Ezra 1:7 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters | Metropolitan Tabernacle

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Ezra 1:7

Comments

But it's the giving of the gold and the silver and the utensils and the precious things from the temple. This raises questions. How did they ever last 70 years with the Babylonians? When Babylon was pillaged, and looted and plundered, how were they ever recovered in one piece? How were they willingly surrendered within a year by Cyrus, if Cyrus was a totally pagan emperor? You just didn't do that if you were an all-powerful pagan emperor. Your trophies of victory – all the riches and accoutrements of your enemies’ gods – you didn't simply hand them back. Everything is turned upside down with Cyrus, and the necessary utensils of worship appointed by God in the temple are handed back intact. Is there any other case of this in ancient times?Cyrus understands of God’s place. The temple riches must be returned to Jerusalem. They were all symbols of grace. 42,000+ go because God stirs them and works in their hearts. How many returned – Judah, Benjamin, Levite? Other tribes so few if any is not to be mentioned. Remember this release in Isaiah is set out as a picture of what happens when Christ comes. The remnant rescued and delivered. The one is a picture of the other. See parallels. Jews slaves – (many parallels, not coincidental) – but with Cyrus, get liberty – no with Christ. They return to worship and so do we. Jews had nothing to pay – all provided for them. Maybe they wondered – how could we ever go back, we would be penniless. So Christ comes, nothing to pay. Cyrus arranged to pay, Christ pays. Cyrus had no reason either ‘nothing in it for him. ‘What was deliverance for – to go to Jerusalem? 450 direct on double to travel – 4-6 months. When Christ delivers us, we are expected to be changed, completely. If a popstar – taken far away. Out of Babylon into Zion. Their work was to build. New temple, different structure. New character given by Lord.These treasures were handed over to Sheshbazzar. The first 42,000 plus had returned from Babylon under Sheshbazzar. It is likely that Sheshbazzar (‘worshipper of fire’) was his Chaldee name, and that he is the same person as Zerubbabel (‘born at Babylon’) which was his Jewish name.

Application

What a lot of encouragement that generation had! This is all prophesied. Over a century before Isaiah had prophesied by name, Cyrus, and what he would do. Jeremiah had spoken of him in great detail, and what he would accomplish. Those prophecies had to be fulfilled. Cyrus is the second most prophesied human being in history. Christ is the most by far, and Cyrus, oddly enough, is the second most prophesied person in history. Most people have never been prophesied, not even great ones. So prophecy was fulfilled. All the natural order was turned round, and the unexpected, in point after point, was accomplished, and the people of God were heading back to their land. These things are remarkable.

God has absolute dominion in that even godless kings serve his purposes. To the eye of faith, God’s hand is over all. He may subdue a nation so that it receives the gospel or he may harden it fit for judgment.

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Ezra 1:7 Commentary and Bible Study