Reflections on Ezra 1

Ezra 01 (Contemporary English Version)

1. Years ago the LORD sent Jeremiah with a message about a promise for the people of Israel. Then in the first year that Cyrus was king of Persia, the LORD kept his promise by having Cyrus send this official message to all parts of his kingdom:
   
2. I am King Cyrus of Persia. The LORD God of heaven, who is also the God of Israel, has made me the ruler of all nations on earth. And he has chosen me to build a temple for him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. The LORD God will watch over and encourage any of his people who want to go back to Jerusalem and help build the temple.
   
3. (SEE 1:2)
   
4. Everyone else must provide what is needed. They must give money, supplies, and animals, as well as gifts for rebuilding God's temple.
   
5. Many people felt that the LORD God wanted them to help rebuild his temple, and they made plans to go to Jerusalem. Among them were priests, Levites, and leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.
   
6. The others helped by giving silver articles, gold, personal possessions, cattle, and other valuable gifts, as well as offerings for the temple.
   
7. King Cyrus gave back the things that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the LORD's temple in Jerusalem and had put in the temple of his own gods.
   
8. Cyrus placed Mithredath, his chief treasurer, in charge of these things. Mithredath counted them and gave a list to Sheshbazzar, the governor of Judah.
   
9. Included among them were: 30 large gold dishes; 1,000 large silver dishes; 29 other dishes; 30 gold bowls; 410 silver bowls; and 1,000 other articles.
   
10. (SEE 1:9)
    
11. Altogether, there were 5,400 gold and silver dishes, bowls, and other articles. Sheshbazzar took them with him when he and the others returned to Jerusalem from Babylonia.
    

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    Ezra points out in the first verse of his book that with the proclamation of King Cyrus to send Israelites back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, prophecy was being fulfilled. Ezra refers to Jeremiah's prophecy which states that, "When 70 years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and will confirm My promise concerning you to restore you to this place." (29:10) However, even before Jeremiah, Isaiah prophecied this event and even named Cyrus as the one who would make the proclamation: "I am the LORD, who made everything; who stretched out the heavens by Myself; who alone spread out the earth; . . . . who says to Cyrus: My shepherd, he will fulfill all My pleasure and say to Jerusalem: She will be rebuilt, and of the temple: Its foundation will be laid." (Isaiah 44:24, 28) Not only did Cyrus give the proclamation that fulfilled this prophecy, he did so at the Lord's bidding, though he was not a believer in this God of Israel. Truly "A king's heart is a water channel in the LORD's hand: He directs it wherever He chooses." (Proverbs 21:1)
    
    Cyrus' proclamation encouraged Jews to "go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD," and also encouraged those who did not go to assist them "with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem." (1:3, 4) And this is what took place.  Those who "God had motivated" prepared to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the Lord's house, and "All their neighbors supported them with silver articles, gold, goods, livestock, and valuables, in addition to all that was given as a freewill offering." (1:6) In addition, King Cyrus brought out all the articles taken from the temple when Babylon took Israel captive and gave them to those making the journey to Jerusalem so they might be returned to the temple.
    
    God's purposes will be fulfilled, and will be accomplished by willing participants whether intentionally or not. Cyrus had his own reasons for his proclamation that fulfilled prophecy, but became an unwitting participant in God's plan.