The Book of Ezra

Our God is faithful to accomplish that which He promises. He will restore us when we repent, asking for forgiveness, turning to Him for our salvation. He is faithful for a thousand generations. Christianity is all about restoration and building up the Body of Christ.  God’s plan from the beginning of time knowing man would fail was to provide a way to salvation in Christ Jesus. With God within us nothing is impossible.

Ezra reveals God’s continued fulfillment of His promise to keep David’s descendants alive. Zerubbabel, the grandson of Jeconiah, is part of Jesus’ earthly genealogy. It may seem insignificant that the remnant of David’s extended family had to return to Jerusalem, but it isn’t. The positive turn of events sets up the good fortune that will give way to the Good News of Jesus. Without access to the original “land of promise,” Jesus couldn’t have been born in Bethlehem, which was a requirement for the Messiah. As Ezra documents the return from Babylon, the soundtrack of forgiveness and restoration plays in the background. It is a melody line that will accompany the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It is music to God’s ears to hear His people confess and repent.

The Book of Ezra is a remarkable witness to God’s faithfulness to His people. Together with Nehemiah, Ezra describes the events leading to the return of the Judeans from captivity in Babylon and the discouraging experiences of that small community in the harsh world of the Promised Land. But through every experience God proved Himself faithful. Through the leadership of Ezra and Zerubbabel, God fulfilled His promises announced by His prophets to restore His people from Babylon, to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem, and to renew their hope that the Davidic kingdom would be restored.

Ezra 1:2-4

² Thus says Cyrus king of Persia:

All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. ³ Who 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 build the house of the Lord God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem. ⁴ And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.