The book of Ezra records one of the most significant events in Israel's history: the return from Babylonian exile and the restoration of worship in Jerusalem. It's a story of God's faithfulness to His promises and the importance of returning to His Word.
Historical Background
In 586 BC, Jerusalem was destroyed and the people were exiled to Babylon. God had warned through prophets like Jeremiah that the exile would last 70 years. True to His word, God raised up Cyrus, king of Persia, to issue a decree allowing the Jews to return.
"Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia." — Ezra 1:1
The First Return Under Zerubbabel (Chapters 1-6)
The Decree of Cyrus
"Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel." — Ezra 1:3
Remarkably, a pagan king fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy (Isaiah 44:28) by funding and authorizing the temple's reconstruction.
The Returning Remnant
About 50,000 Jews returned under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua the priest. They brought with them the temple vessels that Nebuchadnezzar had taken.
Rebuilding the Altar
"And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD." — Ezra 3:3
The first priority was restoring worship. Even before the temple was rebuilt, the altar was established.
Laying the Foundation
"And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD... all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD." — Ezra 3:10-11
Some shouted with joy; older priests who remembered Solomon's temple wept. Both responses were valid.
Opposition and Delay
Enemies offered to "help" but were rejected. They then opposed the work through:
- Discouraging the people
- Hiring counselors against them
- Writing letters to Persian kings
The work stopped for about 16 years until Haggai and Zechariah prophesied, encouraging resumption.
Completion
"And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king." — Ezra 6:15
The temple was completed in 516 BC, exactly 70 years after its destruction.
The Second Return Under Ezra (Chapters 7-10)
Who Was Ezra?
"Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments." — Ezra 7:10
Ezra was:
- A priest descended from Aaron
- A "ready scribe in the law of Moses"
- A man who studied, practiced, and taught God's Word
His Mission
In 458 BC, Ezra led another group of exiles to Jerusalem with a royal commission to:
- Beautify the temple
- Appoint judges and magistrates
- Teach God's law
The Crisis of Intermarriage
Upon arriving, Ezra discovered that many Jews—including priests and Levites—had intermarried with pagan peoples, violating God's clear commands.
"And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied." — Ezra 9:3
Ezra's Prayer
Ezra's response was not anger at the people but grief before God. His prayer (chapter 9) is a model of intercessory confession:
- He identifies with the people's sin ("our iniquities")
- He acknowledges God's patience and grace
- He makes no excuses
- He appeals only to God's mercy
The People's Response
"Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore." — Ezra 10:1
The people joined in repentance and committed to putting away their foreign wives—a radical step of obedience.
Key Themes
God's Faithfulness
He fulfilled His promise through Jeremiah. He raised up Cyrus. He protected and provided for His people.
The Centrality of Worship
Restoring the altar and temple was the priority. True restoration begins with proper worship.
The Importance of Scripture
Ezra was devoted to studying, practicing, and teaching God's Word. Spiritual renewal requires returning to Scripture.
The Seriousness of Holiness
Intermarriage wasn't just a social issue—it threatened the spiritual identity of God's people.
Repentance Brings Renewal
When confronted with sin, the response must be genuine repentance and decisive action.
Applying Ezra
- Trust God's timing and faithfulness to fulfill His promises
- Prioritize worship in personal and community life
- Be devoted to studying, obeying, and teaching God's Word
- Take sin seriously and respond with genuine repentance
- Recognize that spiritual renewal often begins with one person's burden
May Ezra's example inspire us to be students and teachers of God's Word, leading others into restoration and renewal!