21 May

Bible in 365 Days                                     

Ezra 1-3

Ezra 1

The Book of Ezra contains an account of a most important epoch in the history of the people of God. After seventy years of captivity, a return from captivity was made possible by the decree of a Gentile king. This Book gives us the story of that return, and the building of the Temple. It is not consecutive history, for while, with the Book of Nehemiah, covers a period of about one hundred years, there is a gap of sixty years. There are two main divisions, first, the story of the return under Zerubbabel and the building of the Temple, and then, after sixty years, the story of the coming of Ezra and the work he undertook.

God may seem to tarry in carrying out His purposes. He never abandons them. Indeed, there is a very true sense in which He never tarries even for a moment in carrying them out. The wreck of the chosen nation we have seen in previous books. The people had become scattered and peeled, having lost national position and power, and, to a very large extent, national consciousness. Notwithstanding all this, God still moved on toward His great ultimate purpose of redemption, not merely for these people, but for the world. During the seventy years, through the process of suffering, He prepared a remnant to return and rebuild and hold the fort until He, the true seed and servant, should come.

The history of the return sets forth clearly the truth concerning this overruling of God. He compelled the most likely instruments to accomplish His will. Babylon had carried His people into captivity, and so fulfilled His purpose. They had, however, treated the conquered nation with undue severity; and in process of time, in fulfillment of the distinct prophesying of Jeremiah, Cyrus the Persian had broken the power of Babylon. This Cyrus was now chosen and commissioned as the instrument of the chosen people's return. Cyrus's proclamation opened the door. It was the result of divine dealing with him, of which he was conscious. The God who opened the door stirred up men, and made them willing to respond. This is ever so in the divine economy. The opportunity, the willingness to obey and the leaders necessary, all come together under God's direction.

Ezra 2

Chapter two contains the register of those who, taking advantage f Cyrus's decree, turned their faces toward Jerusalem. The list proceeds in a definite order, from the leaders downward. First, the names of those immediately associated with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:1-2). Then follow the names of families, with the numbers in each case (Ezra 2:3-20) ; names of the members of the priesthood (Ezra 2:36-39) ; following these the list and numbers of the Levites (Ezra 2:40-42); after these the Nethinim (Ezra 2:43-54); next the children of Solomon's servants (Ezra 2:55-58) ; beside these, a number who had lost their genealogy (Ezra 2:59-63). Verses Ezra 2:64-65 give the totals of the people, and then come the lists of the cattle. The whole ends with the statement of the gifts of the people, and the declaration of their settlement in the cities of the land.

An examination of this list is remarkable principally from the small number of Levites who returned. Nearly ten times as many priests as Levites went back to the land. This, of course, was an inversion of the original order. Dr. Ryle says that perhaps this may be explained by the Levites having been especially concerned in the worship at the high places, and the idolatrous forms of worship which the reformation of Josiah had sought to abolish. Another point of interest is the Nethinim. They seem to be prominent in these books of the return, for they are mentioned only once elsewhere. Their origin it is almost impossible to determine. In all probability they were of foreign extraction, but had been admitted to some of the minor forms of service in connection with Levitical work.

Ezra 3

The leaders in this return were evidently conscious of the matters of real importance in the life of the people. Directly they were settled in their cities, the altar of God was established at Jerusalem. The statement, "For fear was upon them because of the people of the countries," has given rise to a great many different interpretations. Perhaps the one that harmonizes best with the whole story is that they were conscious of the fact that in their neglect of the altar of God in the past they had become contaminated by the idolatrous practices of surrounding peoples; and in order to prevent a repetition of such sin they immediately set up the true altar. This is the more likely to be a correct interpretation in view of the fact that whatever failure characterized these people in their history, they never again returned to idolatry.

The first feast they observed, according to the time of year, was the feast of Tabernacles, which was the most joyful of all the feasts of the Lord. They also established all the feasts, and, so far as possible, restored the divinely appointed order of worship. Then immediately they commenced the work of building the Temple. The foundations were laid, and in the second year of the return, with fitting ceremonies of praise, they rejoiced. The mingling of tears and songs is in itself remarkable. Remembering the first house, the old men mourned. This can well be understood when one thinks of the comparative insignificance and poverty of the people as they were gathered back. Yet there was also a great shout of praise, for new hope had taken possession of their hearts.