THE DAILY

Let Him Go Up, by Kim [ Ezra 1 ]

 1 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, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:

2“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 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. 4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”

5 Then rose up the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem. 6 And all who were about them aided them with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with costly wares, besides all that was freely offered. 7 Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house of the Lord that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods. 8 Cyrus king of Persia brought these out in the charge of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. 9 And this was the number of them: 30 basins of gold, 1,000 basins of silver, 29 censers, 10 30 bowls of gold, 410 bowls of silver, and 1,000 other vessels; 11 all the vessels of gold and of silver were 5,400. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when the exiles were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem.

The book of 2 Chronicles ends with the words of Cyrus the King of Persia. “Let him go up.” As we enter the book of Ezra we see the same words of Cyrus in Chapter One. Some questions we would ask about in any story we should ask of this one. Who is to go up? Where is Cyrus allowing them to go? What is the purpose of their going? Why might Cyrus not only allow, but also fully equip them to go and accomplish their purpose. On his dime! With all of his kingly clout and protection! 

Hmmm. Perhaps Cyrus is not the only one at work. 

Ezra 1:1 gives us a hint as readers that more is in play. Jeremiah, in 25:12-13 and 29:10, prophesied that God’s people will be removed from their land and from the temple and from their rituals of worship for 70 years. But, then they would return. 

Even more remarkable, the prophet Isaiah almost 200 years prior writes of Cyrus, “He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose’ ; saying of Jerusalem, 'She shall be built,’ and of the temple, “Your foundations shall be laid.” Isaiah 44:28

And in Isaiah 45:1 we see a prophecy of the LORD directing Cyrus, grasping his right hand and giving him power to subdue nations and open doors. 

Clearly God is at work in the midst of this narrative. As God used the Babylonians as instruments to judge His people, he is using King Cyrus to restore them to their land. 

Yet, it has been A LONG TIME COMING. A lot happens in 70 years. The people have gotten very comfortable in the land of their captors. What will it be like to return to their own land? The change is real and not necessarily completely welcome. As we look at change in our own lives, even when we know God is behind it, how much do we embrace it? How might trusting God as He does a “new thing” in our lives strengthen our faith?

- Kim Williams

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn? (write in your journal or discuss in your group break-outs )

+ After reading Chapter One, take a few moments to answer the Who, what, when, where, why questions?

+ Who is propelling the action according to verse one?

+ To whom does King Cyrus attribute his success?

+ What specific direction does the LORD give Cyrus?

+ How were the everyday Persians to aid in the cause? What other story might this remind you of? What other similarities might they have?

+ How were the people “selected” selected to return? How is this similar to how King Cyrus was selected to lead?

+ What tangible restoration do we see King Cyrus doing in verse 7-8? Why might this be important as the people return? Why is this so unusual or remarkable?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to a personal step of action/obedience fueled by the gospel? (write in your journal or discuss in your group break-outs)

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ How might I be missing the “new and abundant” life God offers while I cling to the old? 

+ What promise will I cling to as I courageously step out in obedience?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus and what is my next step? (e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join Go! www.estuarygo.org)

+ What truths about God and His Word are we learning first and then helping others remember on our journey. How can we be more intentional about doing so?

+Who am I discipling as I live and grow and learn to obey Jesus? If this hasn’t been a priority, pray today about who God wants you to reach out to in His Name.

+Who and where do I look to know what is true? Who do I trust to hold me accountable to living out this truth? 

Exiles Return by Monica [ Ezra 2.1-35 ]

Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. 2 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: 3 the sons of Parosh, 2,172. 4 The sons of Shephatiah, 372. 5 The sons of Arah, 775. 6 The sons of Pahath-moab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812. 7 The sons of Elam, 1,254. 8 The sons of Zattu, 945. 9 The sons of Zaccai, 760. 10 The sons of Bani, 642. 11 The sons of Bebai, 623. 12 The sons of Azgad, 1,222. 13 The sons of Adonikam, 666. 14 The sons of Bigvai, 2,056. 15 The sons of Adin, 454. 16 The sons of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, 98. 17 The sons of Bezai, 323. 18 The sons of Jorah, 112. 19 The sons of Hashum, 223. 20 The sons of Gibbar, 95. 21 The sons of Bethlehem, 123. 22 The men of Netophah, 56. 23 The men of Anathoth, 128. 24 The sons of Azmaveth, 42. 25 The sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743. 26 The sons of Ramah and Geba, 621. 27 The men of Michmas, 122. 28 The men of Bethel and Ai, 223. 29 The sons of Nebo, 52. 30 The sons of Magbish, 156. 31 The sons of the other Elam, 1,254. 32 The sons of Harim, 320. 33 The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 725. 34 The sons of Jericho, 345. 35 The sons of Senaah, 3,630.

God keeps His promises. In Jeremiah 29:10 God promised that exile would not last forever: 

“For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.” 

Though they were exiled, they were also being restored to the land that God had given them. These men listed above (along with their wives and families) believed in the covenant promises of God and were eager to rebuild the temple to Him. They uprooted their lives in Babylon to return to their ancestral land. 

Sometimes we can feel like we are in a season of exile; life feels spiritually dry, God is quiet, and we feel abandoned, our prayers unanswered, our hope waning. Exile is a part of the key pattern of the gospel in Scripture: exile demonstrates our separation from God because of our sin and insistence on our own way. But combined with our exile from God is also the promise of restoration; God promised as early as Genesis 3:15 that Satan would be defeated by the seed of the woman. Christ, fulfilling that promise, brings an end to our spiritual exile, restoring us to God’s presence despite our insufficiencies. Covered in Christ’s sufficiency, we are redeemed and restored to be children of God, His covenant people.

 -Monica Godfrey

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?(write in your journal or discuss in your group break-outs)

+ What do we learn about God and his character in this passage?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to a personal step of action/obedience fueled by the gospel? (write in your journal or discuss in your group break-outs or share with a friend over coffee)

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Evaluate your walk with God in relation to the theme of exile. Does it feel dry and you need to hold onto God’s promises? Are you living in the reality of redemption, praising God for His faithful provision?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus and what is my next step?(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join Go! www.estuarygo.org)

+ Is there someone you know who needs to hear of Christ’s innocence and sacrificial love?

+ What is my next step?

A Proper Foundation, by David [ Ezra 2.36-70 ]

36 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, 973. 37 The sons of Immer, 1,052. 38 The sons of Pashhur, 1,247. 39 The sons of Harim, 1,017. 40 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, 74. 41 The singers: the sons of Asaph, 128. 42 The sons of the gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, and the sons of Shobai, in all 139. 43 The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, 44 the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon, 45 the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub, 46 the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shamlai, the sons of Hanan, 47 the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah, 48 the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam, 49 the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai, 50 the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephisim, 51 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, 52 the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, 53 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah, 54 the sons of Neziah, and the sons of Hatipha. 55 The sons of Solomon’s servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Hassophereth, the sons of Peruda, 56 the sons of Jaalah, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, 57 the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, and the sons of Ami. 58 All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon’s servants were 392. 59 The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, though they could not prove their fathers’ houses or their descent, whether they belonged to Israel: 60 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, and the sons of Nekoda, 652. 61 Also, of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, and the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name). 62 These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but they were not found there, and so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 63 The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food, until there should be a priest to consult Urim and Thummim. 64 The whole assembly together was 42,360, 65 besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337, and they had 200 male and female singers. 66 Their horses were 736, their mules were 245, 67 their camels were 435, and their donkeys were 6,720. 68 Some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, made freewill offerings for the house of God, to erect it on its site. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury of the work 61,000 darics of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priests’ garments. 70 Now the priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all the rest of Israel in their towns.

This passage highlights some of the roles people played in the rebuilding effort, including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants. These were the people who would help reestablish worship in Jerusalem.

They didn’t just come back to rebuild a city; they came back to restore worship. And the people who returned didn’t serve because it was glamorous. Many of them had obscure roles. Some of them, like the temple servants, were often overlooked. And yet, they showed up.

This entire section concludes with a note about giving (freewill offerings). Before they built anything, they gave. Before the altar was repaired or the songs resumed, they opened their hands. It’s a picture of what renewal looks like: hearts set apart, hands wide open.

- David Bempong

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn? (write in your journal or discuss in your group break-outs)

+ Who are the groups mentioned in this section (i.e. what roles do they have [v. 36–58])?

+ How did the community respond before the rebuilding began [v. 68–70]?

+ What does this tell us about how God values service, identity, and generosity?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to a personal step of action/obedience fueled by the gospel? (write in your journal or discuss in your group break-outs)

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus and what is my next step? (e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join Go! www.estuarygo.org) 

+ What is my next step?

Redemption and Pain, by John [ Ezra 3 ]

When the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel with his kinsmen, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. 3 They set the altar in its place, for fear was on them because of the peoples of the lands, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, burnt offerings morning and evening. 4 And they kept the Feast of Booths, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number according to the rule, as each day required, 5 and after that the regular burnt offerings, the offerings at the new moon and at all the appointed feasts of the LORD, and the offerings of everyone who made a freewill offering to the LORD. 6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid. 7 So they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus king of Persia.

Rebuilding the Temple

8 Now in the second year after their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak made a beginning, together with the rest of their kinsmen, the priests and the Levites and all who had come to Jerusalem from the captivity. They appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to supervise the work of the house of the LORD. 9 And Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, and Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together supervised the workmen in the house of God, along with the sons of Henadad and the Levites, their sons and brothers. 10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the directions of David king of Israel. 11 And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.” And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. 12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, 13 so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people's weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.

God has been faithful to bring the Israelites out of captivity, but the foundation of the new temple is both a point of triumph and pain. It is a triumph because God is faithfully fulfilling his promises, but pain because the new temple does not appear as glorious as Solomon’s. Ultimately, it is an opportunity to praise God because of his faithful covenant-keeping love toward Israel. Perhaps you are dealing with the repercussions from past actions and are in desperate need of redemption. Maybe you are watching God redeem elements of your life, but it is still full of the pain of the past. It could also be that God’s work in your life is full of sweet hope. If you are in the first category, then the Israelites laying the foundation of the temple is a testimony to God’s trustworthiness and desire to redeem. He calls us to turn to him in loving obedience so that he may begin his work of redemption. If you are in the second category, the Israelites are a reminder that God’s redemption includes a space for grieving and loss. Giving our honest pain and grief up to God in prayer and worship with fellow believers or counselors can be a part of the healing journey. Finally, if you are in the last category, the Israelites are a reminder that the proper response to God’s redemption is worship. His love is persistent and powerful, and he is worthy of our praise.

Grace and Peace

–John Barzal

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn? (write in your journal or discuss in your group break-outs)

+ What are the Israelites doing in this chapter?

+ What is the Israelites’ response to completing their task?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to a personal step of action/obedience fueled by the gospel? (write in your journal or discuss in your group break-outs)

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ What does it mean for God to redeem your life? How can you partner with what he is doing in your life to bring healing and restoration to every area?

+ If you are experiencing pain in God’s redemption of your life, how can you be open and honest about this pain while still being grateful for God’s work?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus and what is my next step? (e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join Go! www.estuarygo.org)

+ What is my next step?

When the Work Stops, by Aaron [ Ezra 4 (Selected Verses) ]

1 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel...

2 they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of families and said, “Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God…”

3 But Zerubbabel and the heads of the families said, “You have no part with us in building a temple to our God…”

4 Then the people around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building.

…

24 Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill…

There’s something gutting about watching a good work grind to a halt.

Ezra 4 is the moment when momentum dies. The returned exiles had just started to rebuild the temple, finally doing the thing they were meant to do—and almost immediately, opposition shows up. But it doesn’t come swinging. It comes smiling. “Let us help,” they say. “We worship your God too.”

It sounds like partnership. But it’s poison. Zerubbabel sees it. He draws a line. And for that faithfulness, things get worse.

Threats. Manipulation. Bureaucratic games. The enemies of God frustrate the mission until, eventually, the work stops. And it stays stopped… for years.

What do you do when the thing God called you to build, your marriage, your ministry or your community runs into so much resistance that it just… stalls?

Sometimes, the holiest thing you can do is not move on. Zerubbabel doesn’t rebuild with compromised help. He doesn’t cut a deal to keep things going. He waits. He trusts that God, who started the work, will bring it back to life in His time.

And He does.

—Aaron Rosa

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that I/we learn ? (Write in your journal or discuss in your group breakouts)

+ Why do you think the offer of “help” in verses 1–2 is actually a threat in disguise?

+ What tactics did the opposition use once they were told “no”? (vv4–5)

+ What’s the significance of verse 24, the fact that the work stopped completely?

[HOW] is the Lord calling me to a personal step of action/obedience fueled by the gospel?  (Write in your journal or discuss in your group breakouts)

+ Are you facing a situation where compromise is disguised as “help”?

+ Is there something God called you to start that has now stalled?

+ Instead of rushing to fix it, what might it look like to wait patiently and faithfully for God to reignite the work?

[WHO] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus and what is my next step?  (For example, your family around the dinner table, co-worker or neighbor; for help, join Go! www.estuarygo.org)

+ Who in your life feels like they’ve lost momentum in their walk with Jesus? How can you encourage them today?

+ Is there someone you’re discipling or walking with who needs to hear that delayed isn’t dead?