A Spiritual Guide

Wait On The Lord 06.02.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Monday June 2, 2008 and today we begin our studies on the book of Ezra. The book of Ezra is the fifteenth book in the Old Testamant and a book of history. The return of the Jews from Babylon into captivity is detailed in this book. The author of the book is Ezra and the purpose of the book was to record the return of Israel from exile and rebuilding of the Temple is Jerusalem. What we are to learn from this book is the return and restoration of basic principles of repentance.

Please read Chapters 1-2 in your Bible or Click Here or cut & paste to your browser biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra%201-3&version=9  to read. Today we will read and learn about the proclamation of Cyrus to rebuild the Temple; and the list of Jews who returned from captivity.

About 200 years before the time of Ezra, Isaiah had prophesied that Babylon would be overthrown by a man named Cyrus.(Ref: Isaiah 44:23-28). To fulfill that prophecy, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia. “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem. Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.” (Ezra 1:1-5).

During the 70-year captivity, despite appearances to the contrary, the prophets encouraged the exiles concerning their restoration and foretold that they would rebuild Jerusalem. Ezra records that the first expedition was led by Zerubbabel, who was appointed governor by King Cyrus to rebuild the Temple and altar of the God of Israel

No one except God could possibly accurately predict or foresee the events even of the next hour. There is only one explanation to the hundreds of detailed prophecies in the Scriptures which have been fulfilled in every detail, hundreds of years after they were foretold, that is the Holy Spirit. “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (II Peter 1:19-21).

This One True God who controlled every world empire to fulfill this prophesy assures us, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:11).

God’s promises always come to pass exactly as He says. He knows when and how to meet our needs, our task is to wait on the Lord.