Ezra 1 Cyrus’ Decree
God spoke of Cyrus LONG before Cyrus or Ezra were born, and Cyrus’ decree sets God’s people free. Just as He said it would!
Can you imagine the stirring in the spirit of the people as Cyrus of Persia comes against Babylon? Those who know the words of the prophet Isaiah, can’t help but grab hold of his name and watch.
This is actually the point at which I want to start our story; kind of. This is a story within a story. After careful calculation, I discovered that Ezra was not living at the time of Cyrus’ proclamation. But Ezra tells us of this great event. Our story will feature Ezra’s search regarding prophecy and his imagining of the events that lead up to where he is in history. Let’s join Ezra as he explores the time when the people of Israel hear the name of Cyrus and watch God’s hand in action. Holy Spirit, guide this journey. Take Your story where it is supposed to go.
♥ ♦ ♥
Ezra has been training as a scribe for many years. From his earliest memories, he has also been training to join his brother Levites in ministering to the people of Israel. He does this second task by immersing himself in the writings of the prophets, learning everything he can about God’s law, walking in the ways prescribed by the Lord, and digging in to the history of his people.
In all his studies, one thing that thrills Ezra is that God has given him a special gift that ‘brings to life’ the words he reads on the page. He doesn’t just read the account of all that has happened before, he ‘sees it’ in his mind’s eye. And his spirit bears witness to what his imagination supplies. Today, Ezra is putting together the pieces and envisioning the story about the time when the prophecies of Jeremiah and Isaiah converge with the rise of Cyrus the great to power. This convergence has HUGE implications. The crowning period in time is when the 70 years decreed for Israel’s exile, as told by Jeremiah, and the rise of Cyrus to power, as told by Isaiah. As Ezra puts these two events together, he sits back and lets his imagination unfold the story for him.
A name has been floating on conversations for several years; Cyrus. The captives in Israel are watching with baited breath. Could this possibly be the Cyrus that Isaiah spoke of centuries ago? The one foretold to release the exiles?
Daniel, Israel’s prophet while in exile, is watching as well. He is nearing his 80th decade. He also knows that Israel is approaching the number of years that God, through the prophet Jeremiah, said they would remain in captivity.
Daniel knows that God prophesied specifically about a ruler named Cyrus. He searches the scrolls until he finds that prophecy and he copies it down for himself.
“Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: ‘I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me. I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things.
“Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness;
let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit; let the earth cause them both to sprout; I the Lord have created it.
“Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, “What are you making?” or “Your work has no handles”? Woe to him who says to a father, “What are you begetting?” or to a woman, “With what are you in labor?’”
“Thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him: ‘Ask me of things to come; will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands? I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host. I have stirred him up in righteousness, and I will make all his ways level; he shall build my city and set my exiles free, not for price or reward,’ says the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 45:1-13).
“It’s going to take some time before everything is in line” Daniel reminds himself and those who look to him for direction. “Watch and see what the Lord does.”
Cyrus is outside the city, ready to do whatever it takes to bring it down. Those inside the walls wait to see what will happen. Those who have been clinging to prophecy, like Daniel and his closest friends, are expectant. Those of Babylon, wait to see what their leaders will do. Will this be an all-out war? Or will the leaders come to some kind of peace agreement? No one knows for certain what will happen.
Belshazzar thumbs his nose at Cyrus and his army. He hosts a banquet with the army gathered on the other side of the wall.
While Belshazzar is toasting with the vessels of the Temple of the Lord from Jerusalem, Cyrus is diverting the river Euphrates; opening a path to walk right into the city of Babylon.
Belshazzar has a message from the God of Israel, the one he has just disrespected. “God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end. You have been weighed and found wanting. Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
By morning, Cyrus stands in Babylon, Belshazzar lies dead, and Darius the Mede is installed over the people while Cyrus continues his conquests. The conquest of Babylon took one week. God brought Babylon down and handed it to Darius, under Cyrus.
Today, Daniel is rejoicing along with the people of Judah and Benjamin! Cyrus the Great has handed down a proclamation. It has been written down and caried throughout the land to the people of Israel.
“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. 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. 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” (Ezra 1:2-4).
Celebrations ring out throughout the land of Babylon! “The words of Jeremiah have been completed! The Lord God has rescued His people and restored them to their land!”
Groups begin to form in all the various districts where the people of God sojourn. Only those whose hearts are stirred though. Most of these groups are made up of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi. Others join in as well, but their numbers are much fewer.
These groups do as their ancestors did in Egypt. They go door to door asking of their neighbors for contributions. Those around them give generously of their own supplies to assist this people on their journey. Cyrus himself contributes all that was taken from the House of the Lord when Nebuchadnezzar took Jerusalem.
Sheshbazzar is the closest one to the line of the kings of David. He is also called Zerubbabel. He will lead the people back to the city of Jerusalem. He is the one to receive Cyrus’s contribution.
“Cyrus king of Persia brought these out in the charge of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. And this was the number of them: 30 basins of gold, 1,000 basins of silver, 29 censers, 30 bowls of gold, 410 bowls of silver, and 1,000 other vessels; 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” (Ezra 1:8-11).
It takes nearly a month before everyone is ready. Those who would return registered by ther father’s names, to continue the genealogy of Israel. From the servants of Solomon to the highest of the people, they came and wrote their names in the book. There also came some who didn’t have a complete picture of their genealogy. These were given special dispensation and included anyway. Of those who believed themselves of the line of Levi, but unable to site their full heritage, are not allowed to serve in the Temple or perform any of the priestly duties, until the high priest are able to consult the Urim and Thummim. The answer by God will be revealed in this process and taken as conclusive.
The leaders of the group are “Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehre, and Baanah” (Ezra 2:2). Their number is impressive, but does not include ALL of the people of Israel. “The whole assembly together was 42,360, besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337, and they had 200 male and female singers. Their horses were 736, their mules were 245, their camels were 435, and their donkeys were 6,720” (Ezra 2:64-67).
This group sets out as one and travels joyfully to their homeland. When they arrived, some of the heads of households made freewill offerings for the rebuilding of the Temple. “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” (Ezra 2:69).
The people begin to settle in their ancestral homes throughout Israel. They will come together for the work, but settle in first. They are more than grateful to be home and marveling over the fact that the Lord’s prophecies from long ago have come to pass in their lifetime.
Ezra knows that the story isn’t over yet, but his mind is tired. He will rest and pick the story back up in the morning. If only he felt comfortable writing his stories how he sees them in his mind. But he is a scribe. He is supposed to stick to the facts. He will tell his story through the facts, when the time is right.
(to be continued)
I LOVE seeing prophecy fulfilled, or prayers answered! These people were living that in the moment. This prophecy was on that NO ONE could mistake as coming to pass at a later time. God specifically names Cyrus and tells the people that he will free them from exile. And neither had even occurred! The people were still living in the land at the time God spoke those words. And Cyrus wasn’t even on anyone’s radar; for he was not even born yet. Talk about pinpoint accuracy!
Jesus fulfilled MANY prophecies with pinpoint accuracy too. Yet, many refused to believe who He was. And there were those who knew, but refused to acknowledge that fact. They disregarded all they had seen and heard. They closed their ears.
The same is happening today. I won’t claim ‘pinpoint accuracy’ with the prophecies that appear to be unfolding today, but they point to the return of Jesus just as surely as the ones of Ezra’s looks into. Will we listen to them, or turn away?
Father God, I know I don’t fully understand what is coming, but I KNOW that Jesus’ return is imminent. What I do understand points clearly to that day. Don’t let me be carried away by man’s interpretation of Your word, but lead me to Your truths. Show me all that I need to know to be ready, and to warn others, including my children and grandchildren. I don’t need any more than that. I leave it ALL in Your hands. And You have proven Yourself MORE than capable!
