Ezra 5:1-17
Q.1. What prompted the people of Judah to rebuild the house of God? How did their enemies react? How important was the influence of Godly leaders on God’s people? – (Ezra 5:1-5)
The prophets were God’s ‘mouthpieces’. God raised up two key prophets simultaneously, in Haggai and Zechariah. Haggai criticized the people for neglecting the house of God while looking after their own interests (Hag.1:2-8). Zechariah inspired God’s people with visions of God’s zeal to bless the nation. Both the prophets actually named Joshua, the High Priest and Zerubbabel, the governor (Hag.1:12-15; Zech.3:1-4). Ezra recorded that they – … prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them (Ezra 5:1). The message was encouraging to all the tribes, although it was delivered to the leaders at Jerusalem. This was because this city was the place where God elected to dwell amongst His people. With the spiritual support of the prophets, the leaders stepped up (Ezra 5:2). As always, the enemy was on hand to challenge their efforts – … “Who issued you a decree to rebuild this temple and to finish this structure?” (Ezra 5:3). Notwithstanding the opposition – the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until a report could come to Darius, and then a written reply be returned concerning it (Ezra 5:5). What the leaders could not achieve was accomplished with the support of God’s prophets.
Q.2. What explanation was given for Judah’s demise? With what arguments did they support their claim that Cyrus had indeed issued a decree to rebuild the temple? Why was the focus for a search of the Babylonian records crucial? – (Ezra 5:6-17)
A new letter was sent to Darius at Babylon central, in a renewed attempt to stop the work on the Temple (Ezra 5:6). However, this time the leaders of Judah set forth the history of the invasion, and the reason why it happened. They placed their slant on the inquiry – 13 However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God. 14 Also the gold and silver utensils of the house of God which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, and brought them to the temple of Babylon, these King Cyrus took from the temple of Babylon and they were given to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor (Ezra 5:13-14). All these facts were demonstrably correct. To ensure that there were no misunderstandings in the search, they added respectfully – “Now if it pleases the king, let a search be conducted in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, if it be that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send to us his decision concerning this matter.” (Ezra 5:17). The scribes were directed to look for the edict by King Cyrus, which had indeed been issued. What a difference the focus made.