Step 8: The Restoration

Introduction

1. The First Return from Captivity - 536BC

Explain

Major Events:

Cyrus the Great defeats Babylon and Issues the decree that the Israelite exiles can go back to their land.

Prophetic fulfillment of Babylon’s judgment (Jeremiah 25:12)

Jeremiah 25:12 “12 And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the Lord, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.”

The Babylonian Kings Belshazzar is executed (Daniel 5)

Darius the Great is appointed by Cyrus the Great to rule Babylon.

Daniel serves under Darius (Daniel 6:1-3)

Prophetic fulfillment of Return of Israel (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1)

Isaiah 44:28 “28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, And shall perform all my pleasure: Even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; And to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.”

Isaiah 45:1 “1 Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, Whose right hand I have holden, To subdue nations before him; And I will loose the loins of kings, To open before him the two leaved gates; And the gates shall not be shut;”

Zerubbabel returns to Judah (Ezra 1-6)

Under the decree of Cyrus. Ezra 1:1–3 “1 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, 2 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. 3 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.”

The Temple is built by 516BC

The prophets

Haggai encourages the people to get their priorities right.

Haggai 1:5–7 “5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; Ye eat, but ye have not enough; Ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; Ye clothe you, but there is none warm; And he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.”

The house of God’s building was neglected while the people dwelt in their houses.

Zechariah - encourages the people that the Lord is not finished with Israel as a nation.

Zechariah encourages the people that the Lord will be faithful to them.

One day Israel will have the nations flow unto it for the worship of the true God.

The importance of holy living

The Lord is coming to judge the nations around Israel.

The Lord will save Israel when their enemies try to annihilate them.

Argue

Illustrate

Apply

From Cyrus: We can trust that God will do what he promised even if it is through a pagan King.

From Haggai: The priority of God’s house. Give to God what he requires.

From Zechariah: your strength must come from God.

Zechariah 4:6 “6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, Saith the Lord of hosts.”

2. The Second Return from Captivity - 455BC

Explain

Ezra returns to the land to teach the people the ways of God.

Ezra 7:10 “10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.”

Ezra helps the people learn to be pure.

The children of Israel intermarried with the heathen nations around them and committing abominations with them.

He leads them to put away their foreign wives.

The rulers were the biggest offenders in this matter. Ezra 9:1–2 “1 Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.”

How do you win people if you are not like them?

You attract them through light. Matthew 4:19 “19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Illustrate: Fishing at night.

Apply

We as God’s priests should be able to teach others what God’s Word teaches.

Malachi 2:7 “7 For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, And they should seek the law at his mouth: For he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.”

God values purity in his servants.

In your marriage. 1 Thessalonians 4:4 “4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;”

In your dating. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 “3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:”

In your activities. 2 Corinthians 6:17 “17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,”

3. The Third Return from Captivity - 445BC

Explain

Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem

Nehemiah heads us the building of the wall of Jerusalem.

The Wall is built in 52 days. Nehemiah 6:15–16 “15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days. 16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.”

The enemies of the Lord try all they can to stop the process. Willmington notes the following:

Ridicule - Nehemiah 2:19 “19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?”

Wrath - Nehemiah 4:1 “1 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.”

Discouragement - Nehemiah 4:10 “10 And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.”

Fear - Nehemiah 4:11-23

Internal strife - Nehemiah 5:1 “1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.”

Laziness - some leaders were not working

Satanic Subtlety Neh 6:1-8 - Compromise

4 attempts for dialogue which were an attempt to assassinate

Nehemiah answered with conviction that he must complete his work.

Lying prophets - Neh 6:10-14

Malachi - the prophet against complacency

The people of Israel had become lazy in their worship and were offering God their unwanted animals.

The priests were not teaching the people the Law and divorce was rampant.

The people were not giving what they owed God and didn’t think serving God was worth it.

The proud will be judged with judgment from the Lord. Be humble.

Illustrate

Apply

When God gives you a job. Do not be distracted. Keep at it till you are finished.

Colossians 3:23–24 “23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”

Whenever you will attempt to do something for God you will face opposition.

Nehemiah led his people to do a task that was supernaturally empowered, whom has God called you to lead?