Ezra | God's Plan | Chapter 1-3

INTRODUCTION: Raise hand question:Have you ever wondered what God was doing in your life? In the moment, wondered what God was up to?

That’s where israel was right now.

Ezra 1:1 ESV

1 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, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:

Background - Israel taken captive for 70 years, as foretold by Jeremiah.

Babylon was the most powerful nation in the world. Nothing was going to conquer them. Until God raised up persian. Specifically Cyrus the Great. Becoming the largest nation the world has ever seen.

First year - King’s would frequently make grand gestures in their first year. Like when you watch politics - first day promises from President’s. haha

that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled - This section is significant for many prophesies.

Jeremiah prophesied 70 years.

Isaiah 44:28 “28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose’; saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’ ””

This was written 150 years before Cyrus gave the decree!

Before they were even taken into captivity God had a plan to bring them back home. Before you go into your hard days he has a plan to walk with you.

Daniel 9: 24-27 - prophesy started with Daniel that was fulfilled with Jesus.

Lord stirred up Cyrus. - But Cyrus wasn’t Jewish. In fact he worshipped other gods.

Ezra 1:2 ESV

2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

God’s Plan Will Happen

God made it all work. He will do the same for you.

Covid 2020 for church.

Ezra 1:3–4 ESV

3 Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”

Lord - Yahweh.

Cyrus understood Lord had given him this land and that God had something to do.

build him a house - the temple. The temple was so significant in the life of Jerusalem.

42k will go back. Many stay back in babylon.

v4 - freewill offereing - saying, give towards those who are going.

SKIP TO EZRA 3:1 - Ezra 2 chronicles who was going to go with them. It was led by Zeruberel. Who was the grandson to the last king of Isreal.

Ezra 3 starts with them building the altar. So they can start sacrificing for their sin. In the Mosaic coventant this was how they ae able to contect to God.

Ezra 3:1–5 ESV

1 When the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel with his kinsmen, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. 3 They set the altar in its place, for fear was on them because of the peoples of the lands, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening. 4 And they kept the Feast of Booths, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number according to the rule, as each day required, 5 and after that the regular burnt offerings, the offerings at the new moon and at all the appointed feasts of the Lord, and the offerings of everyone who made a freewill offering to the Lord.

The first thing they did was not build the walls. IT was to build the temple.

Why? Becuase what got them into this mess int he first place was lack of

Ezra 3:8–9 ESV

8 Now in the second year after their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak made a beginning, together with the rest of their kinsmen, the priests and the Levites and all who had come to Jerusalem from the captivity. They appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to supervise the work of the house of the Lord. 9 And Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, and Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together supervised the workmen in the house of God, along with the sons of Henadad and the Levites, their sons and brothers.

Ezra 3:10–11 ESV

10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the directions of David king of Israel. 11 And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.” And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.

laid the foundation - first blocks.

His Plan Is Good

Christmas story for boys. No toys to a lot of toys.

If his plan isn’t good yet, it means the plan isn’t done yet.

Ezra 3:12–13 ESV

12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, 13 so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.

The plan doesn’t always feel good. The old guys didn’t like what God was doing. They were crying while others were rejoicing.

Being at a superbowl party with fans from different teams.

Haggai 2:9 ESV

9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’ ”

but how? How could this shack be somehow greater than the first?

We wouldn’t find out for 500 years later, but:

Luke 2:22–32 ESV

22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

Trust in God’s Plan

Luke 2 - light of the world came into. Old man Simeon rejoicing!

Acts 2- fire fell down

Covid - God using bad for good.

Making up after a fight -

abernacle - fire came down.

Solomon - fire came down.

Here - no fire? Why no fire.

The old guys weep knowing that it wasn’t like what it was before. There was something missing (home missing, rogers getting injured, took out injury)