The Grand Finale - Lessons from a Devotional Study of Ezra 6:1-22

THE GRAND FINALE - LESSONS FROM A DEVOTIONAL STUDY OF EZRA 6:1-22

By Ezekiel Kimosop 

INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND ANALYSIS 

Reading through the Book of Ezra is like going through a screenplay script that takes the reader through the various stages of the artist's depiction of his fairy tale. The difference however lies in the fact that Scripture narratives are far from fiction. They project true historical events that occurred in the past in biblical times.

Starting right from the decree by King Cyrus of Persia on the reconstruction of the Jerusalem temple (Ezra 1), and the return of a section of the Jewish people, including a number of priests and influential Jewish nobility to Judah (Ezra 2), the restoration of worship (Ezra 3:1-7), and the resistance to the temple works (Ezra 4), the historical narrative by Ezra depicts a scenario driven by divine intervention and resisted by evil forces in equal measure. 

Scholars estimate that the reign of Cyrus falls between 600-530 BC. The return of the first set of Jews to Judah is generally dated approximately 538 BC. 

The moment the Jewish returnees commenced the reconstruction of the Jerusalem temple, opposition from foreign people who had been forcefully resettled by the Babylonians following the fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC, set in. Bible scholars say that the works were frustrated for about 18 years until 520 BC when God spoke through Haggai and the reconstruction work was eventually completed (cf. Haggai 1-2). 

We learn from Ezra 4:1-5 that the foreign settlers initially offered to join the Jewish returnees in the temple works but their offer was respectfully declined by the Jewish leaders on the basis of the royal decree by Cyrus that exclusively concerned native Jewish people. Besides, these foreigners had done nothing concerning the sorry state of the ruined temple during the nearly 50 years of their occupation of Judah! Their claim to the covenant worship of God was highly doubtful. They could not have been worshipping the God of Israel for that long under a ruined temple and a broken altar! 

Upon receiving the negative response from the Jewish leaders, the foreigners opted for a different strategy by which they revealed their true intentions as saboteurs of God's work. They chose to radically oppose the temple works by seeking the support of the Persian imperial powers. They employed propaganda and outright falsehoods in painting the Jewish venture as a rebellion against the Persian authorities. They petitioned the royal authorities to order cessation of the works (Ezra 4:6-24).  

The temple works were eventually stopped when King Ahasuerus who succeeded Cyrus took over the Persian empire. The opposition to the temple works however persisted through to the reign of King Artaxerxes (see Ezra 4:4-5). 

COMPLETION OF THE TEMPLE WORKS

Ezra 6:1-22 can be considered as a Scripture narrative dedicated to the final completion of the Jerusalem temple works and the commemoration of two important Jewish festivals. It is significant that the historical background behind this passage is first understood by the Bible reader. 

PASSAGE OUTLINE & SUMMARY 

The passage of Ezra 6:1-22 can be summarized under five outlines:

A) The decree by Darius on a search through the royal archives (6:1-2).

B) The findings of the search and the vindication of the Jews on the temple works (6:3-5). 

C) The royal decree by Darius and the completion of the temple works (6:6-15).

D) The reinstitution of sacrificial worship in the Jerusalem temple (6:16-18).

E) The celebration of the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread (6:19-22).  

It was not until the reign of Darius II (522-486 BC) that the Jews received favorable support for the resumption of the reconstruction works. They wrote a petition to the new monarch requesting for a historical search through the royal archives to establish the imperial authority for the Jerusalem temple works (5:7-17). God touched the heart of Darius and he decreed that a search be done to verify the claims of the Jewish people. The search revealed that the reconstruction of the temple was backed by a royal decree issued under the reign of King Cyrus (Ezra 6:1-12). 

King Darius upheld the royal decree by Cyrus and authorized the completion of the temple works (Ezra 6:13-18). The Jews completed the temple works on the sixth year of the reign of Darius. Ezra's account historically coincides with the narrative conveyed in the Book of Haggai. 

Upon completion of the temple, the Jews offered sacrifices and proceeded observe two important religious calendar celebrations commanded by Moses  - the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread (Ezra 6:15-22). These two festivals have clear moral implications for Christian living. We shall now conclude our study by examining five moral lessons that should inform our prudence as God's covenant people. 

MORAL LESSONS

The following moral lessons can be distilled from the passage of Ezra 6:1-22:

1. No matter how long it takes, God's purposes for His covenant people will be fulfilled at God's appointed time. The resistance to the temple works finally collapsed under Darius and God's purposes were accomplished. We should remain steadfast in serving God despite open or convert opposition to God's ministry. God will finally have His way in the end. We are His ministry vessels and stewards of His grace (1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 1 Peter 5:2-4). We should therefore keep our eyes on God even in the most unpleasant circumstances. 

2. God's work should be accomplished under the hands of His covenant people working in unity. This is their divine mandate. No other parties have the authority to serve God other than those He has called to Himself. We [believers] should therefore consider ourselves a privileged people who God called to serve and honor Him. The Bible proclaims "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9, NKJV). Let us serve God with diligence and courage.

3. God often intervenes in the affairs of men for the sake of His covenant people. He did it for Ezra and his people; He intervened for Daniel, Esther and Mordecai in Persia. He will do the same for us in our generation and for His glory. God is the ultimate ruler whose divine authority towers above all earthly kings and rulers. No earthly royal is outside the purview of God's sovereignty. Scripture proclaims "The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes." (Proverbs 21:1, NKJV). 

4. The Passover celebration was a foreshadow of God's redemption work in Christ Jesus. Jesus became the sacrificial Lamb of God who gave His life on the cross of Calvary as a ransom for the redemption of sinful men who willingly turn to Him in repentance of sin (John 1:29, 3:16-17; Romans 3:23; 2 Corinthians. 5:21).  Do you know Jesus? 

5. The Unleavened Bread symbolizes sincere covenant living among God's people. God calls on us to uncompromising keep our garments free from the contaminating stains of this sinful world. The Bible exhorts "Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." (1 Corinthians 5:7-8, NKJV). 

Keep it Christ!

Shalom

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2023