Ezra 1:1 simply informs us of the actions of a King, a lost (heathen) King at that! “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 …” This proclamation or decree was very “pro-Israel!”
“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.” Ezra 1:2-3
Wow!
Thus a remnant can now return, legally, from a 70 year captivity … to their homeland!
Because God “touched” a lost man, a Gentile King!
This (miracle) happens several more times in Ezra as well! God so powerfully moving upon Kings!
Proving a principle of Scripture … “The king’s heart is in THE HAND OF THE LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” Proverbs 21:1
Cyrus, whose (“hard” most of the time) heart was “in the Hand of the Lord” decreed liberty for the Jews, after the 70 years of captivity Jeremiah prophesied long ago. See Jeremiah 25:11 and 12. Then again Jeremiah 29:10.
I am amazed today at the Power of the Hand of the Lord!
Once the Jews had “served” their 70 years of “chastisement” in a foreign land, God raised up a King more favorable to Israel’s interests! Illustrating Proverbs 16:7 also. “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
God’s HAND!
Later in Ezra the man of God will acknowledge: “The HAND OF OUR GOD is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.” Ezra 8:22
I (too) want God’s Hand upon me for good!
Furthermore notice this. “For upon the first day of the first month began he (this Ezra)to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, ACCORDING TO THE GOOD HAND OF HIS GOD UPON HIM.” Ezra 7:9, God’s Hand, again!
Even in Nehemiah … “And the king granted me, according to THE GOOD HAND OF MY GOD upon me.” Nehemiah 2:8
Nehemiah (actually a companion volume to Ezra, historically and spiritually) 2:18 also says: “Then I told them of THE HAND OF MY GOD which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me.” Nehemiah himself talking!
God’s Hand!
Even old Jabez knew this necessity! “And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and THAT THINE HAND MIGHT BE WITH ME, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.” 1st Chronicles 4:19
Enough has been written for today, I think.
Oh that we all could relish in the thought that God’s Hand is upon us … for good!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell