Preparations to Return

Introduction:

I don’t know about you all, but my heart longs for a perfect world...

A world in which there is no more pain or suffering, no more hatred or bitterness, no more lawlessness or violence, no more murder or war, no more unkindness or animosity , no more strife or divorce, no more assaults or abuse, no more depression or loneliness, no more emptiness or lack of purpose, no more hunger or starvation.

A world that is filled with perfect love, joy, peace, security, purpose, fulfillment, and where all are thriving.

That kind of world is not a pipe dream. I understand the realities and consequence of sin. But what is the root problem? Me, myself, and I. After all sin has “i” in the middle of it.

Family, the world I described is possible, God’s Word declares that God has provided eternal life for us, for those who genuine believe, a life of perfection that is free not only from all suffering and pain but also from all trials and temptations. This is what Christ declares He is going after His ascension, to make a place for us.

The identity of this place is heaven.

As our passage this morning is going to be dealing with is the preparations of returning to the promise land. For us we too need to prepare for the promise land of heaven.

Recap:

Ezra in our passage last week had been granted permission by King Artaxerxes to lead a group of returnees back to Jerusalem. But before He could lead the people from their captivity, certain preparations had to be made.

Preparations through recruiting people to return.

Preparation through seeking God.

Preparation through organizing leaders to guard the treasure.

Preparation through trusting the Lord to fulfill His promise.

Preparations through recruiting people to return

vv. 1-20) A need for laborers:

[1-2] Knowing that he will need help in the recruitment process, Ezra wisely enlisted three family heads or leaders to help him. Because of their influence he chose two priest, one leader from each of the two families.

From the priestly family of Phinehas, he recruited Gershom; and from the priestly family of Ithamar, Daniel. These two men would have had tremendous influence in helping Ezra recruit others for the task that lay ahead of them in Jerusalem. Now along with these two priest, Ezra reached out to recruit someone from the royal line of David, a man named Hattush, a descendant of the family of Shechaniah.

[3-14] Ezra and these three men were able to recruit a large number of people. In all there were 1,511 men who made the commitment to return to Jerusalem. When considering wives and children there were probably about 5,000 exiles returning to Israel. This was a much smaller number than the 50,000 who had returned about 80 years earlier under Zerubbabel’s leadership.

Ezra had instructed those recruited to assemble at the Ahava Canal. There they spent three days making preparations for the journey and checking the list of people to make sure everyone was present. But when Ezra was checking the list he made a sad discovery. Not a single Levite had made a commitment to return to the promised land.

There were some priests present, but no Levites. And Levites were needed, for they were the assistants to the priest. Apparently they were not willing to leave the comfortable, prosperous, and successful lives they had achieved in Babylon. Before we get after them, keep in mind that this new generation had never seen Jerusalem, they had never glimpsed the promised land.

To solve this problem, Ezra appointed a special delegation to recruit Levites. The delegation included 9 leaders and 2 scholars [16]. After their appointment Ezra sent the delegation to a prominent leader among the Levites, a man named Iddo. This delegation was successful in recruiting Levites, and three reasons are given as to why they were successful:

[18-19]

Due to the Lord’s hand guiding and blessing them.

Due to a very capable Levite leader named Sherebiah who personally recruited 18.

Due to two other leading Levites named Hashabiah and Jeshaiah who were able to recruit 10 more Levites.

In addition to the Levites, the delegation also recruited 220 temple servants [20]. These servants, a group of temple workers who had frist been instituted by David, were assistants to the Levites.

Application:

Ezra needed laborers, people who would make a solid commitment to the awesome task of rebuilding the Jewish nation and restoring true worship in the temple.

Family we need laborers who will make a commitment to the Lord and to the awesome task of the church. No greater mission exists than the one assigned to the church, that of taking the gospel of salvation to the world and of meeting the needs of people. People are lost and without hope, for they are separated from God’s mercy. Many do not know that salvation comes only through Jesus Christ, that no person can approach and become acceptable to God except through His Son:

John 14:6 NKJV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

In addition to those who are lost, there are many people who are hurting and in desperate need, suffering all kinds of trials, hardships, and temptations.

Laborers are needed, desperately needed. Some among us right now need to make a commitment to the Lord, surrendering our lives to become laborers for Christ. As never before, we need to bear strong witness to the saving power of Jesus Christ and to reach out in compassion to those who are in desperate need.

Matthew 9:37–38 NKJV

37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

John 4:35–36 NKJV

35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.

Luke 10:2 NKJV

2 Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

Mark 2:1–5 NKJV

1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

1 Corinthians 15:58 NKJV

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Galatians 6:1–2 NKJV

1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:9–10 NKJV

9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Jude 23 NKJV

23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

Preparation through seeking God

vv. 21-23) The need to pray and fast:

Remember these returnees are prepping to go on a 900 mile long trip. Ezra here, encourages them to prepare themselves spiritually. He challenged them to seek the Lord through prayer and fasting. Prayer and fasting were urgently needed for three reasons

The people needed to seek the Lord for a safe journey, and for God’s guidance and protection.

The people needed to seek the Lord because the trip would be lengthy and demanding.

The people needed to seek the Lord because there would be no armed escort.

A question naturally arises about the wisdom of Ezra here, especially since other believers down through the years had requested armed escorts. Nehemiah would and so would Paul. Does this mean that Ezra trusted the Lord more than Nehemiah and Paul? In thinking about this question, we must keep in mind God’s purposes. His purpose is to teach us to draw closer to Him, to fellowship and commune with Him. Nothing causes us to draw nearer to the Lord than trials and hardships.

God, I believe, was teaching Ezra that he needed to depend on God, that he needed to draw near to the Lord in fellowship and communion. He needed to trust the Lord as never before.

Application:

Every believer should undertake every task with prayer. Prayer should be the very first step taken. And if the task is large or significant, both prayer and fasting should precede the endeavor.

Listen to what the Word says about prayer:

Matthew 7:7–11 NKJV

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Matthew 26:41 NKJV

41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Deuteronomy 4:29–31 NKJV

29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice 31 (for the Lord your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.

Psalm 91:15 NKJV

15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.

Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV

3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

Listen to what the Word says about fasting:

Matthew 6:17–18 NKJV

17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Matthew 17:14–21 NKJV

14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.” 17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

Joel 1:14 NKJV

14 Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land Into the house of the Lord your God, And cry out to the Lord.

Joel 2:12 NKJV

12 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”

Preparation through organizing leaders to guard the treasure

vv. 24-30) A need for faithful stewards:

Ezra was also wise when it came to their finances and to have guards protecting the treasure that had been entrusted into his care by the Persian government. Ezra would delegate this responsibility to two leading priest, Sherebiah and Hashabiah. These two priest appointed ten other priest to serve with them.

Good leadership point… serve with them.

650 talents of silver that amounted to 24 tons

various silver items that weighed 100 talents or 7,500 pounds

gold that weighed 100 talents or 7,500 pounds

20 gold bowls that were equal to 1,000 drachmas or 1,000 gold coins

two bronze items that were as precious as gold

[28-29] After weighing all these items and wealth, Ezra reminded the guards that both they and the treasure were holy, set apart to God. the treasure had been given as a freewill offering to the Lord. For this reason, they must carefully guard the treasure until it was delivered to Jerusalem.

application:

Ezra has left us with a pretty neat example of faithful stewardship. We too must be faithful stewards of all that God has given us, whether it is money, abilities, or different responsibilities. We are to carefully protect and increase what God has given. Nothing is to go unused, be left undeveloped. Instead we are to use our skills and abilities as a strong witness to further the kingdom of God, to bring Him more glory.

So it is with the responsibilities and duties given to us. We are not to neglect nor fail to carry out any task entrusted to us, whether at work, home, school, or anywhere else. When a responsibility is set before us, we are to tackle and complete the work, giving a strong witness of diligence in serving the Lord.

Now when it come to the stewardship of money, we are to guard all that is entrusted in our care. We are not to carelessly handle money, or to allow it to rule over us. Money is a trust from God. We should be working hard to glorify God not to earn another dollar.

Ephesians 4:28 NKJV

28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

Stewards:

1 Corinthians 4:2 NKJV

2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

Preparation through trusting the Lord to fulfill His promise

vv. 31-36) A need to depend upon God’s protection and security:

The journey for this group took 4 months. Interestingly, nothing is said about the journey itself except the fact that God protected them from enemies and bandits along the way. God had clearly answered their prayers. It seems that the first three days of them arriving in Jerusalem they were resting...

On the 4th day, Ezra and the leadership took the treasure into the temple.

[35-36] Note the first thing these group does… They worshipped God, praising and thanking Him for protecting them and bringing them safely to the promised land. For the first time in their lives, this new generation of Jewish believers were worshipping at the temple in the land that had been promised to them by God.

Joy beyond measure must have been swelling up in their hearts and the heart of Ezra. Approaching God through the substitute sacrifice, the returned exiles sacrificed 12 bulls and 12 males goats. No doubt representing the 12 tribes of Israel. After the worship service, Ezra and the leaders delivered the decree from King Artaxerxes. If you remember the decree instructed the local officials to give assistance to the Jewish returnees and to the temple.

Application:

God protected and brought the people safely to Jerusalem. And just as the Lord looked after the returning exiles, so He will take care of you and I. As we walk and travel about day by day, we have the wonderful promise of God’s covenant with us through Christ. Why would we worry? or be fearful, when we have Almighty God on our side? Who is for us, not against us.

Philippians 1:6 NKJV

6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Psalm 138:8 NKJV

8 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 NKJV

23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

Hebrews 12:1–2 NKJV

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Communion:

Partaking in holy communion is remembering the price God would go to, to give you these truths. That He will never leave you or forsake you, that He will finish what He has started in you.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 NKJV

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

Jude 24–25 NKJV

24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, 25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.