Introduction
Ezra 1:1–11: Today, we will begin reading excerpts from the book of Ezra, which describes the return of some of the Jewish exiles from Babylon and the restoration of life and worship in Jerusalem. The Babylonians captured Jerusalem in 586 B.C. and destroyed the Temple in the process. A few decades later, Emperor Cyrus of Persia defeated the Babylonians and allowed the exiles to return home and rebuild the Temple. Today’s reading includes Cyrus’s decree permitting the Jews to return home. The prophet Isaiah speaks of God’s choosing Cyrus to bring this about (see Isaiah 45:1–8; 48:12–16).
Today’s Key Verse: Ezra 1:5 GNT
Then the heads of the clans of the tribes Judah and Benjamin, the priests and the Levites, and everyone else whose heart God had moved got ready to go and rebuild the LORD’s Temple in Jerusalem.
Read
1 In the first year that Cyrus of Persia was emperor,[a] the Lord made what he had said through the prophet Jeremiah come true. He prompted Cyrus to issue the following command and send it out in writing to be read aloud everywhere in his empire:
2 “This is the command of Cyrus, Emperor of Persia. The Lord, the God of Heaven, has made me ruler over the whole world and has given me the responsibility of building a temple for him in Jerusalem in Judah. 3 May God be with all of you who are his people. You are to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is worshiped in Jerusalem. 4 If any of his people in exile need help to return, their neighbors are to give them this help. They are to provide them with silver and gold, supplies and pack animals, as well as offerings to present in the Temple of God in Jerusalem.”
5 Then the heads of the clans of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, the priests and Levites, and everyone else whose heart God had moved got ready to go and rebuild the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem. 6 All their neighbors helped them by giving them many things: silver utensils, gold, supplies, pack animals, other valuables, and offerings for the Temple.
7 Emperor Cyrus gave them back the bowls and cups that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Temple in Jerusalem and had put in the temple of his gods. 8 He handed them over to Mithredath, chief of the royal treasury, who made an inventory of them for Sheshbazzar, the governor of Judah, 9-10 as follows:
| gold bowls for offerings | 30 |
| silver bowls for offerings | 1,000 |
| other bowls | 29 |
| small gold bowls | 30 |
| small silver bowls | 410 |
| other utensils | 1,000 |
11 In all there were 5,400 gold and silver bowls and other articles which Sheshbazzar took with him when he and the other exiles went from Babylon to Jerusalem.
Reflect
What was stated in Cyrus’s decree (verses 2–4)? What help did the Jewish exiles’ neighbors provide (verse 6)? What did Cyrus return to the Jewish exiles (verse 7)? Based on today’s reading, how would you describe Cyrus as a ruler?
Pray
Gracious God, I thank and praise you for keeping me in the shelter of your love and care. Open my heart and eyes to the needs of those I encounter today that I may share the bounty of your blessings with others. In your holy name, I pray. Amen.
And now, join us in praising God that his Word is reaching students in East Africa. Lord, children in small East African villages are receiving your Word for the first time. A Bible teacher at a local school learned that a local Bible society was operating in the area and asked for Bibles for all the students. Because of the support from Bible-A-Month Partners, new Bibles were delivered the next day! We thank you, Lord God, that you are using your precious Word to change and enrich the lives of many families in East Africa. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Ezra 3:1–13: Worship life and the rebuilding of the Temple begins.
