION OF THIS WORSHIP ORDER AS THE OLDER ORDER HAD BEEN CORRUPTED BY THE PRIESTS IN THE TIME OF SOLOMON WHO HAD NOT ONLY ALLOWED BUT HAD ENCOURAGED IDOL WORSHIP.

A SCHOLAR OF THE ORIGINAL LAW OF MOSES WAS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT GOD'S WILL, AND THAT MAN WAS CHOSEN BY GOD TO BE EZRA.

EZRA 7:10 TEACHES US THAT HE WAS SET IN HIS HEART FOR THE MISSION REQUIRED.

HE HAD LIKELY HELD SOME OFFICIAL OFFICE IN THE PERSIAN GOVERNMENT WHICH NOW HAD A NEW KING, ARTAXERXES.

HE HAD SOUGHT THE APPROVAL OF THIS KING TO LEAD A RETURN OF PEOPLE AND HE HAD BEEN GIVEN AN OFFICIAL LETTER WHICH WAS A ROYAL DECREE AUTHORIZING HIS MISSION.

EZRA WAS GIVEN THE APPROVAL TO GO, TO TAKE TREASURE WITH HIM, AND TO COLLECT MORE GOLD & SILVER FROM THOSE HEBREWS STAYING IN PERSIA.

HE ALSO TOOK WITH HIM THE REST OF THE HOLY GOLD TEMPLE VESSELS FOR JERUSALEM.

THESE THINGS TELL US THAT ARTAXERXES HAD COMPLETE FAITH & TRUST IN EZRA.

SO THE WILL OF GOD WAS UNFOLDING IN EVERY DETAIL OF EZRA'S MISSION, BEFORE HE LEFT PERSIA & THEN AFTER HE ARRIVED IN THE PROMISED LAND.

THE ROYAL DECREE ALLOWED EZRA TO SET UP JUDGES INSIDE JUDEA TO ACT IN MATTERS OF MOSAIC LAW.

PERSIAN TAXES WERE TO BE REMOVED FROM THIS MISSION SO THAT RESOURCES GIVEN WERE FULLY USED FOR THE PLAN OF GOD.

VERSE 7:27 TEACHES US THAT EZRA GAVE THE LORD FULL CREDIT FOR MOVING THE HEART OF THE KING TOWARD THE GOD GIVEN MISSION.

EZRA FULLY UNDERSTOOD WHO HAD MADE ALL THESE THINGS HAPPEN.

CHAPTER 8 BEGINS WITH A LONG LIST OF NAMES OF THOSE RETURNING IN THIS 2ND WAVE.

TWELVE GROUPS WERE MENTIONED WITH A TOTAL OF 1514 MEN, CONSISTING OF 18 HEADS OF FAMILIES.

WITH WOMEN & CHILDREN IT SEEMS BETWEEN 4000 – 5000 WERE IN THIS 2ND WAVE.

IN VERSES 15-20 EZRA CALLS THOSE OF THE GROUP OF NETHINIMS TO TRAVEL WITH HIM. THESE WERE THE GROUP ORIGINALLY SET UP BY DAVID TO HELP THE PRIESTS SERVE IN THE TEMPLE.

220 OF THESE AGREED TO GO.

NOW IN VERSES 8:21-30 EZRA IS CAREFUL TO SEEK GOD'S FAVOR UPON THE JOURNEY.

THERE WAS THREE DAY FAST TO CONSECRATE THE MISSION AND IN FAITH THIS GROUP ASKED FOR THE HAND OF GOD TO PROTECT THEM ALONG THIS PATH TOWARD JERUSALEM, A JOURNEY OF MANY HUNDREDS OF MILES.

ALL THE TREASURE WAS PUT INTO THE HANDS OF 12 PRIESTS FOR THE TRIP TO COME TO SAFEGUARD FOR DELIVERING TO THE NEW TEMPLE.

NOW IN VERSES 8:31-35 WE SEE THE ARRIVAL OF THE GROUP AT THEIR JOURNEY'S END.

THERE IS NO RECORD THAT ANY HARM CAME TO THESE FAITHFUL ONES AND THAT THEY ARRIVED IN JERUSALEM SAFELY.

PRAYER & FASTING DERIVED THE PURPOSE AND PROTECTION OF GOD FOR THE MISSION HE HAD PLACED INTO THEIR HEARTS AND SECURED IN THE HEART OF HIS CHOSEN LEADER, EZRA.

A THREE DAY REST WAS MADE AND ON THE FOURTH DAY, A FULL ACCOUNTING WAS GIVEN OF ALL TREASURE, FUNDS, AND VESSELS FOR THE TEMPLE.

A JOURNEY OF 4 MONTHS WAS NOW COMPLETE.

NOW THESE RETURNING FAITHFUL WERE ABLE TO DO WHAT THEY HAD NEVER BEFORE DONE, TO WORSHIP JEHOVAH GOD IN HIS HOLY TEMPLE IN HIS HOLY CHOSEN LAND.

SACRIFICES WERE MADE ON THE HOLY ALTAR AND A NEW BEGINNING WAS MADE IN THE YEAR OF 456 B.C.

BULLS, RAMS, LAMBS, & GOATS WERE OFFERED UP IN THANKS AND PRAISE TO THE LORD, EXACTLY FOLLOWING THE FOUR TYPES OF ANIMALS OFFERED IN CHAPTER 6.

IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT THE BUILDER RAISED UP BY GOD TO CONSTRUCT THE TEMPLE, ZERUBBABLE, HAD NOW DIED AND GONE TO BE WITH THE LORD.

IN VERSES 9:1-4 WE SEE THAT NOW EZRA WAS THE MAN IN CHARGE OF DAY TO DAY AFFAIRS OF THE JEWS IN JUDEA.

NOW IT WAS TIME TO FULFILL THE TRUE PROMISE OF THE MISSION WHICH WAS TO LIFT UP THE TEMPLE AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORSHIP THERE TO GOD.

BEFORE THE FULL CONSECRATION COULD HAPPEN, CERTAIN PROBLEMS HAD TO BE FACED.

THERE HAD BEEN STRONG VIOLATION OF THE WORD OF GOD AGAINST THE INTERMARRIAGE OF HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE WITH PAGANS WHO ALSO LIVED IN THE LAND SINCE THE CAPTIVITY.

THIS WAS NOT A MATTER OF JUST EVERYDAY WORKING MEN, BUT IT ALSO INCLUDED LEADERS SET UP TO GUIDE THE PEOPLE.

IT ALSO WAS FOUND TO BE WIDESPREAD WITHIN EVEN THE LEVITES WHO WERE SURELY SUPPOSED TO KNOW BETTER AS THEY SPENT THEIR LIVES IN PRIESTLY MATTERS.

THESE PAGAN PEOPLE MARRIED BY THE HEBREWS WERE DIRECTLY DESCENDED FROM THE CAANANITES THAT THE HEBREWS UNDER JOSHUA HAD NOT DRIVEN OUT OR DESTROYED.

GOD HAD TOLD HIS PEOPLE IN DEUT 7:1-4 THAT THESE WERE AN ABOMINATION TO HIM AND THE HEBREWS WERE NOT TO MIX WITH THEM WHATSOEVER.

EZRA'S REACTION TO THIS TERRIBLE CONDITION WAS TYPICAL OF OLD TESTAMENT GRIEF, TEARING OF CLOTHES, (NUM 14:6) &

PULLING HAIR FROM HEADS & BEARDS, (ISAIAH 22:12), & VERSE 9:3 SHOWS EZRA WAS SICKENED & SHOCKED AT THIS GREAT SIN OF THE PEOPLE.

THIS WAS AN OPEN AND SHAMEFUL DEFIANCE OF GOD.

EZRA WAS SO STRICKEN WITH GRIEF UPON FINDING HOW STRONG THIS SIN HAD COME TO BE THAT HE HIMSELF WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK FOR A TIME.

NOW IN VERSES 9:5-15 EZRA KNEW IT WAS TIME FOR PRAYER & CONFESSION.

HE ARRANGED A MEETING OF THE PEOPLE AND HE FELL ON HIS KNEES BEFORE GOD WITH OUTSTRETCHED HANDS AND LAID THE SIN OF THE PEOPLE BEFORE THE LORD.

HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS SIN WAS WIDESPREAD AND GROWING AND WAS SURE TO BRING MUCH DISPLEASURE FROM GOD.

AFTER GOD HAD DONE SO MUCH TO DELIVER THEM, VERSE 10 ASKS HOW COULD SUCH A THING HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED AMONG THEM?

CHAPTER 10 BRINGS THE BEGINNING OF THE ANSWER NEEDED.

THE OPEN PRAYER OF EZRA BEFORE THE CHOSEN PEOPLE STRUCK A NERVE IN THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE.

SHECHANIAH, ONE OF THE LEVITES WHO HAD RETURNED, SPOKE CLEARLY IN THIS MOMENT IN VERSE 2, AND SAID THAT TRESPASS HAD BEEN MADE AGAINST GOD, AND YET THERE WAS A PATHWAY TO HOPE FOR A SOLUTION.

HE SAID THAT NOTHING LESS THAN A RETURN IN FULL TO THE LAW COULD RESOLVE THE MATTER.

THE TASK OF LEADERSHIP IN THIS MOMENT FELL UPON EZRA.

HE DID NOT SHRINK FROM THIS TASK NOR DID HE SHIRK HIS DUTY TO LEAD THE PEOPLE OUT OF THIS MESS.

AS ISAIAH TEACHES IN HIS CHAPTER 59, THESE PEOPLE'S INIQUITY HAD SEPARATED THEM FROM THEIR GOD.

EZRA FASTED AND PRAYED AND CALLED FOR A GATHERING IN 3 DAYS, WITH A PENALTY TO BE LEVIED ON ANY WHO DID NOT COME.

THIS PENALTY WOULD BE THE FORFEIT OF ALL LEGAL RIGHTS.

THE URGENCY AND SEVERITY OF THIS MOMENT WAS MADE CLEAR TO ALL THE PEOPLE.

NOW IN VERSES 10:9-17 WE SEE THAT ALL CAME AND THE TIME OF THE YEAR WAS THE JEWISH 9TH MONTH, OUR DATE WOULD BE DECEMBER 15, 457 B.C.

THE PEOPLE SAT IN THE TEMPLE SQUARE SHIVERING IN COLD RAIN AND IT SEEMS THAT OVER 70,000 PEOPLE ARRIVED TO HEAR EZRA SPEAK.

HE DID NOT BEAT AROUND THE BUSH OR TRY TO DEFLECT AWAY HOW GREAT WAS THE SIN OF THESE CHOSEN PEOPLE.

HE SAID THAT BY THEIR ACTION IN MIXING WITH THE PAGAN PEOPLES, MORE IDOL WORSHIP WOULD BECOME COMMON AND THIS WAS THE REASON THEY HAD ORIGINALLY LOST THE LAND.

ALL MUST REPENT OF THIS GREAT ABOMINATION AND MUST SHOW PROPER REPENTANCE BY SEPARATING THEMSELVES FROM THEIR PAGAN WIVES & HUSBANDS.

THE WORD EZRA USED IS “STRANGE” TO DESCRIBE THESE PAGANS, IN THE HEBREW THE WORD IS NOKRIY (NOK-REE) AND IS MEANT TO DESCRIBE FOREIGN HARLOTS, ADULTEROUS ONES, AND THOSE OUTLANDISH.

ALL THOSE PRESENT SPOKE WITH ONE VOICE AND WERE WILLING TO FOLLOW THE LEADERSHIP AND COMMAND OF EZRA.

THE NUMBER OF GUILTY WAS LARGE.

THE CURRENT WEATHER WAS DIFFICULT.

AN ORDERLY PROCESS WAS NEEDED TO HANDLE THE ISSUE.

FAMILY RULERS WOULD WORK WITH PRIESTS TO HANDLE EACH INSTANCE IN A CASE BY CASE METHOD.

EVERY PAGAN WIFE WHO AGREED TO FULLY GIVE UP HER IDOL WORSHIP AND SHOW FAITH IN JEHOVAH WOULD BE ALLOWED TO STAY.

THIS WAS THE SAME METHOD ALLOWED IN THE INSTANCES OF RAHAB & RUTH IN OLDER DAYS (BOTH OF WHOM WERE LATER LISTED IN MATTHEW 1 AS IN THE BLOOD LINE OF THE MESSIAH).

THERE WERE SOME OPPOSED TO THIS REMEDY AND SPOKE AGAINST IT.

BUT WITHIN TWO WEEKS THE PROCESS HAD BEGUN.

IT TOOK THREE MONTHS TO HEAR EVERY CASE.

THOSE WHO REFUSED TO TURN TO JEHOVAH GOD WERE GIVEN A BILL OF DIVORCE AS DESCRIBED IN DEUT 24:1-4.

IN VERSES 10:18-44 THERE IS GIVEN A LENGTHY READING OF THOSE NAMED AS HAVING TAKEN PAGAN WIVES.

THERE WERE 18 PRIESTS, INCLUDING SOME OF THE SONS OF JOSHUA, THE HIGH PRIEST (WHO HAD BEEN CLEANSED BY THE ANGEL OF THE LORD IN ZECHARIAH 3 OF HIS OWN SIN AS SATAN STOOD BESIDE HIM).

TEN ADDED LEVITES WERE FOUND GUILTY.

86 OTHER MEN ARE LISTED AS GUILTY AS WELL.

ALL PUT AWAY THEIR PAGAN WIVES AS PER THE COMMAND OF EZRA.

EZRA OBEYED GOD AND SURRENDERED HIMSELF TO GOD'S SERVICE.

HE WAS LED AND GUIDED BY THE LORD TO IMPLEMENT HIS WILL WITHIN THE CHOSEN PEOPLE.

HE PRAYERFULLY ASKED FOR THE SPIRIT OF GOD TO SPEAK TO HIM IN GUIDANCE.

HE GAVE THE GLORY OF EVERY TASK TO GOD WHO GIVES ALL BLESSINGS.

THESE WERE DRASTIC MEASURES TO DEAL WITH DRASTIC SINFUL TRESPASSES AGAINST GOD BY HIS OWN PEOPLE.

THESE MEASURES WERE NECESSARY.

THE LAW DEMANDED IT IN DEUT 7:1-6.

THESE UNIONS WOULD TURN HEBREW FAMILIES TOWARD IDOL WORSHIP ONCE AGAIN.

THE JUDGMENT OF GOD IF THESE ABOMINATIONS STOOD WOULD CAUSE HIM TO DESTROY THE NATION.

THEY HAD BEEN CHOSEN TO BE A HOLY PEOPLE ON EARTH AND THEREFORE TO BECOME SO, STRICT OBSERVANCE OF THE LAW WAS GIVEN AS A NECESSITY.

AS WE CONSIDER THIS DIFFICULT MATTER, WE CANNOT PEOPERLY DO SO IF WE DO NOT FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT THE CAPTIVITY WAS BROUGHT MOSTLY FOR IDOL WORSHIP AND TURING AWAY FROM THE GOD WHO HAD CHOSEN AND BLESSED THEM WITH THE LAND OF PROMISE.

WHAT WAS HIS FIRST COMMAND TO MOSES WRITTEN IN STONE?

THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME!!!!!

SO EVEN THOUGH WE ARE NOT GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE, AND THAT HONOR STILL RESTS WITH ISRAEL EVEN IN OUR TIME,

CAN WE DRAW ANY CONCLUSIONS ABOUT OUR OWN TIME AND HOW WE AS A PEOPLE DISHONOR & DISOBEY BOTH THE HEAVENLY FATHER AND THE SON SENT TO BE OUR SAVIOR & GUIDE?