After seventy years in exile, the people of Judah must have wondered if God had forgotten them. Their temple was gone. Their city lay in ruins. Their homeland was a memory. But then, a pagan king (!) makes a decree: “Go home. Rebuild the house of the Lord.” Ezra chapter one is a reminder that God’s promises don’t expire, and His plans aren’t hindered by the powers of this world. In fact, He even uses unbelieving kings, rulers, and governments to accomplish His will.

The Rev. Robert Smith, pastor emeritus in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Ezra 1.

The Persian king Cyrus issues an astonishing decree: the exiles may go home. Among them are the Jews—God’s chosen people—whom this pagan ruler not only repatriates, but commands to rebuild the temple of the Lord. Ezra 1–4 tells of their return, the joy of restored worship, and the crushing opposition that brings construction to a standstill. Then the prophets Haggai and Zechariah speak with God’s authority, calling His people to courage, repentance, and hope. In Ezra 5–8 the temple is completed, worship flourishes, and hearts are renewed in God’s Word. This series on Thy Strong Word follows the events in the order they happened, revealing how the Lord moves kings and prophets, overcomes opposition, and restores His people.