Ezra: Returning and Rebuilding
"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"(1:3).
The Book of Ezra recounts the story of the Israelites' return from exile in Babylon and the subsequent rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. It is named after its main character, Ezra, who was a priest and scribe. The book is divided into two main sections: the return of the exiles under the leadership of Zerubbabel and the religious reforms under Ezra's leadership.
In the first section, King Cyrus of Persia issues a decree allowing the Israelites to return to their homeland and rebuild the temple. Zerubbabel leads a first group of exiles back to Jerusalem and begins the reconstruction of the temple. Although they face opposition from neighboring peoples, the temple is eventually completed.
The second section of the book takes place several years later when Ezra is granted permission by King Artaxerxes of Persia to lead a second group of exiles back to Jerusalem. Ezra's primary mission is to reestablish and enforce the laws and religious practices of God's people. However, some Israelites have married foreign wives, which is against the law of Moses. The story concludes with the people repenting and returning to God's law under Ezra's leadership.
The book emphasizes that the LORD is not only the God of Israel but the Lord over all nations, working through even foreign kings to fulfill His purposes. It shows the faithfulness of the Lord to His promises and His mercy, which is greater than His anger. The history of Israel demonstrates that the Lord sovereignly uses all circumstances to accomplish His eternal plan, despite the failure of His people and opposition from enemies. Salvation belongs to the Lord alone, and blessings come from His mercy rather than human achievements.
Ezra's story reveals that while God’s people were engaged in an external building, they neglected their internal relationship with God. The rebuilding of the temple provided a place and means for worship, but the people's hearts and minds were not yet fully returned to God. Thus, Ezra emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's law and the need for spiritual purity through his determination to study, keep, and teach the law.
The rebuilding of the temple, though imperfect and temporary, points to the ultimate redemption and reconciliation that would be accomplished through Jesus Christ. Just as the first temple was destroyed due to Israel’s sin and the second temple was rebuilt by God’s sovereign grace, Jesus bore our sin and died in our place, but He rose again by the power of God to establish the true temple of God.
The book highlights that the dwelling place of God is not a physical structure but among and within His people. Through Christ, the church is built as the dwelling place of God and the kingdom of God on earth. Christ, likened to Ezra, serves as our great priest and teacher, renewing our hearts through repentance and guiding us in the observance of God's law. As a result, we are being built to be the holy temple of God.
