Ezra 1:1-4; 3:1-4, 10-13

Ezra 1:1-4; 3:1-4, 10-13

Initial Thoughts

• This is probably a new text for preachers, seekers, and congregants alike

Bible Study

• There is a lot that is unknown about Ezra and Nehemiah including: what was their relationship? Which came first? When did Ezra make his journey to Jerusalem? How many journeys did he, in fact, make? Under which Artaxerxes did he go? Were Ezra and Nehemiah contemporaries? If so, how is it that they never refer to each other or to the other’s work?

  • Traditional: Ezra came before Nehemiah in “the seventh year of King Artaxerxes” (Ezra 7:7-8), which means he arrived in 458 BCE

  • Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem in 445 BCE

  • However, it is also possible Ezra arrived during the seventh reign of King Artaxerxes II (not the 1st) which means he would have arrived in 398 BCE, after Nehemiah

  • Some scholars have even rearranged the entire text of Ezra and Nehemiah to construct a three part work of Zerubbabel rebuilding the temple, Ezra reinstitutes the law and Nehemiah builds the walls (see more of this in Interpretation: Ezra-Nehemiah, introduction)

• 1:1-4 - Something new has happened - God is using a foreign nation and King as a blessing

  • Historical note: The Jews were not special in regards to being returned to their lands- Cyrus and the Persians returned all captured peoples to their lands as a way of instilling loyalty and allowing religious autonomy

  • However, the action taken by Cyrus is interpreted as Yahweh stirring the heart of God (perhaps this was a way of all nations being blessed through the Jews return?)

  • Fulfill Jeremiah?

    • Jeremiah’s prediction that the people would return to the land (Jeremiah 29:10), not necessarily the 70 years (Judah wasn’t in exile for 70 years)

  • TL;DR - God has restored the people to the land, their hope was not in vain - don’t get hung up on the details

• 3:1-4 - Second Exodus

  • The people are restored - not to reclaim the land, but to worship God (calls back to Exodus and the reason for liberation is worship)

  • Just as Moses told Israel to dedicated themselves to God upon crossing the Jordan after the Exodus (Deut. 27), so now the Jews dedicate the land and their lives to God

  • Feast of Booths commemorates God saving the people from Egypt and, therefore, is a fitting first festival now that the people have been saved from Exile

• Contrasts between this celebration and building the temple with the first temple - Mark T

  • Previously Pious Kings - David, Solomon, Josiah made provisions for building and caring for the temple - here the whole congregation comes forward to participate in the task.

  • While some are overjoyed - others weep as they remember the splendor of the old temple

  • Also a good reminder that this temple will be built by the people in contrast to the first temple which was built by slaves.

Thoughts and Questions

• How do we balance the shout of joy and the “blue-note moan”/ the cry and wailing? Can we make room for joy and lamentation? Can we allow ourselves to grieve what was even as we are called into what will be?

• The previous temple was beautiful - a great wonder of the world, which people came to behold, this temple is not that temple. But that temple was build by slaves in honor of a God who liberated slaves, this temple will be build by a collection of people- Jews, Sidons, Tyrians, etc. Maybe not as beautiful but more faithful?

  • It is very challenging to build a new temple with exiles, those who were left behind, Jews and members of other nations.

• God’s liberation came, but not on our timeline. Like Exodus, the people were redeemed, but it took many years for liberation to come. Doesn’t mean God wasn’t there every moment of the way in Egypt and Babylon

Opening music: Misirlou, One Man 90 Instruments by Joe Penna/MysteryGuitarMan at MIM

Closing Song by Bryan Odeen