Ed Underwood Study Notes

 

Return from Exile: Zerubbabel and Ezra

“I will bring you back to the place from which I exiled you” (Jeremiah 29:14).

The fifth major unit within the seventeen Historical Books is referred to as the Post Exilic Period. The books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther record Israel’s “second exodus,” this one from exile in Babylonia. This mini-exodus that only involved a returning remnant came in three waves. Zerubbabel rebuilt the temple in the first wave of 50,000. After God foiled a Satanic plot to exterminate God’s people in Persia, godly Esther reigns as Queen of Persia. Eighty-one years after Zerubbabel’s return, Ezra brings 5,000 Jews to Jerusalem to rebuild their godly culture. Finally, Nehemiah leads the third and last return to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls. This was the time when the prophets Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi spoke.

The chronology of Ezra’s time is important:

538-515 BC

483-473 BC

457 BC

444-425 BC

Zerubbabel

Ezra 1-6

First Return Rebuild the Temple

Esther Book of Esther No Journeys Home Life In Persia

Ezra

Ezra 7-10

Second Return Rebuild the People

Nehemiah Book of Nehemiah Third Return Rebuild the Walls

The book of Ezra covers the 92 years of history from the decree of Cyrus allowing the Jews to return (538 B.C.) to Nehemiah’s first trip back to Jerusalem (446 B.C.). Most of the events took place from 538- 515 B.C.--Zerubbabel’s return (chapters 1-6), and in 458 B.C.—Ezra’s return (chapters 7-10). The events of the Book of Esther occurred between chapters 6 and 7. I believe Ezra wrote the book soon after Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem (446 B.C.). “The message is addressed to the postexilic community of Jews who wonder if there is any hope of political and religious restoration. Its central thrust is that there is indeed hope but that hope must be incarnated in rebuilding the rebuilding of the Temple, the cultus [worshiping community], and the priesthood.” (Eugene H. Merrill, “A Theology of Ezra-Nehemiah and Esther, in A Biblical Theology of the Old Testament, p. 190)

Ezra wrote the book to show how God fulfills His promise to return His people to the their land. He sovereignly protected His people by a powerful empire while they were in captivity. They even prospered in their exile! Then, right on prophetic schedule (Jeremiah 29:10-14) God raised up pagan kings who were sympathetic to their cause and encouraged them to rebuild their homeland. Ezra traces the dramatic re- establishment of the worship of YHWH separate from all foreign influence:

Although Israel had failed as God’s people and seemed hopelessly exiled, God had not forgotten His covenants with Abraham and David. His mighty and merciful hand worked through the Gentiles to restore a true form of worship and true worshippers separated to Himself in the land of promise. It would be to the descendants, these restored and purified worshipers that Messiah would come to be worshipped in Spirit and truth. The lesson for God’s people is clear: God is always working to move His agenda forward. The darkest days cannot extinguish the light of God’s truth and grace.

I. RESTORING WORSHIP IN THE TEMPLE: God stirs the heart of a Persian king (Cyrus) to release the Jews and charge them to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem—an event prophesied 200 years before (Isaiah 44:28). With Zerubbabel as their leader only 49,897 of the two to three million Jews respond to the call. (1-6)

The “lost tribes” are not entirely lost. Those who returned were primarily from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi; but it is evident that representatives from the other ten tribes eventually returned as well.

Ezra: When life overwhelms you, turn to God’s Word. Study it; do it; teach it!

1. COMMISSION OF THE TEMPLE BUILDERS: God’s people return to their shattered homeland, rebuild the altar and reinstate the sacrifices as they prepare to reconstruct the temple. The foundation is laid, causing joy and optimism among the workers, but bringing tears of sadness to those who recalled the incomparable splendor of the former temple. (1-3).

2. COMPLETION OF THE TEMPLE: Pagan peoples who hate the Jews try to stop the project in two ways. First, they make deceitful offers to help. When Zerubbabel fails to compromise they openly attack God’s people and bring false accusations to the authorities. For fifteen years the discouraged and disobedient Jews neglect their commission to rebuild the temple. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah call the people to repentance and God responds by overthrowing the existing Persian regime. The new king (Darius) overrules the opposition to the temple project by the wicked Persian governor of Palestine, Tattenai. Finally, 23 years after the arrival of the first pilgrims, the temple is completed. (4-6)

Messiah: Though the temple is restored, God’s glory does not return. The glory, which departed during the Babylonian defeat (Ezekiel 8-11), does not enter the new temple at this time. After 400 years of silence God’s next prophet, John the Baptist would point to the Lamb of God and all would behold His glory—the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

BACK IN PERSIA: A 58-year gap between the accounts of the first two returns is well documented by the Book of Esther. The Jews in Persia had other things on their mind—survival against an evil Satanic plot to destroy their race!

AND AROUND THE WORLD: Having failed in his diabolical plan to thwart God’s plan of redemption, Satan moved swiftly to raise up counterfeit systems of righteousness worldwide. As God prepared His people for their Messiah in Israel during the time of the Book of Ezra (538-444 BC), Satan raised up Gautama Buddha in India (560-480 BC), Confucius in China (551-479 BC), and Socrates in Greece (470- 399 BC).

II. RESTORING PURITY: Eighty-one years later God stirs the heart of another Persian king (Artaxerxes 1) to give Ezra the priest authority to bring people and contributions for the temple in Jerusalem. 1,753 leaders experience God’s protection and provision during the 900-mile journey to their homeland. (7-10)

COMMISSION OF THE SPIRITUAL LEADERS: After praying and fasting, Ezra and his caravan begin the four-month journey. Their enthusiasm for their mission grows as they see God’s powerful hand on their life. (7-8)

COMPLETION OF SPIRITUAL REFORM: When Ezra discovers that the people and the priests have intermarried with foreign women, he calls for repentance and offers a great intercessory prayer on their behalf. Their confession and response to the Word of God brings about a great revival and changes lives. (9-10)

III. EZRA AND YOU: God’s people should never doubt His ability to accomplish His will. The Jews were far from home and the Promised Land filled with pagan peoples. But God was working behind the scenes. He worked through pagan, godless rulers and passionate, God-fearing leaders to re- establish worship separate from all foreign influence. His people would never again follow false gods!

1. God can and will do seemingly impossible things to remain faithful to His promises to His people. (Tom Constable)

2. God is always working, but usually in surprising and jarring ways.

3. When the days seem dark and without hope, do what Ezra did: Study God’s Word; do what God’s Word says to do, and teach God’s word to others (Ezra 7:10).