Three different times a group of Jews left Babylon for the long journey back home, to Jerusalem and its environs. According to the Old Testament Books of Ezra and Nehemiah, anyway.

I wondered earlier this morning if I could ascertain some facts about that trek.

How long in miles?

How long in days?

What type of terrain?

So into the Bible I went!

I could only find specific information about one of the trips … that of Ezra and his companions.

“And he (Ezra) came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. For upon the first day of the first month began he 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 7:8-9

Four months!

Of hard travel, with elderly grandparents and infants along as well … no doubt adding to the length of time involved. (An army could have made the trip much more rapidly, for example.)

My measuring says that about 900 miles had to be traversed, on foot! (One source said more like 500 miles, but that is still a long way!)

There was even talk of an armed guard (which would have been supplied by the Persian King, his government) … the migration was so dangerous!

No wonder not many (on a percentage basis) of the Jews of Babylon were willing to make the trip! Their hearts were not up to such an ordeal! (Their hearts may have no longer been in love with the Lord, as well!)

They were not willing to “pay the cost” of returning to the Land of Promise!

Jesus taught us a whole parable about that.

“And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and COUNTETH THE COST, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that FORSAKETH NOT ALL THAT HE HATH, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:27-33

Wow!

Had I been alive back in Ezra’s day, or had you been alive … would we have uprooted our families and gone back to a gutted Jerusalem? Would we have “counted the cost” … and “paid it?”

Well, though a pittance of the whole Nation of Israel … about 50,000 people did!

Folks, think about his today.

In our age, even in America, the “cost” of being a Christian may soon become a greater reality than ever!

We may be asked, as Paul proposed to young Timothy, to … “endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” 2 Timothy 2:3

Let’s keep steady as we together “march to Zion!”

Granted, not a literal march from Babylon to Jerusalem … but a journey nonetheless!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Let us “walk worthy” of our vocation, of our Saviour! (Ephesians 4:1)

Let us also “finish the course,” as the Apostle Paul did! (2 Timothy 4:7)

 

The Biblical Book of Ezra, as one might expect, is arranged systematically. That’s likely because its author (whom the Holy Spirit inspired to write its chapters) was trained in logic and systematic thought.

In Luke’s New Testament Books (the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts), it is easy to discern he was a physician, all that medical language!

In Matthew’s Gospel (which says so much about money, investment for Jesus), it’s clear he had a background in finance, in fact, a “tax-collector!”

So typically Ezra, being a scribe, his training shows in the Book we believe he wrote. Many also teach that Ezra wrote 1 and 2 Chronicles, these 3 Books all having the same style! (The same topic in a way, the history of God’s people Israel!)

Ezra 7:11 identifies our hero as: “Ezra the priest, the SCRIBE, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD.” Good credentials, certainly!

Trained as a scholar and writer!

Anyway, my “point” today is this.

Ezra’s 10 chapters clearly divide into two sections, nearly two halves.

Chapters 1-6 discuss the rebuilding of the Temple of the Lord, arranging a place the Jews could WORSHIP God … their having just been granted freedom from Babylonian/Persian captivity! Worship (God’s Way) is now possible!

Then in chapters 7-10 (when Ezra arrives back home, back in Jerusalem) the focus is immediately on CLEANLINESS, HOLINESS, SEPARATION FROM SIN AND EVIL!

See the logic here?

The beauty?

The spiritual truth?

Ezra 1-6 … the plan of worship, first. (Including the desire to worship! And a Temple in which to worship! And animals to sacrifice to God as one worshipped!)

Then Ezra 6-10 … but worship not being (really, sincerely) possible without a “separated” seeker of God (child of God) coming to His Lord (God does not associate, commune intimately with hypocrites) the process of cleansing one’s heart, one’s life (one’s behavior) comes to the forefront!

I know I am repeating now …

WORSHIP!

CLEANLINESS!

This is adding to one’s faith (belief in Jesus)… virtue (moral excellence, purity), as taught in 2 Peter 1:5.

This is in accordance with truth as presented in Psalm 66:18 as well. “If I regard INIQUITY in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Wow!

It fleshes out (obeys) Psalm 24:3-4 too. “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath CLEAN HANDS, and a PURE HEART; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”

Or in a lengthier form, Psalm 15. “LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that WALKETH UPRIGHTLY, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.” Though here I’ve only shared the Psalm’s first two verses. Read it all when you can.

Ezra is constructed, arranged, showing us spiritual “separation” still counts!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

(Note: Ezra gets pretty violent, stringent in enforcing this code of holiness, separation. So much so that many commentators don’t know what to do with Ezra chapters 9 and 10!)

 

I knew it, having read Ezra a few times, in preparation for this series of lessons. But it had not “clicked” in my mind until earlier this week!

Ezra chapter 1 tells of King Cyrus (being “stirred up” to do so by the Lord) signed a decree (proclamation) setting the Jews free from captivity! Anyone who chose to do so …  could then return to their homeland, to Judah and Jerusalem. This happened in “the first year” of Cyrus King of Persia, a fairly easily accessible date. That would be 538 BC, or thereabouts.

Ezra chapter 7 next tells of another release of the Jews, a second one, under King Artaxerxes of Persia. This exodus (about 458 BC) is the one that brought Ezra himself back to the Holy Land. God is touching hearts, here, even hearts of Kings!

Then (the Book of Ezra blending into the Book of Nehemiah, both having the same story line and same time period, being chronologically contiguous) in Nehemiah chapter 2 King Artaxerxes again (a third “release” now) authorizes a new company of Jews to return to Judah, about 445 BC. Nehemiah came “home” with “letters” of the King of Persia, authorizing his every move!

Three “returns!”

God is exceedingly gracious, here one might say triply (3 times) so!

Now … the “point” of today’s lesson … there were also three (yes, 3) deportations, three waves of captives … forcibly taken from Judah to Babylon around 70 years earlier!

Let me list them for you.

In 606 BC, not long after Nebuchadnezzar had become King of Babylon, a group of Jews were coerced into moving to Babylon, maybe even forced there in chains! Daniel the Prophet of God was among that entourage. See Daniel chapter 1.

In 597 BC a second attack and mass arrest of the Jews occurred, still with Nebuchadnezzar in charge. In this group went the Prophet Ezekiel, according to Scripture. Ezekiel 1 tells us, its opening paragraph.

And thirdly in 586 BC the final and most extensive (thousands of Jews taken) deportation happened. Nearly all the little nation was marched (cruelly) those hundreds of miles … from Jerusalem to Babylon! 2nd Kings chapter 25 tells the sad story.

Three “whippings” … God gave Judah, because of her unconfessed sins.

But (as we have seen) these were followed by three “periods of great blessing,” once Judah had been humbled before God!

Yes … three Disciplinary times!

Then … three Revival times!

Now watch this verse, written by Paul years later: “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God.” Yes, God can be “severe,” especially when rebellion and pride and sin are unforsaken! I’ve quoted Romans 11:22.

But God can equally (if not more so) be “good!” Particularly when humility has returned and humble obedience to His Word!

I just thought it was amazing that God so clearly “balanced” the “returns” from captivity with the “deportations” into captivity!

Truly (Paul again) … “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” Romans 5:20

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

What a God we serve!

“The Lord be magnified!”  Psalm 40:16

 

Yes, this morning we go back to Ezra’s first verse, but with an entirely different emphasis than yesterday. “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 ….”

I am now specifically interested in this man, this King, named Cyrus. His name, its etymology, includes the word “furnace.” My laptop software says “possess thou the furnace.” This usually (in the ancient Mid-east) would have implications of “wrath, punishment, revenge, terror!” The “furnace” of affliction! (For such a use of “furnace,” see Deuteronomy 4:20 here. “But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the IRON FURNACE, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.” Clear proof of a disciplinary, harsh use of “furnace!”)

This Cyrus reigned over Persia from 539 BC to 530 BC. Yet … according to Ezra (and the history books, too) he was NOT an “iron furnace” to Israel! He was “kind” to God’s people! The edict described in Ezra 1:1 was a “release” for any Jews who so desired to go back home, from captivity to freedom!

Wow!

The old “hatred” of Nebuchadnezzar for the Israelites … has now been subsumed into “graciousness” to the Jews on Cyrus’ part! (Cyrus is also the King who was able to join the Medes with the Persians into one unified nation! He must have been a capable administrator, conciliator!)

But none of the foregoing is the “point” in today’s Lesson, I guess.

For that I need to show you another Bible verse about Cyrus.

Isaiah mentions this King Cyrus BEFORE THE MAN WAS EVEN BORN! Mentions him by name, folks! Read with me Isaiah 45:1 … “Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to CYRUS, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him ….” God even calls this Cyrus “anointed!” Though the man is a heathen King!

How do we know Cyrus was not a convert? Still God prophetically speaking to Cyrus, Isaiah 45:5 now … “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, THOUGH THOU HAST NOT KNOWN ME.”

Wow!

Here is today’s point … finally.

God (through his Omniscience) spoke (by name) of Cyrus around 200 years before the man entered the scene of world politics! Yes, date Isaiah around 700 BC, and Cyrus (you know this already) around 500 BC!

This is miraculous!

This is Bible Prophecy … nearly at its best.

(God knows indeed His Plan for His children, doesn’t He? “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11)

I am wondering if this is one of the reasons liberal “scholars” try to post-date part of the book of Isaiah? So Isaiah 45 would be history rather than prophecy? I’ll have none of it! I believe only one man named Isaiah wrote the Book bearing his name. And he wrote it when he purports to have, around 700 BC. Have you ever heard of the erroneous “deutero-Isaiah” theory? That two (or now some say even three) different Isaiahs wrote that classic Bible Prophecy?)

No sir!

Isaiah (via the Holy Ghost) named and described Cyrus long before the Persian Empire ever materialized!

Hallelujah, what a Bible!

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

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