Ezra 6
King Darius researches and finds the decree of King Cyrus. He tells his governors not to interfere with the work on the temple and to fully pay the expenses of the men out of the royal treasury. He decreed stiff penalties and curses on anyone who would change this edict or try to destroy the temple in Jerusalem. So the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preaching of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah. The Temple was completed in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.
The people celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy, offering many sacrifices. They celebrated the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread with joy because the Lord had filled them with joy by changing the attitude of the King of Assyria, so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God.
Our God moves hearts and minds for his people finding them favor and filling them with his joy.
Ezra 7
During the reign of Artaxerxes, Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well-versed in the Law of Moses. The king had granted him everything he asked, FOR THE HAND OF GOD WAS ON HIM. He devoted himself to the study and observance of the law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. The King wrote a letter to Ezra decreeing that any of the Israelites who wish to go to Jerusalem with you, may go. He and his advisors and other donors gave silver, gold, and money to buy the sacrificial animals for the temple. Anything else needed was to be provided out of the royal treasury. He said, "Whatever the God of Heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of Heaven. Why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?” (7:23). These kings had respect for the other religions and their gods. He sought favor with the LORD by helping to build his temple and to avoid judgement and disaster. Rahab the harlot came to mind when she helped out the spies who eventually saved her and her family's lives.
Ezra praised the LORD for PUTTING IT INTO THE KING'S HEART to bring honor to the house of the LORD. He knew the hand of God was on him, causing him to find good favor from the king and his officials which encouraged him in his endeavor. Once again, we see a pattern in the book of Ezra...God MOVES HEARTS and puts his HAND ON PEOPLE causing them to FIND FAVOR in other's eyes. The LORD went over and above helping the Jewish people to rebuild his temple. "God is able to do immeasurably MORE than all we ASK or IMAGINE, according to HIS POWER that is at work within us" ~ Ephesians 3:20.
Ezra 8
Ezra noticed there were no Levites among the people who camped on their way to Jerusalem. He summoned the leaders and "Because of the gracious HAND OF OUR GOD WAS ON US, they brought us..." 38 total men and 220 temple servants (8:18-20). Ezra called a fast and prayer for protection of their possessions and a safe journey to Jerusalem. He asked the King for soldiers to protect them and God answered their prayer. "...The HAND OF OUR GOD WAS ON US, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way" (8:31).
Once again we see...THE HAND OF GOD. When God is touching us, things happen!
Ezra 9
It comes to Ezra's attention that the people of Israel have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices. They had taken foreign wives and mingled the holy race with the people around them. And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness. Ezra tore his tunic and cloak, pulled hair from his head and beard, and sat down appalled at what he heard. At the evening sacrifice, he rose up, fell on his knees with his hands spread out to the LORD, and prayed (Ezra 9:6-15). He prays this remarkable prayer of confession and repentance. In total openness and honesty, he gets real with God, throwing himself on his mercy.
Ezra 10
As Ezra is praying weeping, confessing, and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites gather around him and also wept bitterly. Shecaniah admits to Ezra that they have been unfaithful to God by marrying foreign women, but in spite of this, he says there is hope for Israel and suggests they all make a covenant before God to put away all these women and their children. Ezra agrees and issues a proclamation for all the exiles to assemble in Jerusalem. All the men appear, and Ezra confronts them with their sin. He tells them to confess their sin and divorce their foreign wives. The whole assemble agrees. So the exiles did as was proposed.
God had warned his people numerous times against taking foreign wives, saying that they would draw their hearts away from the one and only true and living God to serve their foreign gods. And that's exactly what happened! We need to be careful who we marry or hang around with. If we're not careful, compromise can happen and our relationship with God suffers because of it.
Nehemiah 1
Nehemiah heard that the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates have been burned with fire. Upon hearing this, he sat down....wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed (1:5-11). His prayer is very similar to Ezra's prayer. He confesses his and Israel's sins. He quotes the LORD on how he said he would scatter them among the nations if they were found unfaithful, but would gather them back if they returned to God and obeyed his commands. He reminds God that "They are YOUR servants, and YOUR people, whom YOU redeemed by YOUR great strength and YOUR mighty hand" (1:10). He then asked that God would grant him success and favor in the presence of the king.
When we are mad at our kids for misbehaving, we like to tell our spouse..."That's YOUR SON!...or YOUR DAUGHTER!" LOL! We want to disassociate and distance ourselves from them in our anger. But we still love them because they belong to us. Ezra is reminding God that Israel is still God's people and servants even when they turn away from him at times and do bad things. He's saying, "God, you've done too much for them to just let them go. He's asking God to bring them back to repentance and back to their land.”
