Return from Exile: Ezra 1-3 (7)

Pray Psalm 141.1, 2.
LORD, I cry out to You;
Make haste to me!
Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You.
Let my prayer be set before You as incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Sing Psalm 141.1, 2.
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
O Lord, we call to You in prayer! To us come quickly; hear our cry!
Receive our prayer as incense sweet, our lifted hands as a sacrifice!

Read Ezra 1-3 (you can speed read 2.1-67); meditate on Ezra 3.1-7

Preparation
1. What did the people build first? Why?

2. What did they build next?

Meditation
Our approach to the post-exilic period is to see it as continuation of the captivity that had overtaken Israel and Judah before they were carried off to Assyria and Babylon. Theirs was a captivity to their own fleshly desires and the spirit of the times rather than the Spirit of God. That captivity would continue until Jesus came with the express purpose of setting the captives free.

So we won’t be surprised when, despite this good beginning, the sins of self-interest and cultural conformity overtake the people once again.

For now, we rejoice to see that, though enemies were murmuring all around, the people did not start by building a wall to defend them. They started by building the altar, then the foundation of the temple. Leaders like Jeshua and Zerubbabel knew that, unless the people sought the favor of God first and always, they would not know any measure of success in their return.

So first the altar and the sacrifices, then the feasts of the Lord, “although the foundation of the temple of the LORD had not been laid” (v. 6). These “first things” having been accomplished, preparations for the temple began, “according to the permission which they had from Cyrus king of Persia” (v. 7).

Here is the most needed lesson of this period of the Old Testament: Seek the Lord. Make seeking the Lord your defining and guiding priority. Do not turn from Him. Do not fear the threats of the world, and do not give in to the fear of man. Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole of what it means to be a human being (Eccl. 12.13).

The evangelical Church of our day, having avoided the fate of liberal churches, has nonetheless slipped into a captivity of its own. Yes, we worship. And, yes, we insist on seeking the Lord. But our present captivity to self, stuff, silliness, and sinful indulgences threatens to undo us. We need to return to the first things—return there and stay there.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
The first things that the leaders and people did:
1. They arose and built the altar of God.
2. They offered burnt offerings (morning and evening) as prescribed by the Law of Moses.
3. They kept the Feast of Tabernacles, offering the correct sacrifices according to that ordinance.
4. They offered the regular offering and those for the New Moons.
5. They kept all the appointed and consecrated feasts of the LORD.
6. They offered a freewill offering to the LORD.
7. They gave money to the masons and carpenters.
8. They gave food and drink to the people of Tyre and Sidon, to bring cedar logs from Lebanon.

The people layered obedience upon obedience.

God’s mercy and grace covered them as they sought to serve Him. He knew they might be short-handed for Levitical staff, so He lowered the required age of service. “They began work and appointed the Levites from twenty years old and above to oversee the work of the house of the LORD” (Ezra 3.8). In 1 Chronicles 23.3 we read that “the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and above”. Dire circumstances allowed for pragmatic solutions. This might also be the case for believers today, from time to time. For example, it is best if the head of the household leads the family in Bible devotions. But if Dad is not available, Mom should do it. It cannot be left undone simply because the designated person is not willing or able.

People today also have a list of first things to do:
1. We must be born again, or else we cannot see the kingdom of God (Jn. 3.3).
2. We must be born of water and the Spirit, to be able to enter the kingdom of God (Jn. 3.5).
3. We must love the LORD our God with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matt. 22.37).
4. We must love others as we love ourselves (Matt. 22.39).
5. We must live by the Law (Ex. 20.1-17; Jn. 14.15).
6. We must accept that salvation is through God’s grace, and the gift of faith (Eph. 2.8, 9).
7. We must gladly accept the kingdom work that we have been given to do (Eph. 2.10).
8. We must daily grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord through His Word and prayer (2 Pet. 3.18).

We, like our Israelite forebears, must layer obedience upon obedience.
All praise, all sacrifice, and all glory to God (Rom. 12.1, 2).
First things first!
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.
For God will bring every work into judgment, including
every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Eccl. 12.13).

For reflection
1. What would you describe as the “first things” of your daily life? Are these in line with God’s first things?

2. What can distract you from pursuing God’s first things? How can you avoid this?

3. Whom will you encourage today to persevere in God’s first things?

From the proceedings of the Jews on their arrival, let us learn to begin with God, and to do what we can in the worship of God, when we cannot do what we would. They could not at once have a temple, but they would not be without an altar. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Ezra 3.1-7

Pray Psalm 141.3-10.
Pray that God will keep your heart and mind focused on Him, and that all your words and works will be to His glory and honor and praise. Call on the Lord to be your refuge throughout the day.

Sing Psalm 141.3-10.
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
Lord, set a guard upon my mouth. Let not my heart to evil bend,
nor let me work iniquity in company with wicked men.

Lord, let a righteous man rebuke—a kindness this shall surely be!
Like healing oil upon my head, Your sweet rebuke shall be to me.

When to the judgment wicked men by God are cast, our words shall tell.
Like broken sod or fresh plowed ground, so shall their bones be cast to hell!

We lift our eyes to You, O Lord, and refuge seek; Lord, save our soul!
From every trap and snare redeem; deliver us and make us whole.

T. M. and Susie Moore

Two books can help us understand our own captivity and lead us to seek revival and renewal in the Lord. The Church Captive asks us to consider the ways the Church today has become captive to the world. And Revived! can help us find the way to renewal. Learn more and order your free copies by clicking here and here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available free by clicking here.